A 1991 Ford Escort that has been discovered sitting in a garage is in mint condition with next to nothing on the clock after it was parked there more than 30 years ago.
The Ford Escort, reportedly a red XR3 Formula from 1991, is said to be extremely rare, with only 375 cars ever made in that colour in Brazil, where it was found.
The car currently belongs to a collector from the Brazilian state of Parana and was acquired from its first owner 11 years ago.
The man, vintage car dealer Reginaldo de Campinas, said that the vehicle only has 221 kilometres (137 miles) on the odometer and had been driven only 116 kilometres (72 miles) when he “rescued” it in 2012.
The original owner drove the car very little because soon after purchasing it, he suffered a serious health problem, according to local media.
But the original owner, who has not been named, really loved his car, with Reginaldo saying: “Already sick, the owner began to fetch fuel by the gallon from a petrol station near his home to run the engine every week. He did this for 20 years until he died in 2011.”
Auctioneer Joel Picelli, from Picelli Auctions, told local media: “In my opinion, an XR3 Formula under these conditions is a bargain car for BRL 120,000, a little more, a little less. It’s certainly worth more than BRL 100,000, easily, as it has practically zero kilometres [on the clock].”
The expert added that the value could go up further if the “right” collector is looking for an original, well-cared-for and very little-used car.
He said: “It’s not a conventional XR3. It was a limited production, and added to the fact that it’s like a brand new vehicle, this can make the price go way up.”
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Story By: Joseph Golder, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Central European News
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