There aren’t many performance vehicles that seep into the social consciousness so much that even ‘non-car’ folk are aware of them. There are even fewer that can be identified by a nickname. The “Cossie”, as it’s affectionately known, is certainly one of them. Providing supercar rivalling performance and touring car aesthetics for family saloon money – they developed quite the reputation as ferocious, blue collar performance heroes. In fact they were headline news in the late 80s and early 90s – mostly because they kept getting nicked and used in bank robberies.
Sadly, that same reputation for immense performance meant they got pinched, modified and crashed in vast numbers. About 12,250 were built, all at Genk in Belgium, and the vast majority ended their life upside down in a ditch or buried in the front a shop. As such a nice, straight, unmodified, HPI-clear example is pretty much a unicorn.
We are therefore delighted to present just such a unicorn for auction. With less than 35,000 miles on the clock from new, a fine record of maintenance and careful ownership and that wonderful turbocharged powertrain in factory specification, we fully expect this to be an immensely popular machine. Sapphire Cosworths in this kind of condition simply do not exist in great numbers, and this is genuinely one of the cleanest, best preserved examples we’ve ever seen…PoPMWzndis74oxy54MJgazGJoxalfg5mFjWWD50P.jpg926.52 KB
The History and Paperwork
First registered in June 1992
Facelift (post August 1991) car with the stronger ‘YBJ/YBG’ engine
Only two registered owners from new
Last registered owner since August 2011
Kept in a ‘Carcoon’ for 11 years
Just 34,523 miles from new, verified by service and MOT record
Just over 2,000 miles covered since 2012
Current MOT to February 2024
HPI checked and clear
V5c present and correct
Complete with the owner’s handbooks, two keys and service book
Comprehensive service history – 10 stamps, all from Ford main dealers or specialists, with the last stamp in August 2019 at 34,382 miles (less than 200 miles ago)
Includes plenty of invoices for servicing and maintenance over the years
As this is a facelift model, the upholstery is the very “of its period” Space fabric. A smart dark grey with multi-coloured inserts, it presents in excellent condition, with no tears, fading, significant wear or damage apparent at all. The seats themselves are the usual deeply-bolstered Recaros, which look to have been very well preserved, with no signs of sagging or notable wear, even to the bolsters.
Throughout the cabin are smart, dark grey carpets with matched OEM Ford floor mats. Upon opening the doors, these contrast well with the smart, period-correct, branded and polished sill guards.
Similarly, all of the trim, switchgear and driving controls are presented in near-immaculate condition. We’re sure that, as a 31 year old car, there will be the odd minor mark or blemish somewhere, but we certainly couldn’t find anything worth mentioning. The expression ‘time warp’ is used too often in car circles, but this really does look as if it’s just been transported directly from the early 90s. Unsurprisingly, the vendor tells us that everything in the cabin works just as it should, with no faults or problems.
As a ‘Sapphire’ model, it benefits from a generous saloon boot, which is finished with dark grey carpet which shows no evidence of threading or staining. Upon lifting the carpet you’re presented with a full-size spare wheel which shows in very fine order, and is fitted with a tyre that matches the external set. We also noted how clean and straight the boot floor and wheel well are – frankly they look to be almost pristine. There’s not a hint of corrosion, damage or repair work here.SgvMw3beXoObrO2I7sSZUhCmbNKHW3WsZyRpskYa.jpg942.5 KB
Original, factory-fitted boot spoiler and bonnet vents
Smoked rear light lenses
Original, branded rubber mud flaps
Headlight wipers
Genuine factory “shark tooth” alloy wheels
Gleaming in its coat of pure white paint, this Sapphire simply shimmers in the sunlight. All of the paintwork presents in exceptionally good order, with no notable marks or damage. The vendor was at pains to note a small blemish to the paint at the top corner of the bonnet (which we’ll be honest, we couldn’t see) and a miniscule scratch the width of a postage stamp at the corner of the rear bumper. Otherwise the paint is pretty much as good as you’ll see on a Sierra Cosworth.
Likewise, the bodywork itself has clearly been very well cared for. The great enemy of all cars from this period is the dreaded tin-worm. But there’s not a sign of it here. No corrosion, no damage and not even a ding or dent we could discern. Panels are straight, crisp and all the gaps look neat and consistent. Eagle eyed watchers will note the front nearside of the bumper has an uneven fit - the vendor has since rectified this and a photo can be seen below in the gallery.
It should go without saying then, that the glass elements, light lenses, badging and other external trim pieces are present, correct and untarnished. Even the black plastics still hold a fine, deep colour and a low sheen – just as when they were new with no evidence of UV damage or fading.
The wheels are the original fitment “shark tooth” items – 15-inches in diameter and finished in a lustrous silver We couldn’t identify any damage, kerbing or lacquer peel. All four are neatly shod with a matched set of Bridgestone ER90s too, which appear to have excellent tread and sidewalls.
Peeking underneath, we were unsurprised to see that the underside is almost as well presented as the bodywork. It’s all very clean and straight, with no signs of damage or notable corrosion. Of course, there is the odd smattering of very light surface corrosion to the exhaust system or drivetrain components, but no more than we’d usually expect to see on a three year-old vehicle, to be honest.e0phjDXlERPQoFWUZkAS8mENv1EXM7hC199tLn2A.jpg836.55 KB
As a post-1991 car, this features the stronger, more powerful engine with a revised block and head as well as a larger intercooler. Not only is this a more reliable engine, but it delivers an extra 20bhp too, making for a meaty 220bhp in what is quite a light car.
Under the bonnet, the engine bay is lovely and clean, with no evidence of issues, leaks or overheating that we could see. That green facelift rocker cover is still nicely painted and it looks as if the mechanicals have received plenty of attention and care over the years.
A legend in its own lifetime, a mint, unmodified Sapphire RS Cosworth 4x4 is one of the most desirable performance cars from the 90s. Most collectors and enthusiasts would love to park a fine example in their garage – and we think this is as good as you’ll ever see. Superb in every way, this near-pristine Cossie is a true unicorn, one you definitely shouldn’t let get away…
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*
UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
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