Classifieds tested: Ford Sierra RS Cosworth for £52,995

| 9 May 2019
Classic & Sports Car – Classifieds tested: Ford Sierra RS Cosworth for £52,995

Stop dreaming and start driving! C&SC tests the classics you can buy. Click here for the full listing – and read on for our expert’s conclusion.


This first-gen Cossie is a bit of a retailer’s dream: perfectly preserved, in standard condition, finished in classic Moonstone with a fantastic paper trail including service sheets and safety recall notices, and even an original-spec spare tyre.

It still wears numberplates and a rear-window sticker from the original supplying dealer, Hooleys of Nottingham.

Classic & Sports Car – Classifieds tested: Ford Sierra RS Cosworth for £52,995

The front wings and slam panel retain their number stampings, which aren’t obscured by the thick respray that we often see – although it’s had various bits of paint here and there.

The Ford’s wheels have been refurbished and there’s a 2015 bill for five Toyo tyres. The spare wears an original-spec and unworn Dunlop D40 with an appropriate age stamp. The standard-looking exhaust is in good order, still sporting the remains of its paper sticker on the tailcan, but the headlights are very slightly corroded within.

Inside, the Raven seat velour is unworn and only slightly baggy (usually they get very loose, but the driver’s-side base foam has been renewed here). All the dashboard plastics are good with no cracks, and there are no speaker holes in the parcel shelf. The carpets are protected by overmats.

Classic & Sports Car – Classifieds tested: Ford Sierra RS Cosworth for £52,995

The motor appears to be stock. The coolant is nice and pink, the oil clean, although it will be serviced again with a new cambelt at sale. The history (seven stamps so far, plus five Ford main dealer service sheets to 21,000 miles) shows it hasn’t been driven any great distance in the past decade, with the previous belt and new hydraulic tappets 700 miles ago in 2015.

It starts easily, with a fizzy bellow that turns out to be an exhaust blow somewhere around the downpipe. It’s after the turbo so it doesn’t affect the boost, which is max 0.8bar as you hit 3500rpm (once warmed up, of course).

The chassis is supple, quiet and well behaved, with a firm ride and nice, smooth brakes. The steering wheel is slightly misaligned; it doesn’t appear to tramline as noticeably on the Toyos as it would have on Dunlops.

It will be sold with a new MoT, spare keys and original books, including a Cosworth supplement.

Classic & Sports Car – Classifieds tested: Ford Sierra RS Cosworth for £52,995

OUR EXPERT’S SUMMARY

EXTERIOR Very good, mostly original paint

INTERIOR Lasting well and the seats are only slightly baggy

MECHANICALS Watertight service history

VALUE ★★★★★★★✩✩✩


SHOULD I BUY IT?

Yes, if you want a very standard, unmolested example of a performance classic that is correctly priced in today’s market

For Super-original condition, with lowish mileage

Against Blowing exhaust

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL FORD SIERRA RS COSWORTH LISTING


Ford Sierra RS Cosworth factfile

  • Year 1987
  • Recorded mileage 34,504
  • Asking price £52,995
  • Vendor Classic Connection, New Forest; 01425 489575

 

When it was new

  • Price £17,100
  • Max power 204bhp
  • Max torque 205lb ft
  • 0-60mph 6.2 secs
  • Top speed 149mph
  • Mpg 29

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