BUYER’S GUIDE SIERRA RS COSWORTH VITAL STATS BUYER’S GUIDE MADE 1985 to 1986 PRICE WHEN NEW £15,950 PRICE NOW £8,000 to £30,000-plus TOP SPEED 149mph POWER 204bhp @ 6000rpm TORQUE 205Ib.ft @ 4500rpm 0-60 6.2 seconds SIERRA RS NUMBER BUILT 5,542 (2,616 sold in the UK) HOW MUCH COSWORTH TO PAY £10,000 TO £15,000 Unfinished projects, non-runners, rot boxes and cars with dodgy history fetch five figure sums. THREE-DOOR Only fakes are cheaper. Words: Dan Williamson Photos: Chris Wallbank £15,000 TO £25,000 Runners in need of work cost up to £20K, while modified machines and weekend toys in good nick he Sierra RS Cosworth. 150mph potential, incredible meticulously-restored-back-to- may nudge 25 big ones. The very definition of a handling and motorsport standard machines. INSURANCE COSTS fast Ford. The bewinged domination. Yet the Cossie is still an £25,000 TO £32,000 Once an insurance company’s worst nightmare, today the RS Cosworth is Concours and A1-condition an affordable proposition, even if owned by a young driver. motorsport-bred Key to that success was incredibly capable performance Sierras are in demand, with Tmasterpiece that should be the two-litre Cosworth YBB car, as happy to be thrashed A specialist broker is key to finding the best deal. Unlike mainstream the best low-mileage, original, insurers –still shocked by the Cossie’s reputation for being stolen and sitting in your garage right now. engine, which could be tweaked around a track as it is to turn unmolested and unrestored crashed – a specialist will realise the Sierra is a prized possession, more The Sierra RS Cosworth to develop twice its original heads at a concours contest. It’s examples changing hands at likely to be seen at a concours show than a McDonald’s drive-through. higher prices. RSOC registrar Paul Collector’s car policies will cover a standard RS, while modified machines appeared in 1985 as a result output. Tuners were quick to also a bank-beating investment Bury expects values to hit £40K of homologation rules, which take advantage, and the Cossie that’s equally able to annihilate may be covered by performance car insurers. Insist on an agreed value, and within the next six-to-12 months. look for limited-mileage discounts or track-day cover. meant 5000 examples were became king of the modified car your wallet. Here’s how to find the Joining the RS Owners’ Club is particularly worthwhile – it offers several required for eligibility in Group world. car of your dreams. insurance schemes, while many other classic policies cut prices for club A touring car racing. And, Today we’ve come full circle. members. because Ford was determined Huge desirability and rising values WHERE TO to win, the Sierra RS was have taken the three-door Sierra BUY ONE packed with groundbreaking into the hands of collectors, You won’t find many three-door ingredients – namely wild keen to secure the lowest- Cosworths for sale – mainly aerodynamic styling and mileage original examples and because owners are hanging a turbocharged 204bhp onto their cars as their values rocket. Sierras sometimes appear powerplant from Cosworth on eBay and Facebook groups, Engineering. The result was especially those at the lower end of the market. Tread carefully because bargains aren’t always what they seem. The same goes for classic auctions, where bidders get carried away and buy three-doors for more than their retail value. If you’ve got the budget, specialist car dealers are a good source of top-notch Cossies, but you can’t beat buying from an enthusiast or long-term owner for that all-important history file. Indeed, many of the best machines change hands without being advertised. So be sure to contact the RS Owners’ Club: members and/ or the three-door registrar could have information on any cars currently for sale. IN THE ADS We found this example on the Auto Trader website. It has plenty of history, has had a full rebuild, but has sat for the last 5 years, has no MoT, and needs a little work to get it back on the road.

78 FAST FORD FAST FORD 79 BUYER’S GUIDE SIERRA RS COSWORTH ENGINE “Beware of head gasket Legendary Cosworth YB engine will produce big power or cover high mileage, but rarely both. Although parts are available to repair the motor, it’s an expensive business. failure, including coolant All three-doors were equipped with YBBs, and early versions were weaker. Piston slap from cold is normal, but beware if the engine sounds like a diesel when warm – it’s probably due a rebuild. It’s common for tired dripping down the YBBs to growl, and severe knocking from the bottom end means costly crankshaft and/or bearing problems. Beware of head gasket failure (or, worse still, a damaged head), including cylinder block on the coolant dripping down the cylinder block on the exhaust side, water in the oil or steam exiting the exhaust. Black smoke (excess fuel) is typical of a modified engine, while blue smoke means oil is escaping – the odd puff at idle is normal but under power it’s likely to be worn piston rings or a blown exhaust side” turbo; check it for play by wiggling the compressor wheel. If you’re inspecting a modified Cossie, ask to see receipts from a respected tuner. Dodgy upgrades can be a ticking time-bomb.

