### Rhondda Dad Bags Six-Figure Classic Car in £2.99 Raffle
A self-employed decorator from Tonteg, Rhondda Cynon Taf, has had his everyday routine dramatically transformed after scooping a rare sports car in a low-cost online competition. Jason John, 54, had always admired classic cars but never dreamed he’d own one—especially not for less than the cost of a takeaway coffee.
Jason, encouraged by his son Jordan, bought a ticket in an automotive prize draw on a whim, paying just £2.99 for his shot at ownership of a high-performance classic. When he went to bed after entering the competition on 11 May, he did so with little expectation, opting for an early night instead of staying up to watch the results.
The following morning, Jason was roused not by the usual alarm but by a cascade of missed calls, emails and WhatsApp messages. “I didn’t realise I’d won, to be honest,” Jason said, still sounding incredulous at his luck. “My son asked if we could try our luck so I bought a ticket, but I was tired and didn’t stay up for the draw, which happens late.”
What Jason had won was no ordinary prize. Awaiting him was a vintage 550-horsepower Jewel Violet Ford Escort Cosworth Monte Carlo—the stuff of boyhood dreams, carrying a valuation into six figures. Such cars are exceptionally rare, particularly in this particular colour and configuration. “There were only twelve of these made in the Rhine in Germany; now, only seven right-hand drive versions remain worldwide,” he explained, sharing his astonishment at the vehicle’s scarcity and prestige.
News of his windfall quickly spread through the family. “After I found out, I told the kids, told my mother, and everyone was over the moon. My son said, ‘We’ve got to take the car, Dad.’ And, really, there was never any other choice.” Jason had also been offered a £70,000 tax-free alternative cash prize but turned it down in favour of keeping the car.
Reliving his childhood admiration for the Escort Cosworths of the 1990s, Jason reflected on how unattainable such a car had always seemed. “When I was 24, these were the cars my generation dreamed of but couldn’t have. Now, after all these years, it’s mine.”
Collecting the car was a family event, complete with photographs and opportunities for his children to sit in other supercars available through the competition. “It was a fantastic day. The team at Dream Car Giveaways were brilliant and my kids had a blast. We made a lot of memories just picking it up.”
Jason’s first drive was everything he’d imagined and more. “The power is simply instant, and the sensation is incredible,” he said, emphasising how different the experience is from driving more ordinary vehicles. Unsurprisingly, the Cosworth draws admiring glances wherever it goes. “People stop, they beep, they yell out ‘Nice car!’ at the lights. It’s already a local celebrity.”
Despite the thrill of owning and driving the car, Jason has made plans to preserve its value rather than use it as a commuter. For now, the unique Escort is stored away safely. “You don’t want the mileage to go up—you risk damaging what makes it special. Really, it’s like a pension pot. I’ll take it to shows, let people admire it, and maybe sell it ten or twenty years from now. It’s an investment as much as it is a passion.”
The remarkable win has had a ripple effect: Jason’s family circle is now abuzz with talk of competitions, with several relatives and friends eager to try their luck. “Everyone’s getting involved now—even my mother. You never really expect to win, but as they say, you’ve got to be in it.”
Jason, meanwhile, continues to buy the odd ticket, still riding the high of his unexpected fortune. “I never win anything—not even a raffle before this,” he said. “It’s something that’s completely life-changing, a proper shock to the system.”
Such stories not only highlight the sudden reversals of fortune that can befall everyday people, but also serve to rekindle dreams long set aside. Jason’s rare find atop a mountain of missed calls is a reminder that sometimes, risks—however small—can make all the difference.