A custom-built 1985 Ford Escort RS Turbo Series 1 – briefly owned and driven by the late Princess Diana – just sold for an eye-watering ?722,500 (US$845,234) at an auction held at Britain's Silverstone racing circuit on August 27, 2022.
The stunning car is described as "The Diana, Princess of Wales 1985 Ford Escort RS Turbo S1" on the Silverstone Auctions website, and was offered with just 40,170 kilometers on the odometer.
The 'People's Sports Car' for 'The People's Princess'.
IMAGE: Silverstone Auctions
The car, despite being a relatively attainable set of wheels back in its day, is not the same as any other RS Turbo that rolled out of the factory floor. Not the same that everyday people could get anyway.
This one was specially built for Princess Diana, who owned it from 1985 to 1988. The car is believed to be the first and only black RS Turbo Series 1 ever made – the rest were all white. It was painted black to give Princess Diana a more stealthy ride, blending in with her surroundings more easily (aside from the relentless hordes of paparazzi that followed her around).
IMAGE: Silverstone Auctions
Making the car extra unique were some special modifications that were quite literally fit for royalty, including a second rear-view mirror for Diana's protection officer, who was often seen sitting in the front passenger seat. In the glovebox was a radio to facilitate communications with her security detail. In fact, the cable used for the comms radio is still intact and visible today.
IMAGE: Silverstone Auctions
IMAGE: Silverstone Auctions
But why didn't the Princess of Wales just stick with the fancy (and expensive) Rolls-Royces and Daimlers that were readily available for British royalty?
According to Silverstone Auctions, Princess Diana valued her own privacy and didn't like grabbing attention wherever she went.
IMAGE: Silverstone Auctions
"Princess Diana was a city girl at heart and nipping to the shops or meeting girlfriends for lunch, at the wheel of her own car, was perhaps seen as a welcome break away from the police outriders flanking an armored Rolls-Royce, and the attention it drew," said Silverstone.
She didn't just use it for outings with friends on the high streets, though. In one press photo taken at the time, a very young Prince William can be seen in the backseat, which indicated that the late Princess legitimately used it as a regular daily driver:
IMAGE: Tim Graham Photo Library / Fox
Throughout the car's life under Princess Diana's ownership, only a pristine 10,943 kilometers were clocked on the odometer before it was returned to Ford in 1988. From there, it switched ownership a handful of times, finally being sold at the Silverstone Auction with just 40,170 kilometers clocked – it's clear at this point that the later owners took very good care of the car, considering its history.
"Notwithstanding its very special provenance, this Escort RS Turbo Series 1 is an outstanding example in its own right, subject to nut and bolt detailing to a Concours standard," Silverstone said.
IMAGE: Silverstone Auctions
The car's auction comes just a few days before the 25th anniversary of Princess Diana's death, which tragically occurred on August 31, 1997. While trying to escape a group of paparazzi giving chase on motorcycles, the limo that Princess Diana was traveling in got into a major accident in a Paris tunnel.
Despite two hours of emergency surgery at La Pitie Salpertiere Hospital, Princess Diana succumbed to internal bleeding from the injuries she sustained.
She was 36 years old.
IMAGE: The Royal Family
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