A FORD Escort valued at a whopping £100,000 is going under the hammer in Dorset next week.

The iconic 1973 car is expected to sell for around 100 times the asking price for a basic Escort back in the 70s.

But this is not just any old Ford Escort - it’s an Olympic blue RS1600 built to Group 4 rally specifications.

The car was built by a competitive rally team with more than 60 years experience and has been professionally sponsored.

It is one of a number of classic and vintage cars up for auction at Charterhouse’s Long Street Salerooms in Sherborne on Wednesday July 27.

It includes vehicles from across the decades and will be held online due to coronavirus.

“There is always such a diverse selection of motors in our auctions and this sale has some fabulous cars” said Richard Bromell, Charterhouse Director.

“With cars being offered from barn stored projects being sold without reserve up to a six figure car there is certainly something for everyone.”

The Escort is the top lot in the auction but there are a selection of other vehicles for people on a more modest budget.

There is a single owner 1985 Opel Manta GSi hatchback. This has been barn stored for about 20 years and is a rare survivor.

Elsewhere in the auction, a 1955 Bentley R-Type is valued at £25,000-27,000, a 2002 Aston Martin DB7 limited edition Vantage Volante (convertible) could fetch £45,000-50,000 and a 1955 Land Rover Series I is expected to attract bids between £10,000 and £12,000

A 1942 slat front Jeep is valued at £21,000-23,000, a 1953 MG TD £19,000-21,000, a 1972 MGB GT £10,000-12,000 through to two MG Midget restoration projects both for sale without reserve.

The auction is being held online only with viewing at the owners’ locations and members of the public can see all the lots and download the catalogue from charterhouse-auction.com

Charterhouse is now accepting entries for their auctions including classic and vintage motorcycles on August 27 followed by coins, medals, stamps, clocks and collector’s items on September 3 and 4.

For further information regarding these auctions, or to make a Covid-19 safe home visit, contact Richard Bromell at Charterhouse, The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne 01935 812277 or email images to Richard on rb@charterhouse-auction.com