1983 Ford Escort XR3i

APF 402Y is a 1983 Ford Escort XR3i. Finished in Caspian Blue and still showing 67,000 miles on the clock, it was in storage for 24 years, which helps explain the recorded mileage.

Now recommissioned and in possession of an advisory-free MoT, it’s ready to thrill and delight its new owner as a very usable example of the breed – and if you wanted to show it next year, there wouldn’t be a lot to do over the winter to get it ready.

Because, as well as being a well-known marque aficionado the seller is known to us, something we point out because all of his cars are absolute crackers - and this one is no exception.

Freshly machine-polished and looking fabulous, the XR3i’s Caspian Blue paint might be the most obvious indicator of its quality but it’s far from being the only one because the underlying metalwork is just as impressive.

With tight and consistent shutlines, ripple-free flanks, and a thin white pinstripe that lines up perfectly across all the panels, it’s remarkably well screwed together, even now.

Of course, it’s got a pair of big, round spotlights plus a pair of rectangular foglamps to bolster the factory lighting, lighting whose lenses are all clear and undamaged.

The chunky rear spoiler is still black and free of obvious aging, as are the lower wheelarch trims front and rear.

The glazing is all good too, including the rubber seals. The rear window even still sports a ‘Grays of Guildford’ sticker, the firm thought to be the original supplying dealer.

Speaking of apertures, the factory glass sunroof opens and closes as it should and appears to seal well. The internal sunblind is still in place and operative too, which is little short of a miracle.

Even touchpoints like the door mirrors and extremities are undamaged, which is always a good sign.

The 15-inch alloy wheels (part number 9057884 and taken from an RS 1600i) are in great shape with no dents, dinks or other damage. They are also fitted with a matching set of 195/50R15 Pirelli P1 Cinturato tyres, all of which still have oodles of tread left on them.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

As for flaws, there are a few thin scratches from the car cover that protected it in storage and some of the black plastic trim is also a little weathered and faded.

Also, given originality is where the money is, you might like to source some O/E alloy wheels, defraying some of the cost by selling the - rare and quite expensive – ones that are fitted currently.

The grey velour upholstery is piped in blue to match the coachwork and it looks like it’s been just as well looked after as the exterior.

More up-market in its materials and design that most of its contemporaries, it’s a lovely place to be with a pair of deeply dished front seats to hold you in place. They’re still in great shape too, with few signs they were fitted in Dagenham exactly forty years ago.

The rest of the cabin is uncannily well preserved. The rear seat is all but immaculate, the headlining is taut and clean and undamaged, the dashboard is free of sun damage, and the door cards are excellent.

The instruments are undamaged. The lettering on the switches is still bright and vivid. Even the digital clock’s LED display works as it should.

There’s also a Fischer cassette storage in the centre console, which is surely the epitome of 1980s chic.

And, while we’re on the subject of retro charms, the door mirrors adjust with a pair of analogue joysticks; the sunroof opens with a manual winding handle; and there are blanking plugs in the door cards to fill the hole where window winders would have been if this were a lower-spec car.

The boot, which is home to the matching full-size spare alloy wheel and Pirelli P1 Cinturato tyre, is excellent. The parcel shelf is still there and it is free of both warping and extraneous holes for long-removed aftermarket speakers.

Lifting the carpet shows nothing but solid, well-painted metal too, which should reassure you that one of the Escort’s few weaknesses hasn’t taken hold.

There is a little work to do but only a little. A piece of trim has come away from the nearside door frame, the lettering on the headlight switch is smeared, the glovebox lid is a little warped, and the carpets have the odd stain here and there.

Oh, and the Kenwood Bluetooth CD player looks inappropriately modern, so you might want to try and source an original to replace it.

As you can see, the Escort starts well and revs nicely with a gorgeous exhaust note. You’ll have spotted the fact the rev counter is a little recalcitrant and the oil warning light is flickering.

The engine bay is decently clean and well presented. The strut tops and inner wings look solid and free of visible corrosion, and the front slam panel looks like it’s still the original. Both are reassuring.

The underside looks good and strong - certainly no MoT tester has ever had cause to bring up the subject of structural corrosion - and the beefy exhaust pipe gives the ‘Scort a suitably impressive exhaust note.

Our assessor got a bit giddy when he gave it a test drive, noting that it “starts and drives like you’d expect from this era of Ford. It’s a bit of a legend actually.”

The Escort’s history starts from the time it was awakened from its 24-year slumber, which means the paper trail starts in 2016 when its previous owner arranged for it to be recommissioned.

This work continued in 2018 - please see the invoices for the full details - and, after a tweak, it flew through an MoT in 2018 with no advisories. It’s repeated this impressive performance every year since and the current ticket is valid until November 2023.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear and it comes with two handbooks and some old tax discs.

One of the original hot hatchbacks, the Ford Escort XR3i proves you don’t need 200bhp under your right foot to have fun. Light and lithe, many think modern classics like this are the sweet spot of the classic car world, combining respectable reliability with great handling and decent performance, all wrapped up in an iconic body.

Easily able to keep up with modern traffic while still being analogue enough to be fun, they’ve become very popular and people are prepared to pay good money for the privilege of owning a good one.

Throw in a hefty dose of nostalgia and better-than-usual residuals and you’ve got a recipe for a car you can buy with your head and your heart.

Which brings us to how much we think it’s going to fetch - we estimate that this fine example of an 80s icon will sell for £15,000-£18,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.