A “showroom fresh” 1980 Ford Escort RS2000 Mk2 sold for an auction-record
£97,875 ($128,196) at Silverstone Auctions’ sale this past weekend at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show at the NEC in Birmingham, England.
Overall, the auction generated £3.6 million (more than $4.7 million) in sales with a 67 percent sell-through rate.
“This sporting version of the humble Ford Escort has achieved near mythical status in recent years among Ford fans,” Silverstone Auctions said in its post-sale news release. “It was standing room only on the first day of the auction as the time-warp 900 miler headed a batch of very special fast Fords up for sale at the biggest classic car show of the year.
“A 1988 Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 became the second example this year to break into six figures at Silverstone Auctions.”
The auction house also noted that a 1996 Ford Escort Cosworth Lux, which had been driven only 1837miles since new, also set an auction record at the sale this past weekend when it sold for £91,125 ($64,343).
“The success of these cars proved once again that exceptional cars sell for exceptional prices,” said Silverstone Auctions’ managing director Nick Whale. “These Fords were unique, had fantastic histories and provenance, and really were the finest examples of their respective marques and models. The Mk2 Escort in particular was a simply unrepeatable car – just nothing else like it!”
Other auction highlights included the Reliant three-wheeler seen in the British television series Only Fools and Horses selling for £41,625 ($54,250).
Among celebrity vehicles, a 1968 Jensen Interceptor Mk1 formerly owned by comedian Eric Morecambe brought £95,625 ($126,559) while Chris Hoy’s 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia DCT sold for £137,250 ($179,770).
