Registration - F254 BKP Chassis No. - SFABXXBBABJD34155 M.O.T. - February 2023 Odometer - 59,000 The clean, crisp styling of the XR3i is aging well and good examples are keenly sought by fast Ford enthusiasts. ‘F254 BKP’ has recently benefited from a considerable degree of refurbishment, during which the car was fully repainted, the sunroof and related mechanicals replaced with a ‘new old stock’ unit, the powder coating on the original alloy wheels and engine rocker cover renewed, the front seats re-bolstered, and the timing belt, water pump, ignition leads, sparking plugs, oil and air filters, tyres, battery and various brake parts all replaced; as were the indicators, repeaters, badges and bumper inserts. Finished in black that’s matched to a grey cloth interior, the Escort currently displays an unwarranted but totally credible low total mileage of 59,000. The MKIII Escort launched in 1983 was a very different proposition from its predecessors, whose DNA lay in the Anglia of yesteryear. The newcomer was intended to be a hi-tech, high-efficiency design capable of competing head on with Volkswagen’s ever improving Golf. The most radical departure from previous models was the switch from rear to front wheel drive. However, everything else was new too – power came from a fresh range of CVH (Compound Value angle, Hemispherical chamber) engines, and independent rear suspension replaced the previous semi-elliptic cart-style layout. Clothing the new mechanicals was a stylish hatchback body with sawn-off aero back end. This new Escort was voted European Car of the Year in 1981. From the outset a ‘hot hatch version was created to target the Golf GTi – the XR3 was born. Two years later fuel injection turned the model into the XR3i which, with 105bhp on tap, was capable of sprinting to 60mph in 8.5 seconds and on to a top speed of c.120mph. In summary: • Odometer currently displaying just 59,000 miles • The subject of much recent refurbishment • Comes complete with a full year’s MOT Watch the video!
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