A rally-spec Ford Escort made a record £89,500 at Bonhams' sale of collectors' cars at Race Retro, Stoneleigh, UK on March 15.

The car in question was the 1972 Escort RS 1600 Mk I saloon as driven to victory by Bjorn Waldegard in the 2007 East African Safari Rally. The sale marks the highest price for both a rally Escort and a Mk I Escort.

This is Bonhams' fourth record price for a historic rally car in just over a year. Previous record sales are: The Monte Carlo/East African Safari 1973 Porsche 2.7 RS Touring at €293,500 (Retromobile, Paris, February 9 2008); The ex-works 1964 Mini Cooper Rally Saloon, winner of the 1965 RAC Rally at £100,500 (Stoneleigh March 24 2007); and the ex-Team Lotus 1965 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk1 Saloon at £136,800 (Olympia, London, December 3 2007).