Ford Escort XR3i Cabriolet

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THIS CAR HAS NOW BEEN WITHDRAWN. APOLOGIES FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED.

Launched way back in 1968 and remaining in production until 2000, the Ford Escort became the UK’s best-selling car of all time with over 4m sold during its 32-year run.

Over this period it went through six generations of development with engines ranging in size from 1.1- to 2-litres. All were blessed with excellent handling and responded well to tuning with the result that many versions went on to enjoy considerable success in competition.

The most radical change came with the MkIII in 1980. Featuring such novelties as front-wheel drive and a new hatchback body, the sportiest version on offer was the XR3, a hot-hatch which was designed to compete head on with the VW Golf GTi.

Featuring a tuned version of the 1.6-litre CVH engine fitted with a twin-choke Weber carburettor, uprated suspension and numerous cosmetic alterations, it instantly caught the public’s imagination and became a cult car with boy-racers of the Eighties.

The Mk IV carried on the model’s success, arriving in 1986 and sporting a more aerodynamic nose and an updated dashboard. The XR3 model became the XR3i, the Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection pushing power to a healthy 105bhp giving 116mph performance and a 0-60mph time of just 9.1 seconds.

First registered in August 1988, this smart red XR3i cabriolet is showing just 61,500 miles on the clock which is backed up by a good sheaf of invoices going back to 1989 plus 13 old MOT certificates. In good order throughout, it was fitted with a new manually operated hood (plus cables and heated rear screen) in 2009 when a new clutch was also fitted.

Said to run and drive well with an MOT until April 2017 with no advisories recorded, this original and unmodified XR3i looks good value at the modest guide price suggested, especially given the way that Fast Ford values have escalated in recent months.