A buyer paid 737,000 pounds (869,000 euros) for Diana’s former personal car in the UK on Saturday, ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Princess of Wales’s death.
After fierce bidding from Dubai and the United States, this 1985 Ford Escort RS Turbo should stay in its country of origin as it is a resident – for the time being anonymous – of the Manchester region that won it.
The car was priced at £100,000; the final offer reached 650,000 pounds, to which costs and VAT must be added.
Worn by Diana from 1985 to 1988
The car was the highlight of a sale organized by Silverstone Auctions, at Silverstone Circuit, 120km north-west of London. With its 130 horsepower, this Ford is a sports version, typical of the “GTI”, popular vitamin cars popular in the 80’s.
Copies of this model with a less illustrious history can be found in the classifieds for around £10,000. Diana, according to Silverstone Auctions, drove this car herself to move around London, although a security agent accompanied her on the way.
In excellent condition and with only 40,000 km on the odometer, the car, which had been loaned by Ford, was used by the princess from 1985 to 1988. Among other things, the car transported Prince William, number two in the order of succession. . of the throne after that of his father Charles.
52,000 pounds
Unique in its black color – the other Escort RS Turbo of this generation were white – it later changed hands several times before being completely facelifted for sale.
In June 2021, another Ford Escort used by Diana, a 1981 1.6 Ghia sedan given to her for her engagement, sold for £52,000 to a South American bidder.
Saturday’s sale came four days before the 25th anniversary of the 36-year-old princess’s death in a car accident in Paris.
Source: BFM TV
