A VINTAGE Ford Escort once owned by Diana, Princess of Wales has sold at a Colchester auction house for a whopping £52,640.

Lady Diana Spencer was given the silver 1.6L Ghia saloon by the Prince of Wales as an engagement present in May 1981, two months before they were married in July 1981.

Apparently she often drove it to watch Charles play polo and the bonnet features a silver frog – a copy of the original mascot which was given to the princess by her sister Sarah and which Diana kept when she sold the car.

The princess stopped using the vehicle soon after giving birth to Prince William in 1982, and it was later bought for £6,000 by an antiques dealer.

Gazette: Prince Charles and DianaPrince Charles and Diana

It had belonged to a royal fan since about 2000, who drove it only sparingly without disclosing its history to her friends.

The vehicle was sold yesterday in an online auction by Reeman Dansie, in Wyncolls Road, Colchester, to a telephone bidder for £52,640.

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Lewis Rabett, auctioneer and valuer, said the winning bid came from a museum in South America where the car will now be shipped.

“The interest has been considerable pre-auction,” he said.

“Ending up in South America is testament to the level of interest globally that there’s been in the car.

“It’s also testament to Diana and her enduring legacy.

“It is nice a whole new group of people will get to see it and learn about what Princess Diana achieved in her sadly too short life.”

Gazette: Auction Lewis Rabett with the car Auction Lewis Rabett with the car

The price exceeded the pre-auction estimate of £30,000 to £40,000.

The car was restored to its former glory before going under the hammer by Liam Rayner, 33, who owns Storm Dents Limited in Chappel.

It still carries its original registration, WEV 297W, as well as its original paint and upholstery, while it has 83,000 miles on the clock.