My XR4i. 30yrs old today via Southways Automotive.

[djgritt]

Nice restoration!

Definitely a rare sight these days...

[MarkwG]

slippery said:

Perfectly acceptable use of 'iconic' as far as I am concerned!

I'm voting no for iconic, I'm afraid - great car, but back in the day hardly anyone knew they even existed - the Capri was far more iconic - "very famous or popular, especially being considered to represent particular opinions or a particular time:" - the XR4i was more of a cul-de-sac, until the Cosworth came along.

[williamp]

Doesnt it look odd without the spoiler!!

Locely car. I remember our doctors surgery had a ford range brochure form the early 80s which had the XR4i in it. I used to feign illness from scholl not to have time off, but so I could go to the doctors and see the brochure!!

[slippery]

MarkwG said:

I'm voting no for iconic, I'm afraid - great car, but back in the day hardly anyone knew they even existed - the Capri was far more iconic - "very famous or popular, especially being considered to represent particular opinions or a particular time:" - the XR4i was more of a cul-de-sac, until the Cosworth came along.

Personally iconic I guess. It was one of my favourites of the cars my Dad owned during the mid eighties and I have fond memories of it. Even if it did end up in a field upside down in a ball of fire. Luckily, he made it out.

[MarkwG]

slippery said:

Personally iconic I guess. It was one of my favourites of the cars my Dad owned during the mid eighties and I have fond memories of it. Even if it did end up in a field upside down in a ball of fire. Luckily, he made it out.

Fair enough - oops!

[V8Ford]

Great car. My dad had a 2.8 4x4i and that kind of got me into cars, and also gave me a real soft spot for XR4s and the like!

The sad thing was, when the time came to get rid, HE SWAPPED IT FOR A FIAT UNO.

[T66ORA]

MarkwG said:

I'm voting no for iconic, I'm afraid - great car, but back in the day hardly anyone knew they even existed - the Capri was far more iconic - "very famous or popular, especially being considered to represent particular opinions or a particular time:" - the XR4i was more of a cul-de-sac, until the Cosworth came along.

To me the Capri was a 70s car, all, Slade,Punk Rock, 3day a week, strikes and the winter of discontent.

The XR4i with its huge Bi Plane wing was pure 80s, The Falklands War, New Romantics,Electronics, Shoulder pads, and Loadsamoneeeeey

All show? yer but thankfully enough go to see off most rivals, including the Capri

Wait until the Turbo Technics conversation is fitted

[Paul95]

The Sierra in general is a car I have a soft spot for, despite it being before my time. I don't think I've seen a Nimbus Grey XR4i before, only ever white - and often with the rear window butchered to make a Cosworth replica. I might be wrong here, and do correct me if I am because I'd like to learn more, but are the wheels on yours from an XR4x4? All the old pictures I've seen of XR4is have the pepperpot design.

I lust after the Mk2 hatchbacks, but I don't think I could dislike the Sierra in general.

[Dave Hedgehog]

i had one at 19, cost me 7k if i remember, lovely thing

after a visit to torque developments and some other mods lol

[T66ORA]

Dave Hedgehog said:

i had one at 19, cost me 7k if i remember, lovely thing

after a visit to torque developments and some other mods lol

Nice mate. Is that a Janspeed or Turbo Technics conversation?

[T66ORA]

Paul95 said:

The Sierra in general is a car I have a soft spot for, despite it being before my time. I don't think I've seen a Nimbus Grey XR4i before, only ever white - and often with the rear window butchered to make a Cosworth replica. I might be wrong here, and do correct me if I am because I'd like to learn more, but are the wheels on yours from an XR4x4? All the old pictures I've seen of XR4is have the pepperpot design.

I lust after the Mk2 hatchbacks, but I don't think I could dislike the Sierra in general.

Hello Paul,
Thanks for the interest. Yes the original wheels were 14" Pepperpots.
The XR4x4 had 14" RS alloys similar to the Escort RS1600i and Turbo, but those models had 6x15s
My 4i is fitted with the 15s, these wheels were a rare dealer fitted option in 1983. The Sierra has a slightly different offset to the Escort so the wheels are not identical.

[Bl0at3r]

Amazeballs

Love these - I had an '89 2.9 4x4 Ghia Estate in Black a few years ago.

Pretty rare sight these days - don't remember the last time I saw a Sierra of any kind on the road here in essex come to think of it.

[benedwards64]

I love this - my old man had an E-reg XR4x4 when I was a kid and as far I was concerned at the time it was the best thing in the world! Especially when it snowed and we could just cruise past everyone in their 318is

[TheAngryDog]

Nice car Op. I grew up on Fords!

I had a J reg XR4x4 2.9 when I was 19 - second car I also had an A Reg XR4i in red, but sadly it was rotten so I broke it for spares. It had the rare XR4i embossed rear windows (the smaller ones). I'd only ever seen a few with them fitted.

[T66ORA]

TheAngryDog said:

It had the rare XR4i embossed rear windows (the smaller ones). I'd only ever seen a few with them fitted.

The Car was originally to be called XR4 (no "i") Ford changed there minds around 1982, it was to late to stop the production of around 15000 sets or rear glass with "XR4" embossed into them. Later cars 1985 mdls had plain glass.
Some early press photos just have "SIERRA XR4" on the back.
We took this photo when using some bits of card to protect the interior during some work.

[TheAngryDog]

nice info. Its been a while since I've seen the set, they currently live in my parents garage. Maybe I should stick them on the old eBay!

[T66ORA]

Finally got round to updating the thread.

The rear spoiler, front grille and door mirror covers came back the paint shop.




Then it was just a matter of sticking four new riv nuts in the tail gate, sealing and bolting on??? Er........nope, a right PIA lining up the four mounts,






Got there in the end

Treated it to a couple of posing shots at Goodwood.







Whats next? Not a lot for the rest of the year, try and get to a couple of shows, and consider whether to start on the Turbo conversion, or leave as standard?
Decisions Decisions.

[sprouting]

Not the historic TT build your thinking of, but it maybe some inspiration for a future engine build.

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/128321/1973...

Love the car, takes me back to my late teens.

Edited as forgot to add the link.

Edited by sprouting on Monday 28th July 19:41

[dbdb]

It is wonderful and nostalgic to see this old XR4i. I think they are an 'Eighties icon, at least retrospectively - they are to me, anyway.

[Coatesy351]

Looking really good, I want it.