Princess Diana’s Car Fetches Staggering Sum at Auction
“The RS Turbo is a driver’s car, and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, was clearly a fan,” Richards said. She owned three Escorts over the course of her life, the first of which was given to her by Prince Charles and sold for just under $61,000 last year.
Still, the car was made for a princess, and that legacy is visible in many of the design details. While the black exterior may seem nondescript to most, it’s actually what makes the cruiser so unique. Ford’s Escort RS Turbo Series 1 were all white, and according to Silverstone, it’s believed that this is the only black one ever made. SO14 Royalty Protection Group, who oversee royal security, specifically requested a black exterior, believing it would be more discreet. A “regular” five-slat grille was installed to make the vehicle more stealthy, as opposed a three-slat version that appears on the white counterparts. The vehicle also has an additional rearview mirror for the security officer who would ride with Diana and a radio in the glove compartment.
The sale of the vehicle resulted in “fierce bidding,” according to the auction house, though the lucky winner, who was only described as UK-based, was not announced publicly.