1990 Ford Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth

Highlights

Genuine RS Cosworth
Presented in desirable Moonstone Blue
Engine head overhauled and rebuilt
In great, largely original and unmodified form
New MOT till July 2025

The Appeal

The Sierra RS Cosworth. A car that epitomises the fast Ford. Firmly cemented in the ranks as one of the all time greats from the esteemed automaker, the Sierra “Cossie” as it would affectionately come to be known is perhaps one of the most significant and influential cars of the 1980s and 1990s and today, unsurprisingly stands as one of the most desirable classic Fords out there.

It was the four door Sierra Sapphire Cosworth which really resonated with the people, as it stuck true to the fast Ford tried and tested recipe of mixing a punchy motorsport influenced driveline into an otherwise sensible everyman’s family car. Capable, practical and astonishingly quick, the Sapphire was one of the best and as such, remains a highly coveted and desirable model on the used collector market.

Such great performance and practicality meant that naturally less than savoury characters would begin to use them for criminal exploits or put them through ditches and florists’ windows in Essex, making quality road going examples all the more scarce in the present day. This 1990 Sapphire is one such example that remains in great condition, & will come to the new owner freshly MOT'd, which with an engine head rebuild in 2021, is primed and ready to be enjoyed as part of a collection or as an individual nostalgic weekend toy.

The History and Paperwork

First registered 23/02/1990
Supplied originally through Currie Motors of Kingston
Still accompanied by the period Currie Motors main dealer book wallet
Several Ford manuals and booklets still present with the vehicle
Service book is to hand and contains several stamps dating back to the first 3 month service
The odometer indicates 14,577 miles - however, we understand the car has been around the clock once
Regardless, this is still an excellent mileage for a 33-year-old car
V5 registration document present with the vehicle
Registration doc highlights this to be a genuine Sierra RS Cosworth
New MOT till July 2025
Several former MOT certificates present
MOT records show very limited mileage undertaken in recent years with less than 1000 miles covered by the vendor in their ownership
As we understand the car was put into storage circa 2015 before being purchased by the vendor in 2021
The car was sent to Thurston engineering after purchase for a mechanical inspection and resultant engine head overhaul and rebuild with relevant invoices present
Several other invoices present for maintenance work and parts bought for the car

The Interior

Highly original interior space
Recaro leather sports seats
Electric windows
Pre facelift interior
Very well presented throughout

Neat, clean, thoroughly well presented. Immediately after opening the doors one is presented with what is surely one of the better preserved examples of a Sierra Sapphire cabin. There are a few points to note in here with some more minor deviations for dead standard but make no mistake, this is a quality, highly original Sapphire interior.

Seating front and rear is in great form, the classic partnership between Ford and Recaro always prevalent within the marque’s performance models, the Sapphire is no exception and we find stylish Recaro leather sport seating residing proudly in the front of the cabin, both in good standing, these present well with strong bolstering and minimal signs of wear or age rather just a light patina in places. The same can be said for the rear bench style seating which is of an equally clean presentable standard.

Interior plastics and mouldings have clearly been treated well throughout their time on the road and are still, over thirty years on from production, in good clean form, still rich in colour with limited signs of wear or blemishing, sure there are some general marks commensurate with age but an inspection would suggest that the Sierra’s owners have been gentle on the car. The marvellous collection of driver focused switchgear and instruments including the iconic triple auxiliary gauge cluster and factory electric windows are all seen to be in similarly fine fettle with all understood to be working.

There are some areas of more notable wear, namely some deterioration to the upholstery on some of the door panelling, but overall we see this to be an entirely well presented cabin and a testament to careful enthusiast ownership in the car’s more recent history.

At the rear one is presented with an impressively sized boot area, this being the larger Sapphire model, which currently holds a full size spare alloy wheel and an accompanying tool set.

The Exterior

Highly sought after Moonstone Blue paintwork
Extensively original from an aesthetic perspective
15” RS Cosworth “lattice” alloys wheels
Factory fitted sports trim

The Cosworth Sierras were available in a number of colours from the factory, and whilst all have their desirability on the collector market, none seem to have quite the same appeal as Moonstone Blue amongst enthusiasts. It’s certainly a wonderful colour choice and the car we have here is one of the rarer car’s specced in this colourway from the factory as denoted by some under bonnet stamping. Today it still gleams proudly in its Moonstone hue and makes an excellent case for why this is such a sought after colour choice.

Paintwork is of a general good standard throughout, still with a deep shine across the panels it looks impressively fresh. There are some areas of blemishing, namely an area of bubbling around the o/s/r wheel arch and some light marking commensurate with age, but this is certainly one of the smarter and more presentable Sapphires out there in terms of aesthetics.

External fixtures and badging all appear to be present and in good standing, with a generally great fit and finish to the factory fitted sports trim, including the iconic rear boot spoiler, more aggressively styled sports bumpers and iconic bonnet vents. Naturally the exterior lighting and glass elements including the manually operated sunroof are in great order as well.

At ground level sit four wonderful examples of the RS Cosworth 15” “lattice” style alloy wheels. All in great standing, interested parties may note that some of the Ford stamped centre caps are missing, these have since been located and the vendor informs us that they are now with the vehicle. A fifth full size Cosworth alloy finds home within the boot of the car though this is not currently installed on a tyre.

The Mechanics

Legendary Cosworth developed engine
Five speed manual transmission
Engine head overhauled and refurbished
New calipers on the front

A 1993cc DOHC turbocharged Cosworth developed four cylinder engine sits proudly under the bonnet of the Sierra. The Sapphire was already a light car so when paired with an engine of this calibre and some revered Ford motorsport engineering, the results were always going to be good. These cars were astoundingly quick and incredibly rewarding to drive, they really were a return to form for the fast Ford.

In 2021, upon purchase of the car, the vendor had it sent to automotive legends Thurston Engineering for an inspection and test of the engine, as a result of this, the head was removed and overhauled with new valve guides and stems along with a refinish and new accompanying head gasket. As a result, this particular example looks to be in great mechanical standing, the engine bay, engine and surrounding fixtures including that epic Garret turbo look to be in fine fettle, presenting in good honest form.

On the road the Sierra is reported to provide an excellent driving experience, firing into life quickly and comfortably with a characteristic exhaust note and providing great power delivery and crisp gear changes from the accompanying five speed manual gearbox. Underneath looks to be of a similarly good quality, in clean form throughout.

Summary

A legend of the era and a coveted piece of Ford history today. The Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth must surely be one of the all time greats and this 1990 Sapphire is a wonderful example of the esteemed model. Well presented in good honest form and in great mechanical standing, it’s undoubtedly a charmer and enough to widen the eyes of just about any Ford lover out there, primed and ready for life in a new loving home.

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