Description
An extremely genuine example - rarely do cars of this standard come to market.
To be sold by Silverstone Auctions at ‘NEC Classic Car Show Sale’ on the 11th November 2017 at The NEC, near Birmingham, B40 1NT. For further details please contact Joseph Watts 00 44 (0)the details below.
Lot: 348 - Estimate (£): 15, 000 - 20, 000
(+buyer's premium of 15% including VAT @ 20%)
Ford finally entered the mini-car market in 1976 with the launch of the Fiesta. The model proved an unqualified success right from the word go but surprisingly, it took nearly six years before a genuine performance version was added to the range, in the neat and tidy form of the XR2.
This sporting model may well have been inspired by the famous success of the two Ford Fiestas in the 1979 Monte Carlo Rally with the British entry driven by Roger Clark and aided by co-driver Jim Porter, and a German entry piloted by Ari Vatanen and co-driven by David Richards. Both cars were highly modified and were powered by competition tuned versions of the 1600cc Kent 'crossflow' engine - a later version of which was fitted in the Fiesta XR2, launched in 1981.
Visually, the XR2 popped into the limelight in a range of new colours, with alloy wheels, large circular driving lamps, and black plastic trim decorating the interior and exterior. With a quoted performance of 0-60 mph in 9. 3 seconds and 105 mph top speed, the XR2 hot-hatch became a cult car beloved of boy racers throughout the 1980s.
The car offered here is a 1983 XR2 in remarkably genuine condition. Presented in the Ford (Europe) colour of Black (A9), this is one of most well-preserved Fords we have seen. It has covered just 46, 000 miles in 34 years, but frankly, with its state of preservation and maintenance, it could be one-tenth of that.
The car’s continuity of history adds to its appeal – it was purchased new by Mr. Bradbury of South Ascot from ‘Campbell Symons (Ford)’ of Richmond on the 1st August 1983 and sold shortly after on the 23rd November 1983 to Mr. Hollis of Camberley who kept it for the next 23 years, ensuring it was always MOT'd and serviced. This is documented in a fully stamped-up service book, alongside numerous hand-written entries detailing other maintenance carried out over the years, plus many MOT certificates from October 1992 through until June 2006. On the 18th September 2006, the car was purchased by a Mr. Taylor – with the original Autotrader advert being present in the history file!
Mr. Taylor MOT'd the car on 22nd September 2006 with the mileage at 46, 086 and shortly after placed it into storage. The car was rediscovered and brought out of hibernation in early 2016 and has been professionally recommissioned. Its presentation today focuses on originality, with the car sporting period-correct Pirelli P6 tyres and a genuine Ford exhaust system. Under the bonnet is completely as it should be with all PDI and assembly paint marks still present on the engine, gearbox and steering rack.
Rarely do cars of this standard come to market and, almost as infrequently, do we describe cars as immaculate, but both mechanically and cosmetically, this little XR2 really is just that. This example, not to be confused with other run-of-the-mill XR2s, is surely one of the best available, and would be welcomed at any Ford marque event. The market interest in classic Fords is widening, with enthusiasts and collectors wanting to seek out immaculate examples of cars that, perhaps, they really wanted during their teenage years.
Registration: ELF 910Y
Chassis Number: VS6BXXWPFBDE54925
Engine Number: DE54925
Number of cylinders: 4
CC: 1598
Year of Manufacture: 1983
RHD/ LHD: Right Hand Drive
