In the 1980s, Audi shook up the motoring world by doing something unheard of - it made its road cars. The cars normal people, not just Walter Röhrl, could buy. This was, of course, to capitalise on Audi’s motorsport efforts. Race on Monday, sell on Sunday and so on. And it worked, as the roads of the 1980s were awash with cars sporting that iconic name; quattro. 

The thing was, Audis were not an ‘everyman’ car. They were a high-end, premium product. As such, us normal folk had to make do with front or rear-wheel drive. Until, that is, Ford stepped in. Because Ford needed something new, something to slot neatly in the gap between the Sierra Ghia and the Sierra RS Cosworth. Enter stage left, the Sierra XR4x4. 

Unveiled in 1985 at the Geneva Motor Show, the Sierra XR4x4. Initially a three-door, it was soon decided that sales would be better if the car was a five-door, and Ford was right. The XR4x4 with its Ferguson all-wheel drive system was a hit from the off, and flew out of showrooms. 

Powered by a 2.8 Cologne V6, the XR4x4 featured two viscous differentials which split the power by two thirds to the rear wheels. Not as refined as Audi, but it did the job and transformed the car. It was fast, with 150bhp, it was capable and it could haul the whole family. It was the perfect Ford in many respects, and in the late 1980s, it got even better, as Ford dropped in the 2.9 Cologne with electronic, rather than mechanical fuel injection - much like the car we have here. 

This Ford Sierra XR4x4 has the kind of history that we crave when searching for a classic car. The keen-eyed amongst you may have spotted the amber indicators on this 1991 car. However, it hasn’t been modified at all. In fact, it was built in 1989 (and has the paperwork to prove it) before being used as a showroom model, and then being squirreled away for a year. It was registered in 1991 and was used as a demonstrator by Crouch’s Garage ltd (a Ford dealership) before being sold to its first official owners - Mr. and Mrs. Grigsby of Kent. 

They owned the car until 2019, when the current owner took over. Yes, this Sierra, a car that normally changes hands frequently, has had just two owners outside of the supplying dealership. Impressive, and a fact laden with peace of mind. 

The car has amassed a mere 98k over its life. The current owner has put fewer than 500 miles on it since buying it. It was an opportunity for him to own something truly special, but now it;s time to pass that on. 

The car, as we’ll go into below, comes with extensive, detailed paperwork chronicling everything that has ever been done to it. The current owner accepted that responsibility and has done the same. In fact, he was even in regular contact with the original owners up until recently. 

The car’s history is one of car and consideration. It’s never been abused, it’s never been modified and it’s never been damaged. The MOT history, if you look, does indeed have the occasional fail, but never on anything heinous. Brake lines, bulbs, tyres, wear and tear stuff. The current owner had to have a small amount of welding done (it is an ‘80s Ford) and did so with a skilled professional - the offside rear suspension mount is as good, if not better than new. And there is no other corrosion to be found on the structure. This car is a rare and exciting find, an example of a forgotten classic that stands today as close to original condition as is possible. 

As we touched on above, the paperwork for this XR4x4 is detailed, more so than most other cars. You have a box file full of documentation. There are magazines from in period that were used to help decide on this car. There are brochures. There are instructions for the immobiliser, it’s all there. But that stuff is, if you will, a mere aperitif for what’s to come. 

First, you have the Sierra’s book pack. Owner’s manual, radio manual (complete with code card, naturally) and dealer network book. Then, within this collection of literature you have the service book. Stamped by the same dealer for as long as the car was in that area, with its original owners. All stamped, dated and correct. But again, this isn’t the steak, this is just the pate and toast points. 

The steak, in this now frankly delicious metaphor, is the file. The file that, in chronological order, details everything that has ever been done to the car. Every service, every part, every visit to the garage, ever tax disc, every old MOT - it’s all there, in glorious, unabashed detail. Tyres, bulbs, exhausts, it’s all there. Delicious. 

Then there is desert. At the back of the folder are the notes. The handwritten notes that detail every little thing the original ever did. All dated, you have things like “topped up gearbox oil” or “tappets tight, adjusted” so on and indeed, so forth. To call this comprehensive would be a considerable understatement. 

The original owners must have been Borrowers, as there is barely any wear to be found. There is the slightest, and we do mean slightest, creasing in the driver seat fabric. But that’s it. The current owner has fitted a three-spoke leather steering wheel from the 2000E model (though the original is supplied) which gives the XR4x4 an upmarket feel.

The dash - and this what Sierra enthusiasts have been waiting for information on - hasn’t cracked or suffered at the hands of the sun. That alone is worth bidding for. But if you need more to sway you, know that everything on dash functions, including the original Ford tape deck and separate fader unit. The electrics function without fault, meaning all four windows can be opened at the touch of a button. 

