Ford Escort belonging to family for 50 years sells for £276k

 A Ford Escort which was in the same family for nearly 50 years has sold for a staggering £276,000.

The vendor’s late husband bought the 1976 Ford Escort Mk II RS 1800 for an undisclosed sum in 1977.

He drove it for about 10 years before it underwent a restoration and was kept off the road in a barn.

The owner died recently and his widow put the Ford up for sale at auctioneers Historics, of Iver, Buckinghamshire.

The car which was his “pride and joy” was originally registered to the Ford Motor Company and one of just five cars used by Ford as a press car.

There were only 109 examples all together manufactured of the model, which enjoyed huge rallying success in the late 70s and early 80s.

Enduring legacy

The white car with a thin light and dark blue strip on the paintwork above its wheels has done only 24,186 miles – on average, 500 a year.

A spokesman for Historics said: “Beyond its rallying success, the Escort RS1800 Mk II remains a cherished car among enthusiasts and collectors.

“Its combination of performance, history, and timeless design continues to captivate fans.

“Restored and modified examples are frequently seen in classic car rallies and events, a testament to its enduring legacy.

“Out of the 109 cars that were built, there were five Press cars, owned by Ford Motor Company, and this is one of the five Press cars.

“In March 1977, it was purchased by the second owner, who used the car for a number of years and in the late 1980s it was restored.

“The car sat in a barn for 35 years with the rebuilt engine sitting on a pallet next to the RS1800.

“Time had taken its toll, and another restoration project was undertaken, with the plan to present the car in the best possible condition.

“The registered keeper sadly passed away and the car is now registered in the name of his widow.

“It runs beautifully, although it needs to be treated gently as it has only done less than 50 miles since the rebuild.”