A small car used by Princess Diana was put up for auction today and sold for a huge six-figure salary, nearly 25 years after her death.
The black Ford Escort RS Turbo was driven by the Princess in the 1980s and was sold this weekend at Britain's Silverstone racing circuit for £650,000.
The motor was driven from August 23 1985 to May 1 1988 and is believed to be the only example of the model made in black.
The RS Turbo Series 1 was only made in white but was painted specifically black to provide Diana discretion whilst driving around.
The Princess was photographed with the RS Turbo Series 1 outside the boutique shops of Chelsea and the restaurants of Kensington.
Engineers at the Ford factory were tasked with modifying the vehicle and assisting in a "stealth makeover" which involved fitting a regular five-slat front grille, a secondary rear-view mirror for the protection officer with a radio in the glove box, with the cable still visible.
She prefered to drive he own car and opted to have a member of the Royal Protection Command (SO14) in the passenger seat.
The car has just 24,961 miles on the clock and has been detailed to a nut and bolt concours standard.
It also has a lifetime tracker fitted which can be transferred to the new owner, a spare key, Ford Motor Company internal memos, and period registration documents.
In June 2021, another Ford Escort used by Diana sold at auction for £52,000.
Arwel Richards, a classic car specialist at Silverstone Auctions, said: "The RS Turbo is a driver's car and the late Diana, Princess of Wales was clearly a fan, and it was a fascinating choice for the daughter of an earl, mother of the future king, and the daughter-in-law of the Queen to choose."
"Isn't it fascinating that the Escort RS Turbo was to be synonymous with the white stilettos of Essex but its first champion was the most glamorous woman on Earth?"
Next week will make 25 years since Princess Diana was killed in a car crash aged 36 in Paris.
She died in hospital after being injured in a car accident in a road tunnel whilst trying to escape paparazzi.
