Lot 165 - 1985 Ford Escort GL (1.3 litre)

The third generation Escort, codenamed 'Erika', was launched in September 1980. The car, Ford Europe's second front-wheel drive, was originally meant to be called the 'Ford Erika' but ended up retaining the Escort name. Sales in the United Kingdom increased and, by 1982, it had overtaken the ageing Cortina as the nation's best-selling car and beginning an eight-year run as Britain's bestseller. Unlike the Mk. II, which had essentially been a reskin of the original 1968 platform, the Mk. III was a completely new 'wheels-up' design and was conceived as a hi-tech, high-efficiency vehicle which would compete with the Volkswagen Golf, considered at the time the class benchmark, and indeed the car was launched with the advertising tagline "Simple is Efficient".

This incredible example has only covered 193km from new. It was registered new on 28th March 1985 to Mademoiselle Francine Palatin of 11 Rue De Bernis, Le Bernis, Cannes, France and is the only recorded keeper from new. Mlle. Palatin took delivery of the car and, shortly after, was involved in a car accident in her friend's car which sadly left her in a wheelchair and unable to drive; the car remained in storage ever since and has recently arrived in the UK and has a NOVA certificate. It is supplied with a French registration document as well as two sets of keys and original paper tag. The car underwent an MoT test but failed on three items; two of the items, an offside mirror and rear fog warning lamp, are not fitted due to the car being French specification. The only other item was a faulty hazard warning light. The vendor did not fit the missing items as they wanted to keep the car original and this can be easily fitted if desired. Finished in silver with a blue interior, this is a true timewarp example and more than likely to be the lowest mileage example in existence.