Immaculate Ford Escort RS Mexico up for sale at auction and set to go for an eye-watering price

AN immaculate Ford Escort RS Mexico is up for sale at auction - and is set to go for an eye-watering price.

The 1973 Ford Escort RS Mexico, with around 66,000 miles on the clock, is going under the hammer with a guide price of £55,000 to £60,000.

This example is finished in black-striped Daytona yellow, and has been rebuilt to standard specification aside from bubble arches filled with suitably fat, Nankang-shod X-Pack alloy wheels.

Powered by a 1.6-litre ‘Kent’ engine, this Mexico model features a specially strengthened shell, along with Rallye Sport suspension and brakes

Hampson Auctions explains: "The Escort’s underside is pretty much as clean and tidy as the pristine black cloth interior, and it’s hard to see how the car could have been any better presented.

"It comes as no surprise then that the most recent of Mexico’s 15 keepers currently regards the ‘Kent’ engine, four-speed manual gearbox, bodywork, paintwork and upholstery as all being in ‘excellent’ condition.

"Nor is it hard to imagine it driving away with silverware if entered in concours competitions."

This RS comes with its original AVO plate and a quartet of Cibie Oscar auxiliary lights.

Only about 10,000 Mk1 Ford Escort vehicles were built after its 1968 Brussels Salon debut.

Hannu Mikkola's victory on the 1970 London to Mexico World Cup Rally was one of the Escort's most notable early competition victories.

Bidders have some time to think about their best price as the Hampson Auctions event takes place on May 13.

This comes after a stunning parade of classic Italian cars were sold at auction- with the total expected to reach a cool £1million.

Plus, a rare 70-year-deluxe "shooting brake" car emerged for sale with an estimated value of £40,000.