・Very rare Ford Sierra Ghia 4x4 Estate

・In same ownership for nearly 30 years

・Requires recommissioning

The Ford Sierra was one of the mainstays of the British motoring scene during the 1980s and between its launch in 1982 and its demise in 1993 Ford manufactured 2.7 million examples, with nearly half of those being sold in the UK. But when did you last see one on the road? Yes, the once common Ford Sierra is now a very rare breed and chances are that the ones you spot these days will be of the Cosworth variety which are now highly coveted.

While the vast majority of Sierras sold in the UK were fitted with four-cylinder engines there were some six-cylinder examples equipped with Ford’s Cologne V6. There was the XR4i and the XR4x4 and the subject of this auction, the rare Sierra Ghia 4x4 estate which utilised the 2.8-litre engine and running gear from the XR4x4. Today it’s a very rare machine and the example we have here has been in the same ownership for nigh-on 30 years and has less than 65,000 miles on its odometer.

This Sierra was first registered in November 1986 and was originally painted in Mercury Grey. Its early history is unknown but it came into the current family’s possession in 1992. The car was used and enjoyed by the owner who was a keen enthusiast of the Sierra 4x4 and over the years he added to the car and personalised it to his taste and requirements which included a respray in what is believed to be a Rover purple colour in around 2002.

Sadly the owner became ill and was unable to drive the car for many years and it has been garaged and registered SORN since its last MoT expired in 2006. However, during the ensuing years the car has been started regularly and driven short distances at the location where it has been kept garaged. Sadly, the owner is now deceased and his partner is of the opinion that the Sierra hasn’t been running for around four years.

The car is still stored in the same garage it has been in since it was taken off the road but when we went to photograph the Sierra it didn’t prove possible to extract it from its garage. No attempt was made to start the car as no doubt it will require a thorough check over before this is attempted. Thus this auction description has been written without having full access to the car.

The photos of the car in the garage are recent images, the pictures of the Sierra outside the garage date from circa 2008 and have been provided to us by the late owner’s partner. 

There is a small amount of paperwork with the Sierra including five old MoT certificates dating from tests in 1996 (48,781 miles), 2002 (51,166 miles), 2003 (58,410 miles), 2004 (61,171 miles) and 2005 at 62,516 miles. As well as the V5C there are several Sierra owner’s manuals, a folder of Sierra related brochures and magazines as well as some publicity phots from when the Sierra Ghia 4x4 was introduced. A V5C document is present.

From what we could see of the Sierra’s interior it still appears to be in good condition and fortunately the garage in which it is stored appears to be weatherproof. The blue and grey sports seats look to be well preserved but it’s important to bear in mind that there is no lighting in the garage so it’s hard to be sure of the car’s condition. 

As can be seen from the images the purple colour scheme from the outside has been continued in the car’s interior while some parts have also been given a chrome finish. We were not able to ascertain the condition of the boot as it is full of spare parts. The owner was going to add heated, electric seats to the car but never got as far as fitting them but a pair of leather seats from another Ford model do come with the car should the next owner wish to complete this upgrade. Some trim parts and other components also come with the car.

As the Sierra has been stored in the garage for a number of years it’s covered with a layer of grime which makes it difficult to ascertain the full state of the bodywork. In particular the rear of the car couldn’t be examined but from what we could see it appears to be in solid order. A tow bar is fitted. The roof, roof bars and glass sunroof appear to be in sound order.

At the front the Sierra appears to be fitted with a Sierra Cosworth style nose cone and bonnet vents. The wheels are 14-inch seven-spoke Ford items. The tyres were flat but appear to hold air once inflated but due to their age replacement tyres would be required.

Under the bonnet several components have been given a chrome finish and from a visual inspection all the major components appear to be present. Due to the car’s long period in storage a thorough mechanical checkover will be required. The seller believes the engine to be the car’s original unit and remembers that it was rebuilt at some stage in the past. Prior to its period of inactivity the late owner’s partner did recall that there was a coolant leak. 

As it stands this Sierra could be described as in ‘barn find’ condition. It’s been in storage for many years and will no doubt require a significant amount of recommissioning. However, it is an exceedingly rare model and has been in the same ownership for nearly 30 years. It presents as an excellent opportunity for the next owner to bring this Sierra up to a roadworthy condition where it can be used and loved as much as it was by its previous custodian.