***Vendor supplied images***

Highlights

Immaculate Cosworth with just 16,550 miles from new
Totally standard car, right down to the Ford audio
MOT history verifies mileage
Multiple show-winning car
Rare, perhaps unique opportunity for any Fast Ford fanatic

The Appeal

As with many great plans, the idea for the Ford Sierra Cosworth didn’t start intending to lead where it went. Ford wanted to homologate the three door Sierra for Group A success and needed to build 5,000 cars. Cosworth, which provided the engine, demanded a minimum order of 15,000 engines. And so the legend that became the seminal Sierra RS Cosworth began.

The Sapphire Cosworth was developed to help use up those engines, which led to Ford imagining a future for the four door car in world rallying. The 4x4 RS Cosworth was born.

12,250 were built over two short years from January 1990 and the car we have here is indisputably one of the best. With just 16,550 miles from new and totally factory standard, right down to the Ford audio and the service stickers in the driver’s door, it is immaculate. A multiple show winner, this is a rare, perhaps unique opportunity for anyone who even faintly recalls these tarmac-shredding ‘90s weapons.

The History and Paperwork

First registered 3rd January 1991
VIN records confirm that this is a May 1990 built car
Thick history file consisting of invoices, old MOTs and service work
Sierra Owners Manual, Ford Audio book and service history booklet in car
There is even a letter from the car - written by a former owner - documenting its history over 10 years
Original book pack not with car unfortunately
MOT history verifies exceptionally low mileage
History file verifies that this car has spent long periods in dry storage, hence the gap in the service records
Superb MOT history back to 2006 verifying mileage and with only advisories for tyres
The vendor states that the car has been a multiple Best in Show winner

Service history includes:

6 stamps
26th October 1992 - Lex Spruce Ford @ 7,972miles
7th April 1994 - independent specialist @ 10,012 miles
14th February 1995 - independent specialist @ 12,126 miles
29th May 1997 - independent specialist @ 13,334 miles
15th April 2021 - independent specialist @ 15,971 miles
- New fuel tank, filter and pump
28th April 2021 - new front discs and pads
15th May 2023 - independent specialist @ 16,503 miles
- New exhaust system fitted
3rd June 2021 - fuel pressure regulator, map sensor, distributor cap and rotor arm and ignition parts, total £582.20

The Interior

Virtually showroom-fresh condition exhibiting all the reasons why these luxurious cars were so popular in period
Highly original including the factory radio and service reminder stickers on the driver’s door
There is very little sign of use and certain none that this is a 32 year old car
The seats display little or no sheen or wear on the bolsters and the perspex cover over the dials is crystal clear
Full leather seats with classic Recaro fronts with adjustable bases
Glass sunroof and four electric windows
Original Ford radio with upgraded amplifier offering fine tuning for your 90s big beats
Leather three spoke RS steering wheel in very good condition with only very light sheen of use
Boot area and spare wheel area look exactly as they left the factory
Clean carpets with rubber Ford branded protective overmats
Excellent leather door cards match the patterned seats

The Sapphire was designed to be the upmarket version of the Sierra, mopping up sales from buyers at the lower end of the Granada target market. Consequently the RS Cosworth version exudes a level of luxury that might surprise those expecting a wholly sporting, stripped out interior. Leather abounds, from the stylish Recaros to the door cards and steering wheel. There is also a big glass sunroof and electric windows all round.

It is also a driver-focussed layout, the switchgear deliberately angled towards the driver and in their sightline too.

The cabin of this Cosworth, as you might hope from the low mileage, is immaculate. Buyers of these cars fresh from the showroom would find much familiar here - it is that good. There is barely any wear on the Recaro bolsters, little sheen to the leather and even the clever plastic fronting the dials is free of scratches or discolouration. The leather-trimmed door cards follow a similar theme.

The switchgear is equally good, with clear decals and no visible wear. Moving to the boot area, it looks much as it would have done the day it left the factory with clean, unmarked carpeting and an excellent spare wheel area.

Originality abounds, such as the factory fitted Ford audio system - with upgraded amplifier - and even the service reminder stickers on the driver’s door.

The Exterior

Show-winning and very original condition, right down to the Ford mud flaps
Diamond White was one of the most popular colours for these cars
The details set this car apart like the clean area under the battery and the unmarked under-bonnet heat shield
Smart four door Sapphire shape still looks good over 30 years after the last cars left the factory
Good glassworks and lights which we are told are factory originals
Clean, straight bodywork with no visible scuffs, marks or dings
The underside is in similar condition with fresh underseal and waxoyl regime from new
Sills and mounting points are excellent
Clean water run-off areas around the boot are a testament to the diligent owners
Superb factory-standard RS Cosworth wheels recently refurbished
Equipped with quality Toyo tyres with at least 7mm tread

Few cars achieve iconic status in their lifetime but the handsome Sapphire RS Cosworth was certainly one of them, particularly in the Diamond White of this model. There had been fast Fords before but none delivered quite the depth of capability and sheer tarmac-shredding force of the 4 door Cossy. Owners struggled to keep onto them when new, having to add home security and bollards in a vain attempt to keep them on their drives.

Looking at this immaculate 1991 car you are instantly taken back to that time. It looks as fresh as the day it left the factory. Highly original - we are told it has never been resprayed - it has excellent bodywork with no visible signs of its 32 years. The panels, trim, brightwork, glass and lights are all original and in superb condition.

The potential of the Cosworth means that many owners have been tempted to enhance the looks and performance. Factory standard cars like this one are therefore rare and sought after. Even the wheels are the correct RS Cosworth 15in versions. They have been recently refurbished and are unmarked.

The Mechanics

2litre Cosworth YBJ 16V turbocharged engine developing 217bhp
5spd manual Ferguson MT75 gearbox
Four wheel drive system
Red top engine indicates that this car is not fitted with a catalyser
Suspension system developed from the XR4Ti American race car
Factory standard car with comprehensive service history
New genuine factory specification exhaust
The seller states that the car starts first time and the engine is well balanced
£2,000 spent by the vendor since early 2021 recommissioning and maintaining the car
Maintenance work by the seller undertaken by a garage run by an ex-Prodive engineer

Audi may have pioneered 4WD in production cars but it took Ford to popularise it. The 4x4 RS Cosworth was originally developed to compete on the world rally stages - which it did in 1991 and 1992 - but it found its natural home on the driveways of Europe. All wheel drive dispensed with the tail-happy handling of the original Cosworths in favour of something altogether more surefooted and - a little - more grown up.

The Sapphire 4x4 Cosworth used the YBJ version of the original Cosworth engine developing 217bhp. To meet the demands of this extra power the cars were fitted with a Ferguson MT75 5spd gearbox. There were two versions of the engine available - this car clearly has the ‘red top’ non-catalyst motor.

The low mileage has been achieved by the car being off the road in dry storage for long periods of its life - in particular between 1997 and 2021 - although MOT records show that, at least from 2006, it was regularly tested and occasionally exercised.

There is a thick history attesting to the careful owners. The seller acquired the car in early 2021 and has since spent £2,000 recommissioning and then improving and servicing the car.

The car was last serviced in May 2023 at 16,503 miles - less than 50 miles ago.

Summary

The world of 80s and 90s motoring produced few cars with the legendary reputation of the Sierra Cosworth. An icon of the era, its various iterations have become amongst the most desirable and lauded of all Fast Fords.

This immaculate RS Cosworth 4x4 is a rare treat. With exceptionally low mileage, extensive service history and significant recent expenditure, it is unquestionably one of the best, if not the best example of its kind on sale today. Perhaps this year. Don’t miss it.

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