Ford Escort (North America)

The North American Ford Escort was introduced for the 1981 model year as a front-wheel-drive 'world car' to replace the Pinto. It became a massive sales success, frequently topping the charts as one of America's best-selling cars through three distinct generations. The first generation ran until 1990, the second from 1991-1996, and the final version, the ZX2 coupe, lasted until 2003.

Most Escorts were basic transportation and few have survived in good condition, which is the primary driver of their collectibility today. A growing nostalgia for 1980s and 90s economy cars has brought new attention to clean, low-mileage examples. Enthusiasts specifically seek out the sportier variants like the Escort GT and the later ZX2, which offered improved performance and handling.

The market for the Escort is still in its early stages, defined by a small number of sales of survivor-quality cars. With an average price under $6,000, it's an extremely accessible entry point for collectors. The best examples, typically low-mileage GT or ZX2 models, can sell for over $12,000, but most are traded for significantly less.

Prices range from $399 for project cars to $12,599 for exceptional, low-mileage survivors.