Princess Diana’s Ford Escort RS Turbo Series 1 just sold at auction for $1.23m
On the 25th anniversary of her death, a Ford Escort RS Turbo Series 1 driven by the Princess of Wales between 1985 and 1988 sold at auction.The unique black Ford Escort RS Turbo, driven by Princess Diana went on sale at Silverstone Auctions in the UK on August 27th with ‘No Reserve’ and sold for £722,500 ($1.23 million). Just like the Princess herself, this car has a storied past and is believed to be the first and only black RS Turbo Series 1 ever made.
The Ford Escort RS Turbo was never designed to be driven by royalty but had become a favourite of the People’s Princess. Many note her choice of personal cars in the early 1980s reflected her modest status as a nursery school teacher, and even the engagement gift by The Prince of Wales of an Escort Ghia was very unpretentious compared to later car choices.
Back in June 2021 Princess Diana’s first Ford Escort Ghia was sold at auction for £52,640 ($96,976 AUD).
The Royals had a selection of Rolls-Royces and Daimlers for official state duties which would often be used for off-duty shopping trips. Princess Diana always preferred to be at the wheel of her own car, even if she had a member of The Royalty Protection Command (SO14) in the passenger seat. Princess Diana was a city girl after all and would head to the shops or meet girlfriends for lunch driving in her own car.
It’s said that a Ford Escort Cabriolet in Red was to be Princess' second Escort but was deemed to be unsuitable by S014 as the manual canvas roof offered little privacy and zero protection. Her Royal Highness was insistent on a new Escort Turbo RS so the Ford PR department suggested making a custom black RS Turbo.
The Special Vehicle Engineering department was tasked to create a car, and fitted a regular five-slat front grille to assist in the stealth makeover and a second rear-view mirror for the protection officer with a radio in the glove box, the cable is still visible today.
Once Princess Di moved on to a new car, the Escort was sold to Geoff King, a manager at Ford, for his wife. In 1993 the car was used as part of a promotional giveaway by radio station Kiss FM.
In 2008 the car caught the eye of the custodian of one of the best Ford RS collections in the UK who purchased the car from the appropriately named Mr Windsor, who had owned the car since 1994.
The new owner is believed to be a buyer from the UK whose name was not disclosed. According to the classic car auction house, they paid a 12.5 per cent buyer's premium on top of the selling price.
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