A car that was gifted by Prince Charles to Princess Diana during their engagement has just sold for $72,000 at auction Wednesday. The final price paid by a museum in South America was $30,000 higher than the lower range of the auctioneer's expected amount.
The 1981 1.6-liter Ford Escort Ghia was given to Princess Diana by her future husband in May 1981, two months before their wedding. Princess Diana drove the vehicle until August 1982 after she gave birth to Prince William. The car was later sold to an antique dealer for $8,300.
Reeman Dansie auctioneers expected to sell the vehicle at between $41,500 and $55,400. With all the fees included, the winning bidder is expected to pay $72,800 for the vehicle.
"The Ford was Princess Diana's personal transport in the early and happiest part of her relationship with the Prince of Wales and there are numerous photographs of her driving it and even her watching the Prince playing polo, sitting inside it," Reeman Dansie auctioneers said.
Diana's Ford Escort sells for £52,000 as 'testament to her enduring legacy'https://t.co/UdznelZFG7 pic.twitter.com/qZMsJFWkqX — The Mirror (@DailyMirror) June 29, 2021
The vehicle had approximately 83,000 miles on the clock, which is relatively low for its age. The Ford saloon is fully stock and without any modifications, except for a silver frog mascot in front of the hood. The mascot pays homage to a gift Diana received from her sister, Sarah Spencer. The car was sold with its original paint and original registration.
Reeman Dansie auctioneers said the frog mascot was a reminder to Diana of "the fairy tale of a beautiful girl whose kiss turns a frog into a prince." The auctioneer did not name the seller of the vehicle and only said that it was a woman that was a great admirer of the late princess. The seller bought the car in 2000, knowing it was Princess Diana's but she kept that fact a secret from her friends and family.
This isn't the first time a vehicle owned by the late princess had sold for a huge sum. An Audi convertible owned by Princess Diana sold for $80,300 last year.
