This remarkably well-preserved Ford Escort XR3i was first registered in February 1983 and is showing just six previous owners and 121,100 miles on the odometer.

It’s also been in the seller’s care since February 2022, during which time he’s invested a significant sum in conserving it.

The paperwork is in order too, and ‘DJA 591Y’ is also being offered with a sensible guide price and no reserve, making it the perfect way to banish any post-Christmas blues.

There’s an invoice on file for £4,000-worth of paintwork in February 2023 and given it’s covered barely any miles since then the fact it still looks as good as it does will come as little surprise.

Interestingly, the seller only took it into his favourite bodyshop to have the front bumper aligned more neatly, but when the chap suggested the XR3i was good enough to warrant a full respray, he couldn’t resist writing out a cheque for a coat of fresh paint.

Peer beyond the admirably glossy and very well applied red paintwork and you ...