As Paul said lots of claims about the car, but the only hard facts are the car changed hands once in the UK, and that was in 1988 and it was never re-taxed after it ran out in 1989.

The car is still hpi clear and is still registered with the DVLA but has never been sorned, as that reg didnt come into effect until much later.

The inlet theory is a red herring, we proved that recently at Ford Fair. One component of the 500 inlet assembly is a modified 3dr part and as such has its revised part number etched onto it. This part number by pure chance also happens to be the YBD engine number that was allocated to build 500. All 500s will have the same etched number on them.

I have spoken to Ford heritage directly, Stuart Turner the author and many of the old engineers from the development days, none can remember what happened to the car. The car shown in the photo was just any completed moonstone 500 that was closest to the banner, that was confirmed to me, and build 500 was probably still being assembled when the photo was taken, as they took it right to the wire to get the cars finished in time for the August 1st homologation date.

Lets just hope if it does still live, that its not rusting away in some soggy barn, or being used as a chicken coop.

Number one is known to Paul and Daz and is now abroad. As the initial proto she was worked hard.