The smallest Ford Escort may well be the most valuable of them all, and it’s headed to the auction block.
The Escort is a one-of-a-kind 1:25 scale model made from silver, gold and diamonds valued at more than $90,000.
The model is the work of Russell Lord, a British jeweler who also is a fan of the Ford cars, a fan to the point that he has owned 55 of the full-scale cars.
Lord started work on the bejeweled model car 25 years ago.
“It’s been a hobby that I’ve come back to again and again, but three years ago I determined to finish it,” Lord is quoted in a news release from Ford of Europe.
“I know this car inside out – so there were no plans, I just built it from the ground up piece by piece.”
The model is based on the Mk2 Escort works rally car driven by Ari Vatanen in the late 1970s. Details include spinning pulleys on the front of the engine, a moving diamond-encrusted platinum gear shifter, and glass windows that involved smashing vases to find sections of glass with exactly the right curve.
The body is silver and the car has gold brakes and spoiler, 18-carat gold wheels and hood hinges, 18-carat white gold front grille, 72-point diamond headlights, orange sapphire indicator lamps and ruby rear brake lights.
The car will be offered for bids on May 2 at a British website and will proceeds will be donated to charities.
Everybody needs a hobby, but seriously a ford escort. HUH and Why. I know I saw 55 escorts in his past but someone who cares could have intervened. Some type of therapy maybe. With that said it will probably break auction records of some sorts and I am sure the cause is worthy. Good Luck
The English have mostly small cars of all euro-weenie makes, and Ford Escorts have been popular there for years. You won’t find a full size U.S. style Ford EVER for sale from a British Ford dealers show room. The Brits enjoy what we Yanks would call "Rally Cars"…and their Escorts and other brands are equipped to be road raced. They’ll close down public roads and turn it into a yearly event. These cars are fast…and have a driver and a "navigator"…as the roads twist and turn go up and down and 180 degrees…..it is serious racing.
I love it to pieces……so well done……Wish I could get it!!!!!!