Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
BUYING ONE<br />
Despite selling in their droves, it<br />
actually seems that buying a decent<br />
<strong>XR3</strong> or ’3i is considerably harder than<br />
securing a tidy S1 RS Turbo.<br />
Numbers of the XR have dwindled<br />
and it’s no surprise. While they are<br />
sound performers in their own right,<br />
enthusiasts have generally plumped<br />
for the aforementioned S1 or the<br />
RS1600i homologation special, using<br />
the XR as a stepping stone until<br />
funds become available for the latter<br />
models or bypassing it altogether.<br />
Like the MkII XR2, the <strong>XR3</strong> and<br />
its injected sibling have started to<br />
amass the mainstream recognition<br />
they deserve. As always there are<br />
a few optimistically priced cars, but<br />
by and large prices for the XRs have<br />
remained down to earth — even<br />
in the face of the growing ‘80s hot<br />
hatch revival.<br />
Paying for one isn’t a problem,<br />
but finding an early XR can be. The<br />
majority are in various states of<br />
disrepair and these neglected cars<br />
tend to appear in the usual suspects<br />
such as Trade-it, Loot and eBay.<br />
The free classifieds in <strong>Fast</strong> <strong>Ford</strong><br />
are worth scouring too, although<br />
the model’s classic status means a<br />
check of the small ads in sister titles<br />
Retro Cars and Classic <strong>Ford</strong> may<br />
prove more fruitful.<br />
Good to top end stuff does appear<br />
in Auto Trader, but a fine place to<br />
start looking is the classified section<br />
of the XR Owners’ Club website.<br />
When we looked the pick of the<br />
bunch was a 1982 <strong>XR3</strong> in original<br />
condition and finished in Sunburst<br />
Red. Up for a grand, it wasn’t a<br />
bargain but to its credit it had never<br />
been welded and came with a fresh<br />
MoT and a load of new parts.<br />
At the opposite end of the<br />
spectrum the Classic <strong>Ford</strong> small<br />
ads unearthed an early 1986 <strong>XR3</strong>i for £250,<br />
which had been stood for eight<br />
years, while eBay listed a couple<br />
of Sunburst Red <strong>XR3</strong> projects,<br />
eventually selling for £380 and £250.<br />
The most expensive we found<br />
was in Auto Trader — a 1985 Cplate<br />
<strong>XR3</strong>i with decent history,<br />
a new MoT and described as<br />
immaculate. It looked a potential<br />
show car but the £2500 asking<br />
price was very strong.<br />
Auto Trader also revealed a<br />
late five-speed <strong>XR3</strong> with desirable<br />
options and a recent engine rebuild<br />
<strong>XR3</strong> and MkIII <strong>XR3</strong>i are<br />
now bona fide classics<br />
“Numbers of the XR<br />
have dwindled.”<br />
fasttech<br />
Though they’re still cheap,<br />
finding a good one’s hard<br />
for £1750, but our money would<br />
have gone on a bargain £850 Creg<br />
<strong>XR3</strong>i in original condition with<br />
125,000 miles and long tax and test.<br />
Look around and buy on<br />
condition rather than specification<br />
as, unless you’re highly skilled,<br />
restoring one will be costly. There’s<br />
nothing in price between the two<br />
models but our advice would be<br />
to opt for either the earliest <strong>XR3</strong> or<br />
the latest and best-equipped <strong>XR3</strong>i.<br />
They’ll be great fun and guaranteed<br />
to appreciate in value.<br />
There are plenty of examples<br />
for sale out there, but<br />
ones like Phil’s don’t<br />
come around that often<br />
FAST FORD FEBRUARY 2006<br />
0 1 5 5