VA14307A Ford Escort Mk4 XR3i, Black

The XR3i modelled was ordered from Ford Main Dealer Perrys, High Road, Harrow Weald, Middlesex, on 24th April 1986 by the first owner, Malcolm Powell. He purchased it as a company car and was thus able to request nearly every option available. 

These included an ECU2 Radio Cassette which cost £118.72, a Tilt/Sliding Sunroof at £261.65, alloy wheels at £178.87, a Fuel Computer at £90.71 and electric front windows, which were a bargain at £163.05. The total cost, including a discount of £709.88, was £7692.65. Mr Powell had it serviced meticulously and took personal ownership a year later. He retained it until January 2013, by which time it had covered 28,561 miles.

He advertised it for sale on the XR Owners Club Forum, and it was purchased by Greater Manchester-based member Dave McKee, who researched its history and discovered it was the oldest surviving Halewood-built Mk4 XR3i. Dave improved the car, cleaning up the underside and fixing an oil leak before selling it to a Coventry-based collector in 2016. 

He got the opportunity to buy it back in late 2020 and couldn’t resist doing so, but the current owner, Cambridgeshire-based fast Ford collector and enthusiast Mike Pollard then persuaded Dave to sell it to him in November 2021. It’s still only covered 32,134 miles and has never been painted, so Mike keeps this rare and extremely original survivor in a heated garage to preserve its condition.