When this bright red 1982 Ford Escort XR3 appeared in the catalogue for Anglia Car Auctions, it carried a guide price of £11,000 to £13,000.
Plenty of people thought it looked like a lovely, honest Mk3 Escort, but few would have predicted quite what happened once the bidding started.
By the time the hammer finally fell, the little Ford had sold for an impressive £19,170 including buyer’s premium.
It’s another reminder that genuinely original hot hatchbacks continue to attract serious attention whenever the right example appears.
This wasn’t an over-restored show car.
Instead, its appeal lay in its remarkable originality.
According to the auction description, the Escort had just two registered keepers from new, covered only 41,555 miles and had spent much of its recent life tucked away in a garage after being laid up in 1997.
The vendor described it as a genuine, original car that still wore its factory paint.
Purchased from its long-term second owner, it had then spent around eighteen months in trade storage before heading to auction.
Although it hadn’t yet been presented for an MoT, the Escort hadn’t simply been dragged out of storage and advertised.
More than £1,200 had recently been spent recommissioning the car.
The work reportedly included servicing, fresh ignition components, wheel cylinders, brake pads, tyres, starter motor, battery and fuel pump, while many of the original components removed during the work were retained with the vehicle.
That sympathetic approach is something enthusiasts increasingly appreciate, particularly with cars that have survived in such unmolested condition.
Buyers weren’t just bidding on the Escort itself.
The accompanying history file was equally appealing, including the original Ford handbook pack, old tax discs, Haynes workshop manual, MoT certificates stretching back into the 1980s and a substantial collection of maintenance receipts documenting decades of ownership.
Even the original multi-cassette stereo remained, complete with a selection of period cassette tapes that provided a wonderfully nostalgic finishing touch.
Once overlooked in favour of the earlier Mexico and RS models, the Mk3 Escort has firmly established itself as a modern classic.
Cars like this demonstrate exactly why.
Original, low-owner examples with documented histories have become increasingly difficult to find, and buyers are clearly prepared to pay strong money when one appears.
With fast Fords continuing to enjoy enormous popularity, this XR3’s £19,170 result comfortably exceeded its pre-sale estimate and proved once again that originality remains one of the strongest selling points in today’s classic car market.
Were you surprised by the final price, or do you think this is simply where the best Mk3 Escorts now sit in the market?
If you’re thinking of selling a classic car, we’d love to hear from you. Find out more on our Sell Your Classic Car page.
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