The car was sold by the Silverstone auction house to a buyer who lives in Cheshire, England.
Silverstone said that the car was in high demand, and that the number of telephone offers received for it was the highest in the last 12 years.
The sale started at £100,000, and soon turned into a battle between bidders from Dubai and Coventry. However, around the price level of 450,000 pounds, a bidder from Cheshire joined the fray – who, as mentioned, finally submitted the highest bid.
The sales manager said in the process: “500 thousand pounds for a Ford Escort? I’ve never seen anything like that.”
As mentioned, the princess finished driving the Ford in 1988 and returned it to the company, which sold it on as used. The car was sold again and again since then, until in 2008 it came into the hands of a collector who recognized that it was the royal car and kept it to this day. According to the auction house, the Ford has traveled less than 50,000 kilometers and its mechanical condition is good, which makes its condition extremely rare.
In June 2021, another Ford Escort used by the princess was sold for £52,000.
Diana died in a car accident in August 1997.