A 1985 Ford Escort RS Turbo S1 ordered by, owned and driven by, Princess Diana is to be offered for sale by British based Silverstone Auctions as part of their 130 lot Classic Sale at Silverstone 2022 from 26th – 28th August.
On joining the Royal Family Princess Diana would have had a choice of Rolls Royce’s and chauffeurs, but instead preferred to drive herself in a red Ford Escort cabriolet that was quickly deemed unsuitable by the Royal Protection Unit as the canvas roof offered little protection.
Instead Diana opted for this black RS Turbo, the first and only black RS Turbo 1 provided by Ford.
The car, which has 24,961 miles, includes a second rear view mirror so Diana’s ever-present protection officer also had a view out the rear of the car.
Diana took delivery of the car on 23rd August 1985 and held it for just under three years before it was returned to the Ford factory with 6,800 miles on the clock, where it was replated – a normal occurrence with ex-Royal cars.
The Escort was later given away as a prize on Kiss FM radio station in September 1993, and a few owners later ended up in a Ford RS collection in the UK.
With no reserve price set by Silverstone the RS Turbo could be a steal as Diana's cars have proven to be great investments
In June 2021 a 1981 Ford Escort Ghia gifted by Prince Charles to Diana as an engagement present, and with 83,000 miles on the clock, sold for £52,640 at Reeman Dansie Auctions in Essex, against an estimate of £30,000 - £40,000.
In 2013 Diana's 1994 Audi cabriolet, in which she was regularly seen driving William and Harry, sold for £36,500, and sold again in 2016 for £54,000 - a 48% increase in just 3 years.
Full details of Princess Diana's 1985 Ford Escort RS Turbo S1 are at Silverstone Auctions.