The big story

As a tiny-mile Fiesta RS Turbo headlines Silverstone Auctions’ next sale, Richard Barnett wonders if another record will be set

Fast Ford auction records

Silverstone Auctions has built up a reputation for rehoming low-mileage original fast Fords at unprecedented prices in the past three years. Its Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show sale found £60,188 for an Escort RS Turbo in 2015; two years later, back at the NEC, it set two more records for a 917-mile-from-new Escort RS2000 (£97,875) and a similarly low mileage Escort Cosworth Lux (£91,125). Fiesta set to party While the Escort RS Turbo and any model with a Cosworth badge usually generates Ford frenzy around the block, it’s easy to forget other models such as the Fiesta RS Turbo, a stupendously quick (some might say brutal) hatchback that wasn’t simply hot – it was scorching. But as with so many performance Fords, the attrition rate was high, so while survivors are rare, examples like Silverstone’s 3882-mile from model (estimate: £25,000-30,000) will have no problem finding a new home, even if its new owner has to set a price record to get it there.

Barely in the background, the Fast Ford phenomenon shows no signs of slowing down overall, and interest in better-value rivals (think Avenger Tiger and Magnum 2300 against Escort RS2000 MkI/IIs, for example) simply hasn’t materialised. The later 1980s and 1990s RS and XR models have captured the buying public’s imagination as more flock to the blue-collar performance car ideal, but only properly restored or, preferably original condition cars cut the classic mustard.

Enjoying more cult status (possibly because the market is more aware of them) is a 1993 Escort RS Cosworth (est: £50,000-60,000) with 28,000 miles on the clock but, as a sign of just how good it is, this one is a Concours Gold Cup-winner. The NEC sale always draws in big spenders and Silverstone Auctions always seems to do well with performance Fords, so this should be an easy sell.

But does such late-model interest mean that the earlier cars are now something of an aside? No, because the market still likes a V6 Capri (especially the 2.8 models) as well as Escort MkIs and IIs.

Consider that a Mexico MkI, albeit a properly-restored example, made £50,625 back in May. Then bear in mind that there’s old-school rearwheel drive action at the NEC with a 1979 Capri 3.0S that received a £10k restoration and pulls the emotional strings thanks to its more unusual Signal Orange paint scheme, making it a welcome change from silver or black models. It’s the right example for this sale and its £20,000-25,000 estimate looks pretty much spot-on.