The carpets are clean and free from wear, as are the kick plates on the sills. The headlining isn’t sagging, nor does it show any signs of damage or staining. The rear seats don’t look like they have ever had a bottom on them, and the door cards both front and back are in excellent order with only the faintest bit of discolouration on the fronts. 

Around the back, the boot is spotless with no wear or damage to be found to the carpet. The original jack is still in place, as is the original (alloy) spare wheel. The boot floor is dry, and still wears the original sound deadening. There is no sign of corrosion at all. The boot itself has been fitted with new gas struts by the current owner. The only downside to be found is the parcel shelf, which while it remains uncut in the name of 6x9s, has been repaired in the past. However to look at, there is no obvious damage on the topside. 

The pictures here don’t lie. This Sierra XR4x4 is as good as it looks. Is it flawless? Of course not, this is a car that has covered some 98,000 miles during its life. As such, the wing mirrors show some touch-up repairs on stone chips, as does the leading edge of the car below the headlights. There is also a small, but not MOT-bothering chip in the windscreen. It’s a car that has been used, so it’s going to have the odd imperfection. None of this car’s signs of ‘life’ detract from the overall appearance though. It is, without wishing to employ hyperbole, stunning. 

There is no rust to be found, nor any scratches or dents. The previous owner, keen to capitalise on the car’s condition before sale, had any imperfections removed and repaired by a professional body shop. There, they repaired and repainted the leading edge of the bonnet, the offside rear quarter had a minor imperfection which was fixed, the offside rear door and offside lower sill were painted along with the offside lower front door. The rear spoiler was also painted. To finish it off, the whole car was mopped and polished. The work, which was in excess of £500, is flawless. The repairs simply can’t be seen. 

The underside of the car is in good order, though not concours by any stretch. But remember, this is a car that has been driven. As such, yes, there is some surface rust to be seen underneath, as one would expect of any car. However, there are no leaks to be seen, there is no damage, the bushes and rubber components all look to be in good order and there is nothing to be observed, as you can see from the images, that should cause concern. 

Under the bonnet, the engine bay is more representative of a five-year old car, not a twenty-nine year old. There is a bit of surface rust on the rocker covers of the V6, but that’s about all there is of concern. The strut tops are rock solid and still glittering in metallic paint. There are no signs of leaks or issues with the cooling system, the original warning stickers, chassis plate and VIN plate are all present and correct, as is the sound deadening on the underside of the bonnet. 

Everything is in order, the car runs like a top and there is MOT until December of this year. While taking these pictures, the Sierra sat happily idling in 25 degree heat with the viscous fan doing its job keeping things cool. There are no knocks, bangs or rattles from the drivetrain and the all-wheel drive system still functions as one would expect. There is no smoke from the engine, no hesitation on start-up and it revs freely and cleanly. 

The clutch cable was recently changed, as the original snapped, so now the clutch operates as it would have done back in 1991. The brakes are all in good condition and pull the car to a stop without any judders or changes in direction. Also, it’s worth noting that this model had the benefit of disc brakes all round. Furthermore, this Sierra sits on a recent set of Bridgestone tyres fitted to the immaculate RS alloys. 

Once again, the paperwork comes into play here, as it echoes the mechanical condition of the car. It’s easy to advertise a car and say it has wanted for nothing during its life, but in the case of this Sierra, that isn’t a cliche or a throwaway comment. It's a documented fact, as per the pages of notes for every top up, tweak and change. 

The Cosworths have gone, they have hit the stratosphere of the market and they have transcended what they were built to be - performance cars for the normal buyer, for you and us. Now they are fifty-thousand pound machines that only ever see a polishing machine and the glow of camera flashes at car shows. They’re not obtainable any more. This XR4x4 version, however, is. It’s here, it’s not got the ‘scene tax’ of the RS models, but it has just as much fun and admiration. It’s still a performance model, it still packs all-wheel drive and a chassis that encourages the driver to play and have fun. It’s a XR, so just like the RS, it’s a bona fide performance model. 

But more than all that, this example is a time capsule. It’s an un-modified survivor, a ‘blue oval’ that has not fallen victim to modifications or dubious sub-par replica RS bits. It’s pure to what it was when it was new, and when it was new it was a car many of us coveted so desperately. It was a car we couldn’t have though. It was too fast, it was too expensive to insure, you know the story. Now though, it’s a classic, a classic Ford at that. And one that, with just a click and bid, you could finally have. Go on, treat yourself. A car like this won’t come up again.