TECH SPEC ENGINE 1993cc four-cylinder, 16V, DOHC YBB with cast iron 205 block and alloy cylinder head, 8.0:1 compression ratio, toothed belt drive, Weber-Marelli multi-point fuel injection and electronic management system, Garrett T03 turbocharger with intercooler. TRANSMISSION TRANSMISSION Rear-wheel drive with Borg Tough as old boots, the rear-wheel- Clutch slip is common, especially Warner T5 five-speed manual drive Cosworth’s T5 gearbox can with more than 300bhp pushed gearbox, viscous-coupling nevertheless deteriorate with wear through a standard part. To check, limited-slip differential, 204mm and abuse. Generally the problems are floor the throttle in fifth at 3000rpm. A clutch. Final drive ratio: 3.65:1. little more than worn synchromesh stiff clutch pedal is probably due to a BRAKES rings, which crunch when changing sticky cable. 283mm ventilated discs (front), gear (especially from third to second Transmission rumbling may be 273mm solid discs (rear), Teves or third to fourth); the only cure is caused by collapsed driveshaft ABS. an expensive rebuild. Bear in mind bearings, eventually losing drive in one SUSPENSION there’s no synchro on reverse, so it’s or more gears. MacPherson struts, Fichtel & often noisy unless you select fifth Many Sierras have dodgy Sachs gas-filled dampers, coil before moving the stick. Meanwhile, a differentials, occasionally whining, and springs, lower track control arms, properly dead ’box could have stripped often resulting in a one-wheel-drive 28mm anti-roll bar (front), semi- teeth or snapped selector forks. effect when the LSD is worn out. trailing arms, coil springs, Fichtel & Sachs gas-filled dampers, 14mm anti-roll bar (rear). Wheels and Tyres SUSPENSION BRAKES 7Jx15in RS alloys and Dunlop D40 205/50VR15 tyres. Most Cosworths have had their suspension Great stoppers when working properly, the INTERIOR upgraded, albeit ages ago. In many cases it’s Sierra’s four-pot front calipers are prone Recaro front seats with grey tired, with soggy springs and dampers leading to to seizing against its 283mm ventilated Roma cloth trim, leather-rimmed vague and unflattering handling. Likewise, a hard discs; the symptoms are heavy juddering or three-spoke steering wheel, or crashy ride may be from broken or mismatched pulling to one side. Vibrations felt through leather-covered gearknob, components (or aftermarket coilovers set too hard the brake pedal and steering wheel are boost gauge within instrument for the road) . most likely due to warped/contaminated binnacle. On the test drive, feel for wandering from the front discs and/or pads – Cossies consume EXTERIOR front end, probably due to worn track control arm them pretty regularly. Three-door Sierra hatchback bushes; clonking could be caused by the same. Rear discs on a three-door aren’t body with unique polycarbonate Similarly, sloppiness on the tail end will almost ventilated (unlike the Cosworth 4x4) and bodykit comprising deep front certainly result from tired rear beam bushes. Stick in may also be seized on or off; jack up the bumper, side skirts, wheelarch a set of Powerflex replacements and the problems back end and spin the wheels, applying the extensions and rear wing, rubber will disappear. handbrake to check. front lower splitter, front fog If there’s play in the steering the PAS rack could The standard ABS is good, if now aged. lamps, mesh grille, bonnet vents, be at fault, although it’s more likely just the steering That means plenty of problems with the colour-coded electric heated column bushes, which are cheap and easy to wiring or sensors (sometimes just dirty mirrors, electric front windows, replace. but awkward to trace), or the ABS pump. tilting/sliding glass sunroof. Beware of any Sierra pulling to one side, which Beware if it feels like there’s no servo Colours: Diamond White, Black or could be a sign of accident damage (or simply assistance (a heavy pedal) or lights are Moonstone Blue. sticking brakes). glowing in the instrument panel.

