Princess Diana’s (1961-1997) former car is up for sale 25 years after her death. It will be auctioned at Silverstone Auctions in Leamington Spa on August 27th. The black Ford Escort RS with the blue stripe was driven by Diana from 1985 to 1988 when her sons William (40) and Harry (37) were young. The car was privately owned for a number of years in the 1990s before becoming part of a Ford RS collection. According to the auction house, it is in “top condition”.
Diana ditched the royals’ Rolls-Royce and Daimler for a time and instead drove this comparatively unassuming and unassuming escort she was often seen with in London. Arwell Richards, classic car specialist at Silverstone Auctions, told Mail Online: “We wouldn’t be surprised if it sold for over £100,000.” That would be a little more than 119,000 euros.
The 132hp car with less than 25,000 miles on the odometer was a replacement for their previous red canvas convertible top escort. The royal security service had suggested the change to her. Diana is said to have then insisted on the black Escort, which received a special “camouflage makeover” from Ford’s special vehicle department. So he got a radiator grille with five instead of the usual three slats and a second rear-view mirror for the security officer and a radio in the glove compartment.
“We’ve sold a number of cars with royal pedigree, but this car ticks all the boxes in terms of history, rarity, condition and mileage,” Richards continued. When royal cars are auctioned, they are usually Rolls-Royce or Range Rover. Therefore, such a specimen is “unique and exciting”.
