Some cars from the ’80s and ’90s are now approaching classic status and, in this new series, we look at some of these cars — those that may appeal to our younger readers
This month we take a look at a cult vehicle from Ford’s European stables, a car that already has a legendary reputation, and is currently teetering right on the cusp of the bona fide ‘classic’ status — the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth.
The ‘Cossie’, as it is better known, got its start in life thanks to a seemingly unremarkable visit to the Cosworth factory by Ford Motorsport Europe’s then director, Stuart Turner. Turner had been given the task of pulling Ford’s European motor sport image out of 
the doldrums, and was visiting the Cosworth factory see what could be done. He happened to walk past a two-litre Pinto block that had been fitted with a 16-valve dohc head. Turner asked if a turbocharger could be added, and 5000 units made (the number required for race homologation). Once a deal was agreed upon and the appropriate, if somewhat unpopular Ford Sierra platform was chosen to house the motor, the gears began to turn on production of one of the UK’s most iconic cars.
Over the next few years the Cossie saw many trials, tribulations and detractors, but all negative noise dropped away in late 1986 as the car was released to the general public, and people got their first taste of RS Cosworth performance. A 0-100kph of six seconds and a top speed of 233kph is still considered quick today, let alone 20 years ago.
A New Breed
From 1986 onwards the RS Cosworth dominated rally stages and circuits across the world, and there were few cars that could touch it. The car was so successful that in 1988, when a new Sierra was produced, Ford decided to keep producing the RS with the new body. This meant a move to four doors, and less aggressive styling, although no drop in performance. Two years later a four wheel drive version was produced, and although it offered the most grip and performance of the bunch, it will probably never be quite as desirable as those first, super aggressive three-door monsters.
The 500 Club
During production of the original 5000 three-door Sierras, an extra 10 per cent were produced on top. These 500 cars were given to performance specialist Tickford, which was asked to create an unbeatable weapon destined for race circuits the world over. It did exactly that, giving life to a true legend of the ’80s, and the ultimate Sierra, the RS500. This special edition vehicle was built tough, and featured a host of improvements to boost power and handling. This means it is easily the most desirable of all cars in the RS stable, but don’t expect to find one on the streets, let alone for a good price, as they are true collectors’ cars and very seldom get driven, if at all.
Buying Guide
These days it is far harder to find a road-worthy Cossie in poor condition, as nearly every current owner knows what he or she has in their hands. This also makes for some fairly high prices, so don’t expect to pay under $15,000 for a good quality example. When looking at a car, there are many trouble spots that need close inspection. Bear in mind, your potential new baby will be around two decades old.
Although the YBT engines are very strong, be wary of three-door cars, as the early motors are prone to head gasket failure, usually at the back of the block on the driver’s side. After checking for milky oil under the cap, before even turning the key, make sure to take a few trips around the car on the hunt for rust. Of most importance, check the suspension towers, as they are fairly susceptible to rot and can be expensive to fix.
When driving the car, pay special attention to the five-speed gearbox, as although it is a tough piece of kit, it has suffered 20-odd years of high-revving abuse. The Borg-Warner ’box is notchy by nature, but tricky shifts from third to fourth seem to be a common and good sign of worn bearings. Finally, in the RS world there is no such thing as a cheap fixer-upper, as parts are very hard to source. If you do find yourself staring down the barrel of a major restoration job, you’d best hope your pockets are deep — very deep.
Parts Supply
Here we find the single biggest downside to owning a RS Cosworth. Unless you get very lucky and find something you need locally via the internet, or through the RS Owners’ Club mentioned above, parts are nigh impossible to find without looking to the UK. This makes for a very expensive exercise once you factor in freight and import duty.
Clubs
New Zealand only has one club catering to the Sierra RS Cosworth — luckily it’s a good one. The RS Owners’ Club of New Zealand welcomes any Ford with a RS badge attached and can be found at
www.fordrsoc.org.nz.
Ford Sierra RS Cosworth – Specifications
Built: 1986-1992, 30,932 built
Engine: Cosworth YBT 2000cc turbocharged four cylinder
Power: 152-167kW (204bhp-224bhp)
Bodies: Three-door hatch, four-door notchback
Performance: Top speed 240kph (150mph) 0-100kph around 6.1 seconds
NZ Prices: Expect to pay around $20,000 for a tidy example
Words: Peter Kelly
This article is from Classic Car issue 223. Click here to check it out.
