F20C-Swapped Ford Escort Is a Hill Climbing Beast
With loads of power and little weight to push around, this vintage Escort is seriously fast.
Wild Swap
Honda's F20C powerplant has become quite popular in recent years not only in its original application - the S2000 - but also as a swap for various other makes and models. That includes this wicked Ford Escort Mk2, which is owned by Adrian Hall of Hallscorts Performance. The folks behind the YouTube channel Hillclimb Monsters got the chance to experience this wild machine up close as it ripped up the hill at a recent Retro Rides Gathering event in Shelsley Walsh, and it's certainly worth checking out.
Cartoonish Looks
Hill climb events are known for attracting some pretty wild machines, but this Escort stands out from that distinguished pack for several reasons. For starters, it's wearing the typical assortment of aero bits these cars are known for, including a huge front splitter, giant rear wing, and cartoonishly wide fender flares.
Heart of the Beast
Of course, we're more interested in what's under the hood, which is the aforementioned F20C powerplant that's been lifted from an AP1 generation S2000. It isn't stock by any means, however, as the crew at Hallscorts blessed the inline-four with a host of modifications to extract more power from the iconic engine.
Power to Weight
That parts list includes a Garret G30 770 turbo, which helps lift output up to 500 horsepower. It's mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox for lightning-quick shifts, which is typical in these kinds of machines. What's even better about this combination is that it doesn't have much weight to move around - just 900 kilograms, or 1,984 pounds.
Seriously Quick
The result is, as one might expect, a seriously quick hill climbing weapon, as we can clearly see the video. The vintage Mk2 Escort is simply a blur making its way up the track, along with the pleasing sounds only a high-revving inline-four can emit.
