Ford Escort History

Compact car · 1981–2003

Catalog record

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History

The North American Escort launched for 1981 as Ford's front-wheel-drive replacement for the Pinto, conceived as a 'world car' alongside the European Escort.

It became one of America's best-selling small cars across two main generations; the second generation shared engineering with Mazda. The sporty ZX2 coupe closed out the line in 2003.

Body styles

Hatchback
Sedan
Wagon
Coupe (ZX2)

Notable special editions & performance variants

Escort GT (1980s–1990s)
Sportier hatchback trim with a higher-output engine and firmer suspension.
ZX2 (1998–2003)
A sporty two-door coupe with a twin-cam Zetec engine; sold as a standalone for some years.

Collect the nameplate

Find a scale model of the Ford Escort

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