The black Ford Escort RS Turbo S1 of Princess Diana, who died in 1997, is unique. The vehicle changes hands for £650,000. The “Queen of Hearts” had only driven it for a few years – preferably herself.
Just before the 25th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death, her old Ford Escort has sold for £650,000 (€765,000). At the auction in Warwickshire, England, bidders from Dubai, the USA and Great Britain fought a heated battle over the car, which only has around 40,000 kilometers on the clock. In the end, the bid went to a bidder from the village of Alderley Edge in northern England, home to many English Premier League footballers. Including a commission payment to the auction house, the total cost to the buyer is £730,000 (around €870,000).
Often described as the “Queen of Hearts”, Diana had driven the black Ford Escort RS Turbo S1 with blue side stripes between 1985 and 1988. As described in the Silverstone Auctions auction catalogue, she preferred to drive her own car rather than the royal family’s Rolls-Royces or Mercedes limousines.
The Ford Escort was one of the best-selling cars in Britain at the time, selling 4.1 million units. Cars of this model with less prominent previous owners can usually be had for around £10,000. Diana’s car, however, was custom-designed to her specifications and, according to the auction house, is the only black example.
Diana was photographed several times at the wheel of her Ford Escort. There is also a photo of her son Prince William in the back seat. Another Diana-owned Ford Escort, a silver 1.6L Ghia saloon, fetched just over £52,000 at auction last year.
Wednesday marks the 25th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death. She died in a car accident in Paris on August 31, 1997, when her drunk driver hit a pillar in a tunnel while fleeing paparazzi.
