WHY YOU WANT ONE…
■ Every fiery Fiesta can trace its roots back to the Mk1 XR2, so its heritage as a piece of iconic Ford history is set in stone.
■ XR values have taken their time to reach RS levels, but they’re now not far behind – and the rarer models (such as Mk1 XR2) are becoming important cars for fast Ford collectors.
■ Just look at it. The sense of fun brought on by driving a 40-year-old roller-skate is equalled only by the cheeky little smile of a Mk1 XR2 poking its nose out of your garage.
WHY YOU DON’T…
■ Never the quickest hot hatchback even when new, the Mk1 XR2 is positively pedestrian by today’s standards, and will be left standing by an MPV packed with a family of seven.
■ Although the Mk1 Fiesta is perfectly practical, it’s impossible to overuse for fear of it getting stolen or becoming damaged. Rust, in particular, is always keen to take hold.
■ Most XR2s have led hard lives, so loads have been abused and crashed. Plenty have also been reshelled into existing 1.1 Populars – and are now worth considerably less cash.
HOW MUCH TO PAY
PROJECT: £3000-£6000
It’s unlikely you’ll find a Mk1 XR2 with any hope of being restored for less than £3000. If you do, it’s most likely to have loads of missing parts or a dubious history. Don’t be surprised to see a shell that didn’t originally begin life as an XR.
GOOD: £6000-£12,000
Few average-condition Mk1 XR2s around; most tend to be in need of restoration or already restored. But you might find a roadworthy example, ideally needing just mechanical problems repairing rather than body and trim.
CONCOURS: £12,000-£20,000-PLUS
Show-worthy XR2s cost five-figures, with the most money for low-mileage, low-ownership, factory-original cars. First-class restorations are valuable, but sellers of ultra-low-mileage machines will be able to name their price.
IDENTITY
An XR2’s value is tied to its identity. Although there’s nothing wrong with a replica or recreation, it’s not worth as much as the
