Car statistics

Ford Escort RS statistics

How many Ford Escort RS cars are still on the road in Great Britain, how many are declared off the road, and how the RS compares with other versions of the Ford Escort. Built from DVLA licensing records.

A version of the Ford Escort. Recorded by DVLA as “ESCORT RS”.

Last updated
Records analysed
840 Ford Escort RS records (licensed and SORN)
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed in Great Britain 439 +3.8% on a year earlier
  • Declared SORN 401 Off the road, not taxed
  • Licensed in 1994 557 when this data begins
  • Share of Ford Escorts 1.8% of those licensed or SORN
  • Declared off the road 47.7% of those still registered are SORN
  • Most common fuel Petrol 100.0% of those licensed

How many Ford Escort RS cars are left in Great Britain?

There were 439 Ford Escort RS cars licensed in Great Britain at the end of March 2026, and a further 401 declared off the road (SORN). The licensed count is 21.2% lower than the 557 in 1994, when this data begins.

Ford Escort RS cars licensed and SORN in Great Britain

This data records SORN from 2007, so the SORN line starts there.

Ford Escort RS cars licensed and declared SORN in Great Britain at the end of each year
Year LicensedDeclared SORN
1994 557
1995 538
1996 493
1997 433
1998 352
1999 323
2000 275
2001 282
2002 252
2003 227
2004 219
2005 217
2006 164
2007 164332
2008 150351
2009 132354
2010 116389
2011 125402
2012 115419
2013 104497
2014 116495
2015 133517
2016 131537
2017 128568
2018 151573
2019 247502
2020 307459
2021 391400
2022 409397
2023 423395
2024 426384
2025 436395
2026 439401

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Fuel type

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

How many Ford Escort RS cars have survived?

More Ford Escort RS cars are registered today (840, licensed or SORN) than were licensed in 1994 (557). For other versions of the Ford Escort from the same era, the figure is 2.3%.

Share still registered (licensed or SORN)

Compared with 82 other versions of the Ford Escort from the same era.

Share of Ford Escort RS cars still registered compared with other Ford Escort versions of the same age
Version Share still registered
Ford Escort RS 100.0%
Other Ford Escort versions of the same age 2.3%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Ford Escort RS engine sizes and fuel types

Of the 474 Ford Escort RS cars licensed in the UK at the end of 2025, 95.4% have an engine of 1,901cc to 2,000cc, and 1.7% have an engine of 1,801cc to 1,900cc.

Engine sizes, end of 2025

DVLA records engine size in 100cc bands.

Ford Escort RS cars licensed in the UK at the end of 2025, by engine size
Engine size Share of those licensed
1,901cc to 2,000cc 452 licensed 95.4%
1,801cc to 1,900cc 8 licensed 1.7%
2,001cc to 2,100cc 8 licensed 1.7%
Other sizes 6 licensed 1.3%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2014 to end of 2025 Updated

Engine size and fuel together, end of 2025
Engine size Fuel Licensed Share
1,901–2,000cc Petrol 452 95.4%
1,801–1,900cc Petrol 8 1.7%
2,001–2,100cc Petrol 8 1.7%

United Kingdom figures from DfT table VEH0220 (licensed cars at the end of each year, SORN excluded), so they differ slightly from the Great Britain counts elsewhere on this page. This covers cars DVLA records under this version’s name only; the Ford Escort page covers every version. How we use engine sizes.

Other versions of the Ford Escort

Versions of the Ford Escort with their own page. The Ford Escort page covers all 12,342 licensed, whatever the version.

Ford Escort RS compared with other versions of the Ford Escort
Version Licensed SORN Still registered
Ford Escort RS Turbo 504 3,914 27.4%
Ford Escort Cabriolet 460 2,678 12.9%
Ford Escort XR3i 449 2,448 3.1%
Ford Escort RS2000 612 1,173 52.1%
Ford Escort RS Cosworth 246 1,071 80.4%
Ford Escort Mexico 638 497 14.7%
Ford Escort RS Custom 516 388 100.0%
Ford Escort RS 439 401 100.0%
Ford Escort GTI 89 642 4.9%
Ford Escort Popular Plus 277 419 5.2%
Ford Escort 1100 L 268 352 25.8%
Ford Escort XR3i Cabriolet 71 548 23.5%
Ford Escort 1300 L 290 298 16.9%
Ford Escort Ghia Cabriolet 97 394 24.1%
Ford Escort 1300 XL 241 248 45.2%
Ford Escort RS1600i 190 287 50.1%
Ford Escort 1100 Base 208 235 31.1%
Ford Escort XR3 165 265 3.5%
Ford Escort 1300 GL 190 236 6.3%
Ford Escort Calypso 91 298 17.4%
Ford Escort 1300 Base 150 147 17.2%
Ford Escort Ghia X 36 229 2.7%
Ford Escort RS2000 4x4 18 245 55.6%
Ford Escort 1300E 141 112 71.9%
Ford Escort 1300 GT 127 110 100.0%
Ford Escort Deluxe 95 135 100.0%
Ford Escort Sport 116 103 8.9%
Ford Escort SI Cabriolet 26 176 14.9%
Ford Escort Super 89 100 91.7%
Ford Escort Mexico II 93 80 100.0%
Ford Escort 1600 Ghia 51 66 6.1%

Data sources and methodology

Datasets used on this page
Figures Source Period Records Updated
Licensed and SORN counts Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 840 Ford Escort RS records (licensed and SORN) 15 September 2026
  • Figures cover Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). Northern Ireland is not included.
  • Licensed counts are vehicles with a current tax or exemption at the end of each year (or the latest quarter). SORN counts are shown separately, from 2007.
  • This version groups DVLA’s detailed model names “ESCORT RS”. Engine size, gearbox, number of doors and fuel are ignored, so every engine and gearbox counts together.
  • Survival compares the number still registered (licensed or SORN) with the most licensed at any year end since 1994, plus any first registered after that year. Other versions are those of the same model whose licensed count peaked in the same years, up to 2001.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.