Princess Diana’s 1985 Ford Escort Auctioned for Nearly $800,000

An old Ford Escort that once belonged to the late Princess Diana went up for auction on Saturday for a whopping £650,000, or around $763,700.

That’s a huge sum, considering the folks at UK-based Silverstone Auctions who told the Daily mail they wouldn’t be surprised if the car sold for just over $100,000. According to the outlet, the 1985 Ford Escort RS Turbo was Diana’s car of choice when she owned it from 1985 to 1988.

Fun fact: Diana preferred to drive around town whenever she met friends or went shopping. But there was always the issue of security. The solution, the Daily mail reported, involved having a member of the Royal Protection Command sit next to the passenger when she was driving around town.

« The RS Turbo was never intended to be driven by the wife of the mate vying for the British throne or to transport the future king, » said a spokesperson for the auction company.

In fact, there’s a photo of a smiling Diana behind the wheel with her bodyguard in tow, as well as Prince William as a toddler sitting in a child car seat. Additionally, the car was to have a second rear-view mirror for Diana’s bodyguard, and there was also a radio in the glove compartment for her bodyguard.

« The RS Turbo is a driver’s car and the late Diana, Princess of Wales was clearly a fan, and it was a fascinating choice for the daughter of an Earl, mother of the future King and daughter-in-law of the Queen. said Arwel Richards of Silverstone Auctions at Daily Mail. « Isn’t it fascinating that the Escort RS Turbo is synonymous with white Essex stilettos, but its first champion was the most glamorous woman on earth? »

The new owner gets a classic car and a bargain, considering the Escort has less than 25,000 miles. It is also said to be in pristine condition despite the car having had several owners since Diana.

According to Silverstone Auctions, she has sold many cars of royal pedigree – usually Range Rovers and Rolls Royces – but Diana’s Ford Escort « ticks all the boxes in terms of history, rarity, condition and mileage. « .

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