Ford Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth: PH Heroes

The unsung Sapphire RS Cosworth is the jewel in Ford's fast Sierra range

Although the original 1986 three-door Sierra RS Cosworth is seen by many as the definitive Cossie - especially in wild RS500 guise - it was actually the Sapphire saloon which, back in the day, touched the lives of so many more PHers.

With a more ordinary four-door format and less extrovert styling it was everywhere. In fact Ford managed to shift around 25,000 examples. And being based on Britain's most popular - and most derided - repmobile gave it a grittier blue-collar attraction that appealed to the inverted snob in many of us.

4WD replaced 2WD in 1990

The Sierra Cosworth was of course designed to win Touring Car races - which it did exceedingly well, with an accompanying homologation run of 5,000 roadgoing production cars. But to make it worth the effort, engine builders Cosworth cannily insisted that Ford purchased at least 15,000 of its engines. So what to do with the rest of them?

Barely civilised
By 1989 Ford felt a lower-profile saloon based Sierra Cosworth would have more commercial appeal than the original three-door Sierra, thus the Sapphire RS Cosworth was born.

Originally conceived as something of an executive supersaloon, poor security soon led it to became a favourite with underworld types looking for a quick getaway. And a few years later, the model's image appeared to have been tarnished for good. But nowadays it's fast becoming an appreciating classic that - in standard form - can still happily (and affordably) be used as regular driver.

Arguably the most seminal Cossie of all, the Sapphire RS Cosworth ignited the UK's love affair with 2.0-litre turbocharged four-wheel drive saloons, which later culminated in the Subaru Impreza and Mitsubishi Evo. But with only around 1,000 UK Sapphire RS Cosworths left, now's the time to buy one - before those prices start to rise steeply.

No whaletail but this is still a special Sierra

Four-door draw
Based on the cooking Ford Sierra Sapphire platform, the first 204hp rear-wheel drive Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworths were assembled in Genk, Belgium, with the UK-made red-top Cosworth YBB engine. From 1988 to 1989 around 13,000 were manufactured, using much of the original three-door's expertise, but the Sapphire badging was reserved for UK cars only.

With a 1988 asking price of £19,500 it was an expensive Sierra and boasted an improved ride over the three-door Cosworth, plus an impressive executive spec.

In 1990 the Sierra Sapphire was facelifted and the RS Cosworth model gained four-wheel drive plus a power tweak to 220hp. Designed with rallying in mind, Ford Motorsport had wanted to get its hands on a 4WD Cosworth for some time. Approximately 12,250 cars were made from 1990 to 1992 with Recaro sports seats (leather was optional), headlamp washers and electric front and rear windows. Two different engines were supplied - a YBJ non-catalyst motor and the green-topped YBG catalyst-equipped powerplant you see here. The new model also saw a welcome return to bonnet louvres and an improved MT75 five-speed gearbox.

Three blokes in a Cossie. Not a bank job

In all, 3,661 cars were sold in the UK - with the official August 1990 UK list price at £27,060. Metallic paint was £175 and leather cost £500. Other options included a CD player (which ranged from £373 to £726), a personal car phone for £564 plus £118 fitting and even a car fax phone for £1,645!

There was even a late-1992 facelifted model produced complete with a rear lip-spoiler, front headlight wipers/washers, front fog lamps, a factory-fitted undertray, a different steering wheel, tinted glass, an optional electric sunroof and air conditioning, a CD player and 15-inch 'Shark Tooth' alloys. Soon after Ford finally pulled the plug on Sierra production to make way for its all-new Mondeo.

Be a wheelman
In spite of its size (the Sapphire was 4,494mm long) the RS Cosworth weighed only 1,290kg. To put that in context a Toyota GT86 only weighs 50kg less. So just over 200hp and 200lb ft was enough to deliver pretty rapid cross-country performance, especially when combined with the 4x4 Sapphire's permanent four-wheel drive system incorporating a viscous centre differential which split power 34:66 front-to-rear, and a rear viscous limited-slip diff. Official figures claimed a conservative 0-60mph time of 6.6 seconds and a 146mph top speed. In practice most cars were quicker.

Humdrum origins, end product anything but

Gutsy and with less lag than the later Escort Cosworth, the engine sounds a bit gruff and hesitant at low revs. But once the turbo kicks in around 3,000rpm, acceleration is impressive. And for a classic performance car the 4x4 Sapphire is pretty easy to drive quickly. It's spacious, comfortable and offers great all-round visibility. Earlier rear-drive Sapphires are great for lurid tail slides but it's the later 4x4 model which provides the quickest way from A to B in a Sierra. Plus That rear-biased torque split still provides plenty of poise and agility.

Steering feedback is good too, although the system is not as precise as some modern cars and the steering wheel seems really big. Ford's rugged MT75 five-speed manual transmission feels dated too with a comparatively long throw. But the ventilated front and rear ABS brakes provided adequate stopping power in all but the most extreme of circumstances.

The suspension is by MacPherson coil/strut set-up and rear trailing arms with uprated anti-roll bars but the suspension is still pretty soft by contemporary standards. The overall drive lacks a bit of refinement but it feels special because of it. It's certainly less raucous than an earlier three-door Cosworth, reflected in the image and way people react to it out on the road.

You can almost smell the plastic!

Fast forward
Feeling tempted? When it comes to buying a Sapphire RS Cosworth provenance is the key - so if you are going to take the plunge don't waste your time looking at cars lacking a solid history. Ideally your Sapphire should have a cherished non-rebuilt body, a small number of previous owners, an original engine and a comprehensive service history.

Sticking to 6,000-mile oil changes is recommended, plus a cambelt at 30,000 miles or three years. And prospective buyers should also check the fuel pump voltages - as the wiring looms gets old voltages can drop, causing lean top end running and potential engine failure.

The bodywork warrants close examination too - both 2WD and 4WD Sapphire Cosworths can rot quite badly - especially under the plastic trims, around the rear arches, sunroof, chassis rails, in the boot and under the battery tray. And remember if routine maintenance has been skipped you could face repair costs running into the thousands. A reputable owner will have kept on top of any small jobs that needed doing. The totally mint Radiant Red car you see here is classic example - one of just 14 UK cars in this colour it was specially specced for a Director at Colgate Palmolive UK and has had just two previous owners.

Famously tuneable YBB here in standard form

The OE front ARB bushes on a Sapphire will need replacing every few years so many owners will have fitted uprated ones. A coil-pack conversion can prove a wise investment too, as can replacement poly bushes. And make sure there's decent security fitted, and that it works properly.

You will find Cosworth Sapphire advertised from £6,000 upwards, however the best cars will set you back as much as £15,000. But for that you'll be getting not just a cherished classic performance Ford, you'll also be getting an appreciating asset.

The Sapphire may not be the most sought-after Sierra RS Cosworth, that'll be the RS500. But it is the best one to buy right now.

FORD SIERRA SAPPHIRE RS COSWORTH 4x4 (MY1992)
Engine: 1,993cc four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: 5-speed manual, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 220@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 214@3,500rpm
0-60mph: 6.6 sec
Top speed: 146mph
Weight: 1,290kg
On sale: 1988-1989 (2WD), 1990-1992 (4x4)
Price new: £19,500 (1988 2WD), £24,995 (1990 4x4) - although official UK OTR price was £27,060
Price now: £6,000 to £25,000