1993 Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth 4x4

The original Ford Sierra RS Cosworth was the first Ford to wear the Cosworth badge and was introduced at the 1985 Geneva Motor Show as a means of homologating the Sierra for Group A Touring Car racing. These regulations dictated that a minimum of 5,000 were built and sold, and eventually Ford complied with 5,545 finding homes. Based on the three-door Sierra body shell, it was designed by Ford's Special Vehicle Engineering (SVE) and was powered by a Cosworth-designed 2.0-litre turbo engine of now legendary repute. The RS Cosworth used a 204bhp 2.0 litre DOHC engine with a Garret T3 turbocharger and intercooler enabling it to reach 62mph in 6.8 seconds and top speed of 150mph. In 1986, the Sierra Cosworth was a new kind of performance car - a blue-collar hero able to humble true sports cars.

In January 1990, the third generation Sierra RS Cosworth was launched, this time with four wheel drive. As early as 1987, Mike Moreton and Ford Motorsport had been talking about a four wheel drive Sierra RS Cosworth that could make Ford competitive in the World Rally Championship. Ford Motorsport's desire for a 3-door "Motorsport Special" equivalent to the original Sierra RS Cosworth was not embraced. The more discreet 4-door version was considered to have a better marketing potential and it was therefore decided that the new car should be a natural development of the second generation, to be launched in conjunction with the facelift scheduled for the entire Sierra line in 1990.

Launched to huge acclaim, the 4x4 RS Cosworth was superceded by the Mondeo in 1992, which brings us neatly to this immaculate example here today. For K916 ATX has the distinction of being the last Sierra 4x4 Cosworth from the production line at Genk, as confirmed by a letter from the Operations Manager at Ford Genk, Germany. Delivered new on the 2nd March 1993 to a Mr Gambling, he must have been made an attractive offer by Ford dealers Fordthorne of Cardiff, as he sold it to them on 3rd August 1993. There then followed a long period of ownership by Fordthorne, who regularly serviced and maintained the car, with detailed receipts on file, although the service book was not stamped. In 2009, the car was purchased by a Mr Bailey who kept the car for some five years before purchase by the current owner, who added it to his extensive "fast' Ford collection.

The car presents immaculately today, the unmarked and rare, Mallard Green paintwork gleams and the black leather Recaro seats show little, if any, signs of wear, understandably for a car showing just 20,0026 miles. This figure is backed up by every MoT except one (from 1999), which we believe was due to the car being off the road, pre the days of SORN and therefore not showing on any records. It should be noted that according to HPI results the car was shown as having once been white. There is nothing in the history file or service receipts that attest to this change of colour and we believe it is a (not uncommon) error by the DVLA.

With prices of its predecessor, the RS500 Cosworth, reaching dizzy heights, this eminently usable and more subtle Sapphire RS Cosworth 4x4 provides excellent value for money and is an opportunity to own an icon of early Nineties performance cars, one of the fastest appreciating sectors of the classic collector market.