80 FAST FORD FAST FORD 81 BUYER’S GUIDE SIERRA RS COSWORTH ELECTRICS INTERIOR Be under no illusions: it’s a mid-80s’ Find a three-door with an Ford; the Cosworth’s electrics are immaculate interior, and be a bit crap. prepared to pay for the privilege. Age, wear and tacked-on Mint original trim is pricey. additions (alarms and stereo Dashboards are renowned equipment) are to blame for many for cracking and warping, and issues, so look for corroded, chafed mint replacements are hugely or bodged-together wiring looms expensive. Repairs are possible and connectors, especially in the (with varying results), while engine bay beneath the nearside some cars have had Sapphire bonnet vent. dashboards fitted instead; a Symptoms can range from non- genuine three-door dash has a starting and poor running to ABS speaker grille in the top. failure, underfuelling, and even Factory-fitted Recaro front complete engine meltdown. As seats are likely to have tatty such, it’s vital to ensure the fuel bolsters, saggy cloth and pump is working effectively – if the soggy reclining mechanisms. cradle area is caked in rust, watch The driver’s side suffers most, out. Wiring at the pump should read so don’t be surprised to find a 13 volts, or trouble could be waiting. passenger seat in its place. New looms are available to cure The vinyl on door cards these problems (at a price), and a becomes wrinkly, and many Sapphire’s L6 ECU is preferable to have been chopped-up to house the three-door’s L1 (pins one and 19 speakers. Not good. often fail). Sierra headlinings are prone Electrical gadgets (such as to sagging, as are rear parcel windows and locking motors) shelves; talking of which, a may also play up, but don’t worry genuine Cosworth shelf should because they’re common with have a plastic compartment lesser models. (designed for a first aid kit).

“A mint example may be solid, but you’ll need to check carefully for tinworm”

BODY It’s a 30-year-old Sierra. It will probably be rusty. Okay, a mint example may be solid, but you’ll need to check carefully for tinworm. Start with the floorpan and chassis rails (particularly the rear box sections near the spring seats), inner and outer sills, front crossmember and boot floor, especially around the bumper mounts. Check the doors, wings and tailgate, along with the boot aperture (beneath the seals) and A-pillars, plus the inner and outer wheelarches (behind the plastic extensions). The engine bay is notable for cracks and corrosion, so look at the bulkhead and inner wings, paying close attention to the suspension turrets, which are known to fold inwards and eventually collapse; another warning sign is excessive negative camber on the front wheels. Beware of accident damage (thousands of Cossies were crashed), and if you’re chasing a concours car make sure it’s got all the essential gear in place. You’ll want to see factory seam sealer, original/uncut panels (with date stamps on the front wing rails) and paintwork; all three colours are equal in value.

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COMMON FAULTS CONTACTS Don’t for one minute think a Cossie can Ford RS Owners’ Club be treated like any modern Ford: they’re www.rsownersclub.co.uk all heavy on fuel, vital to keep serviced, and (realistically) not reliable. Running Julian Godfrey Engineering costs can be massive, and parts prices 01435 865999 huge – especially when RS tax comes www.racetuners.com into play. Almost anything could be considered MA Developments (MAD) a common fault, including rust, rattles, 07768 356204 turbo troubles and non-starting. www.madevelopments.com Misfires are especially common. Some causes can be serious (such as a blown Matt Lewis Motorsport head gasket) but most are likely to be 01543 379524 electrical or ignition-related: Cossies www.mattlewismotorsport.co.uk eat spark plugs, and worn wiring looms are problematic. Many issues are solved Motorsport Developments with a new loom, while a wasted spark IDENTITY 01253 508400 conversion will alleviate most misfires. www.motorsport-developments. Swapping paper gaskets for cometic is Crucial to buying any Cosworth registrar may be familiar with any co.uk wise too, especially at the inlet manifold. is its identity. Although there are Cosworths on the market. Bits of trim may break (such as front some decent replicas around Ensure the chassis number Norris Motorsport (NMS) grille lugs), headlamp lenses go yellow, (often reshelled using a base- (found on the VIN plate riveted 01773 836274 alloy wheels lose their lacquered model three-door Sierra), they’re to the slam panel and beneath www.norrismotorsport.co.uk diamond-cut finish, rear wing fittings never worth the same as the real a flap in the carpet beside the can snap, and other parts become deal. Worse still are the ringers driver’s seat) matches what’s North Yorkshire RS Spares loose when they’ve been removed for and stolen cars, from which you on the logbook; it should read 01944 738092 restoration work. Even simple stuff can should run away. WFOEXXGBBE followed by a series www.cosworthrsspares.co.uk be ridiculously pricey, so budget for it RS Cosworth road-car shells of two letters and five digits; these before buying (for example, crinkly side have a bigger gearbox tunnel, last seven characters should OddKidd Creations rubbing strips cost hundreds to renew). straight (horizontal) towing eye, match the original engine number. 07984 071567 Finally, remember a fully-restored factory-pressed cutout behind the Beware of missing stamps, www.oddkiddcreations.co.uk car may cost slightly less to buy than an ABS pump, and a glass sunroof. although many Sierras have been original Cosworth, but in the long term The best way to source a welded over due to rotten inner SCS will take much less cash to keep in great genuine car is to check with sills. But a ground-off or home- 01733 576614 shape. reputable sources such as the RS stamped number is a special code Owners’ Club, whose members or that translates as ‘steer clear.’

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