Ford Sierra RS Cosworth

In 1983 Ford decided that they needed a presence in Group A racing in Europe and began looking around for a suitable car to enter. In order to qualify, they had to sell 5,000 production versions of whatever model they chose and they finally plumped for a hot version of the new Sierra.

Cosworth were approached to develop the engine for the car which resulted in a heavily modified version of the old 2-litre Pinto unit with double overhead cams and a Garret T3 turbocharger and intercooler which developed 204bhp. The rest of the car was designed by Ford's Special Vehicle Engineering (SVE) group and made in Ford's Genk factory in Belgium, with aerodynamic body styling by Lothar Pinske.

Initially Ford hated the lairy rear spoiler but experience had shown that the Sierra hatchback body generated significant aerodynamic lift even at relatively moderate speed and Pinske said the project was a no-go without it. The dealers also hated it and said it would never sell. However, faced with no option, Ford reluctantly let it through and the car was finally launched in July 1986. To limit their losses on what they were fairly sure was going to be a flop, the car was only available in three colours, white, black or Moonstone blue. To Ford’s amazement the car received a rapturous welcome from press and public alike. The big wing became a cult symbol and soon every pimply youth in the land was stapling one to the back of his 1-litre rot box to bask in the reflected glory of the ‘Cossie’. All 5,545 road cars were sold within a year and the competition version cleaned up on the track as well, trouncing the opposition in the World Touring Car Championships in its very first season.

A great deal of time and money has been spent on this particular Cosworth by its previous long term owner, all of the effort going into improving the already rapid performance. As a consequence the car retains many of its original features such as the factory Recaro seats, standard dashboard and even the steering wheel. The engine however is a different matter, and the vendor reports it develops somewhere between 400 and 450bhp. The list of upgrades is virtually endless, but include an A1 Motorsports engine using a long stud block, mapped by Jamsports, fitted with a T34 hybrid racing turbo, Grey injectors, BD10 cams, 4x4 pistons, ARP stud kit, Big Wing alloy sump and mapped water injection. In addition it has a cold water tank type intercooler, GRPA fuel pump, Scorpion exhaust and an ARP 4 paddle racing clutch. The brakes are AP330 water cooled and vented front and rear. Koni top adjustable shocks are fitted along with lightweight raceline wheels.

Altogether over £15,000 has been spent making this into the road rocket that it now is. Finished in original Moonstone Blue it has covered 97,000 miles from new, however just 3,000 miles since the engine work has been completed. MOT’d until October 2011 this Cosworth might just be too quick for road use – bring it on!