Ford Escort XR3/XR3I prices continuing to rise

There’s a definite movement in XR3S. In the March Historics sale a 1980 pre-production press car made a hefty £17,920. Restored to original spec with plenty of period documentation, this was strong money for an early non-injection XR3. Another restored car, an ’81 in Sunburst Red with 101k, three owners and Ziebarted from new, made an equally impressive £10,920.

There’s been a steady uplift in values, which is hardly surprising given the runaway prices achieved for Escort RS Turbos and it looks like the XR3 is being pulled up in their vapour trail. Back in August, Matthewsons auctioned a restored ’82 XR3I in red with 48,000 miles for £9460 while CCA drew £23,310 for a perfect 2000-mile Diamond White ’85 XR3I cabriolet – that one now looks like an inspired buy. KGF Cars in Peterborough has an ’85 XR3I in Rosso Red with 41,000 miles and a ‘huge history file’ for £19,995, while MG Nottingham has a Diamond White ’90 XR3I – one of the last built – with only 9000 miles and two owners for £34,999. These are record prices – the XR3 is now a card-carrying member of the fast Ford collector’s club. You’ll be pushed to find any cheap ones now and beware of ratty projects that could end up costing the same as buying a mint example in the first place. I think it’s worth looking at the earliest 1980/81 models and the last-of-theline 1990s on G and H plates, which could become ultra-desirable as the first and last production cars. As always, bone stock originality, factory colours, warranted mileages and history are what enthusiasts prize most, so be fussy.