Austin Maestro Vanden Plas or Ford Escort Ghia? Blue-collar heroes

By Andrew Roberts

| 1 Apr 2026

Classic & Sports Car – Austin Maestro Vanden Plas vs Ford Escort Ghia: blue-collar heroes

You almost have it all: the Filofax, a cassette of the complete works of Duran Duran, a mobile phone the size of a telephone directory, and industrial quantities of hair gel.

All you need now is the right set of pseudo-luxury wheels: Ford Escort Ghia, or Austin Maestro Vanden Plas?

Anyone who visited the 1980 International Motor Show will recall the crowds around the Ford stand, because ‘Project Erika’ represented a watershed for the firm.

The new Escort Mk3 was not only a hatchback, but also front-wheel drive.

The initial line-up ranged from the 1.1-litre Popular to the Ghia, and survivors of the latter are now seldom seen.

The Ford Escort Ghia’s punchy 1.3-litre ‘four’ was available from launch, and a 1.6 followed

This W-reg example hails from the days when a Sony Betamax C7 and a Ford with a glass sunroof as standard epitomised the good life.

The reactions of several passers-by suggest that it’s very much a “my parents had one of those” sort of car, and a reminder of just why the Escort was such a commercial success.

Autocar noted that it was an accomplished all-rounder, which offered both fleet and private buyers alike mass motoring with a real sense of flair.

While the early Ghia faced up to the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GLS and Citroën GSA Pallas, British Leyland was working on its long-overdue Austin Allegro replacement.

The Ford Escort Ghia’s cabin is filled with crushed velour and many shades of brown

Unfortunately, when the car for which ‘Driving is Believing’ took a bow in March 1983, the bodywork was already redolent of the 1970s.

The ‘Miracle Maestro’ is well proportioned, but compared with the modern lines of the Escort it appeared as a rather middle-aged idea of a contemporary hatch.

BL faced the additional problem that its Austin badge was more associated with Demob suits than red braces, and the famous name was to vanish from its products after 1987.

At the beginning of 1986 the Ford was Britain’s best-selling car, whereas the Maestro languished down in 10th, yet the Austin had a great deal to offer the motorist who cared less about fashion than value for money.

The Austin Maestro’s cabin is finished in wood and leather

Barry Cooper’s Vanden Plas, pictured here, is one of only nine examples left on the road in the UK. I mean, when did you last see one?

Although the level of equipment in here is undoubtedly high, this car sadly lacks the infamous ‘talking dashboard’ that issued orders to drivers of the early versions.

It must be appreciated that, by the standards of the day, both the Ford Escort and the Austin Maestro benefit from tasteful interior décor.

As seen here, the Escort favours a more low-key approach, while the more overtly traditional Maestro appears primed for a brisk but respectable spin to the rotary club.

The Austin Maestro Vanden Plas has a larger engine, but musters just 16bhp more

In contrast, the Escort looks genuinely sharp and conveys a sense of attainable luxury.

The Ford flatters the owner’s self esteem with its contemporary air and that ‘Durham and Crushed Velour’ upholstery.

As for the Maestro, it initially appeared suited to Sunday motoring but its performance, particularly from June 1984 with the S-series engine, belied its looks; a Q-car for the Terry and June generation, perhaps?

Images: Tony Baker

This was first in our May 2018 magazine; all information was correct at the date of original publication

Factfiles

Austin Maestro Vanden Plas

Sold/no built 1982-’94/605,411 (all)
Construction steel monocoque
Engine all-iron, sohc 1598cc ‘four’
Max power 85bhp @ 5600rpm
Max torque 97lb ft @ 3500rpm
Transmission five-speed manual, FWD
Suspension: front independent, by MacPherson struts, anti-roll bar rear trailing arms, transverse torsion beam, coil springs
Steering rack and pinion
Brakes discs front, drums rear
Length 13ft 3½in (4051mm)
Width 5ft 6½in (1689mm)
Height 4ft 8½in (1435mm)
Wheelbase 8ft 3in (2515mm)
Weight 2174lb (986kg)
0-60mph 10.5 secs
Top speed 104mph
Mpg 32.3
Price new £6775 (1983)

Ford Escort Ghia

Sold/no built 1980-’86/1,857,000 (all MkIIIs)
Construction steel monocoque
Engine iron-block, alloy-head, sohc 1295cc ‘four’
Max power 69bhp @ 6000rpm
Max torque 74lb ft @ 3500rpm
Transmission four-speed manual, FWD
Suspension independent, at front by MacPherson struts, anti-roll bar rear MacPherson struts, transverse and longitudinal links
Steering rack and pinion
Brakes discs front, drums rear
Length 13ft 4in (4059mm)
Width 5ft 2½in (1588mm)
Height 4ft 4½in (1336mm)
Wheelbase 7ft 10½in (2400mm)
Weight 2024lb (920kg)
0-60mph 14 secs
Top speed 96mph
Mpg 36.7
Price new £4876