1990 Ford Sierra Sapphire Cosworth 4x4

This Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4, an example of the much improved third generation Cossie, was built in June 1990 and first registered a year later on 1 June 1991.

The RS Cosworth was originally the company car of a lucky design company executive and spent its first decade with two different keepers in the East Midlands before being owned for most of the noughties in Warwickshire, where it was driven sparingly. After a short spell in the West Midlands it then went to Yorkshire, but from around 2010 it was off the road in storage until it was taken into the trade five years later.

Its current keeper, also in the trade, acquired the car in 2016. He’d always liked the Sierra RS Cosworth and was on the lookout for a good one that “hadn’t been messed about with”. In 2017 he had the car, and engine particularly, checked over and serviced by Blaze Motorsport, who confirmed it was a good example, before mothballing it in storage.

Aside from a handful of miles each year to run it up and go for the occasional MOT, the car hasn’t had any significant miles added since 2010 which, added to the frugal use through the noughties, means that despite now being nearly 30 years old, it has a validated mileage of just 57,000.

Recently brought out of hiding and given an MOT, full service and new cambelt by Pilgrim Motorsports, the car is now fit and ready for a new owner.

The Flint Grey Metallic paint and bodywork preparation on this Sapphire is one of the best we’ve seen for a car of this age. There are a few tiny issues here and there, such as a couple of tiny stone chips on the front edge of the vented bonnet and a small patch of lacquer damage about the size of a digestive biscuit on the roof, but otherwise it is in a very good condition.

The glass, trims and fixtures around the car look in good order too, aside from the offside front fog lamp which has been cracked by a stone strike. Although the earlier 2WD Sapphire Cosworths had standard rear light clusters, the later 4x4 cars had smoked glass versions, like this one, which rather suits the darker coloured car.

The Cossie sits on its original 15-inch lattice alloy wheels, which are in very good condition and are fitted with matching Falken Ziex tyres dated 2007-8 and showing good tread depth.

You’ll know by now that we think matching tyres to be an infallible sign of a car that has been owned by a mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the money to keep the car in the very best condition. As such, we use them as something of a ‘shortcut’ when assessing a car’s likely overall mechanical condition – and they’ve never let us down.

The interior has Ford’s Raven grey vinyl trim with Mallory cloth - almost like velour - across its Recaro front seats and comfortable rear bench. It all appears in very good condition with no wear or damage evident, although there are a few streaks of discoloration in places on the cloth.

The manual tilt and slide sunroof works as it should and as far as we’ve been able to test, all interior equipment and electricals function correctly, including the later addition Kenwood CD stereo.

The dark grey carpets with protective over mats front and rear all seem clean and intact, as is the lighter grey headlining above.

If you’d like to inspect the car for yourself prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange a visit - subject to Govt. guidelines - or a one to one video call.

Under the bonnet, everything appears clean and in order. As well as mostly standard components there are additional upgrades such as the Bailey Motorsport header tank, oil separator and swirl pot and Roose Motorsport silicone hoses. There is surface rust on a few of the fixings and ancillaries but nothing a cause for concern. The bonnet lid itself appears in good order, although a heat resistant patch repair has been added to the acoustic lining.

When new, the cam cover would probably have been a bright red but many owners had them recoated once they’d crackled and peeled in a colour to suit their own aesthetic, in this case black.

Underneath the car all looks intact and undamaged. As you might expect, there are surface rust patches here and there across the structures and components but nothing untoward. Catching your eyes (and ears when it starts up) is the huge bore stainless steel exhaust that’s been fitted.

Inside the boot is clean and tidy, with carpets and linings intact. Under the floor cover is a full size spare alloy wheel with a Bridgestone tyre fitted. There is also a wheel brace and a jack stowed behind the rear fascia of the car.

The RS Cosworth has a current MOT valid until December 2021, which it passed with no advisories. The only failures it has had since 2006 were down to an incorrect number plate and lamp issues.

The MOT history is all in the accompanying file too, showing annual testing up to when it was kept off the road from 2010 and also bearing witness to the current low mileage:

May 1994 - 25,248 - Hooley’s Nottingham

May 1995 - 32,257 - Nottingham

May 1996 - 36,209 - Hooley’s Nottingham

May 1997 - 39,058 - Hooley’s Nottingham

May 1998 - 41,118 - Nottingham

Jul 1999 - 44,090 - Goode Motors Leicester

Aug 2000 - 45,363 - Nottingham

Aug 2001 - 47,574 - Stratford on Avon

Jul 2002 - 49,063 - Brooklyn Ford Redditch

Aug 2003 - 50,553 - Roman Motors Stratford on Avon

Aug 2004 - 51,460 - Roman Motors Stratford on Avon

Aug 2005 - 52,169 - Roman Motors Stratford on Avon

Aug 2006 - 52,492 - Roman Motors Stratford on Avon

Aug 2007 - 53,088 - Roman Motors Stratford on Avon

Aug 2008 - 53,450 - Roman Motors Stratford on Avon

Sep 2009 - 55,179 - Viaduct Stourbridge

Oct 2015 - 57,421 - Electromec Runcorn

Aug 2017 - 57,500 - Hilltop Garage Maidstone

Dec 2020 - 57,514 - West Sussex

There are also lots of invoices in the history folder, dating from the early nineties and it has all of its original owner’s manuals and service booklet.

Service history (stamped):

Jul 1991 - 1,984 - Hooley’s Nottingham

May 1992 - 9,270 - Hooley’s Nottingham

May 1993 - 17,190 - Hooley’s Nottingham

Mar 1994 - 23,430 - Hooley’s Nottingham

Feb 1995 - 30,634 - Hooley’s Nottingham

May 1996 - 36,209 - Hooley’s Nottingham

Mar 1998 - 40,437 - Goode Motors Leicester

Jul 1999 - 44,097 - Goode Motors Leicester

May 2009 - 54,142 - Fast Fit Halesowen

There are other invoices showing regular servicing and maintenance throughout the noughties and more recent servicing as follows:

Aug 2017 - 57,500 - Blaze Motorsport Kent

Dec 2020 - 57,511 - Pilgrim Motorsports West Sussex (including Cambelt)

We include an online HPI report run at the auction start which shows no finance outstanding and no insurance markers for theft or damage.

At first sight, the Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth 4x4 might look like a sober-suited saloon car - especially in grey - but underneath it has supercar-rivalling performance. When the turbo kicks in around 3,000rpm, the acceleration is immense but the four-wheel-drive helps to retain its poise and grip through the corners.

Like all fast Fords, the Sapphire Cossies have seen asking prices rising steadily over the past 6 or 7 years, with the absolute best well into upper 5-figure sums. This is a good unmolested example, way better than average, and we think it will sell for between £25,500 and £32,000.

Whilst the Essex extrovert might go for the earlier high-winged 3-door Sierra RS Cosworths, the thinking man would go for the Sapphire 4x4 as it is every bit the performer that the original incarnation was, but in a much more practical package that doesn’t now scream “mid-life crisis” quite so loudly!

Inspection is always encouraged (within Govt. guidelines of course), and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.