LOT 15

1989 Ford Escort XR3i Cabriolet Registration no. F715 PJM Chassis no. WFOLXXGKALKM26502 Engine no. KM26502

Sold for £5,520 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve

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Lot 15

1989 Ford Escort XR3i Cabriolet

Goodwood Members' Meeting|16 April 2023, 13:00 BST|Chichester, Goodwood

1989 Ford Escort XR3i Cabriolet
Registration no. F715 PJM
Chassis no. WFOLXXGKALKM26502
Engine no. KM26502

• Rare Cabriolet variant
• Part of the Bishop Collection since October 2020
• Requires re-commissioning

"When engineers at Ford added fuel injection to the XR3's 1.6-litre engine in 1983, they created a performance legend. While the Peugeot 205 GTi was faster and sharper to drive, it was the Escort's mix of sporty looks, bargain price and eager performance that made it a hot hatch hit with British motorists during the Eighties." - Auto Express.
One of Ford's longest-running model designations, the Escort remained in production for over 30 years, evolving through Mks I to VI between 1968 and 2001. Following Ford's established policy of offering high-performance versions of its more humdrum models, the XR3 'hot hatch' first appeared in 1981 on the Mk III Escort, becoming the XR3i with the addition of fuel injection to its 1.6-litre overhead-cam CVH engine in 1983.
One of the rarest and most desirable of the other Escort variants is the Cabriolet, the construction of which was entrusted to the soft-top specialist coachbuilders Karmann of Osnabruck. The Escort Cabriolet was initially available in both XR3i and Ghia specification, although the Ghia variant was later dropped. The car offered here is an example of the 'Mk IV' Escort, effectively a refreshed Mk III, which was a new introduction in March 1986 and front-wheel drive like its immediate predecessor.
This XR3i Cabriolet comes with an HPI report stating that it is a 'Category C insurance loss. Vehicle extensively damaged but repairable – insurer decided not to repair'. The date of the loss is given as 27th November 2000. Additional paperwork incudes sundry bills for parts; a DVLA MoT record (last expired 2008); and copy old and current V5C registration documents. The Escort was acquired for the Bishop Collection in October 2020 and since then has been maintained by the in-house mechanic. The car will require re-commissioning before returning to the road and thus is sold strictly as viewed.

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