Sierra Cosworth RS500

FORD SIERRA RS 500 COSWORTH E900 KBK

REGISTERED 28 SEPTEMBER 1987

MILEAGE 13,942

BUILD NO 048/500

The Sierra RS 500 Cosworth was supplied to the original owner by Endeavour Motor Company Brighton.

It was used sparingly and joined a collection which included a Ford Capri RS 2600, Lancia Integrale, Metro 6R4 and an RS200 – all 80’s icons!

All the cars were simply dry stored in a garage, they were not displayed and just gathered dust.

Richard, Rob and their late father Malcolm, Directors of the highly respected Ford RS specialists, Tremona Garage were alerted to the existence of the RS500 in 2012/13 when an interested buyer contacted them to carry out an inspection on the car which they were informed had been in storage since 1991.

Although the results of the inspection were positive, the buyer could not agree terms with the owner, so the sale did not proceed.

It is understood other offers were made, but the owner was not interested in selling.

At the time, my son had a very special Ford Focus RS MK1, which he had extensively upgraded by Tremona Garage, so we had known Malcolm, Rob and Richard for around 8 years and were always very impressed with their knowledge, attention to detail and exemplary customer service.

Totally unknown to my son, the Sierra owner lived literally just round the corner from him. One day, my son and one of his colleagues were out and came across the owner at his house with the Metro outside. Neighbourly conversations commenced and the three of them would periodically meet up for a chat. After approximately one year My son and his colleague, aware of my desire to find the best, original RS 500 available agreed a deal to purchase, subject to an independent inspection.

Ironically, when my son contacted Tremona to arrange an inspection, he was informed it was not required as they had already carried out a check on behalf of another potential buyer and had strongly recommended the purchase.

Early in 2015, the Sierra, a non – runner for nearly 25 years was collected by Tremona Garage and taken for a detailed inspection at their workshop in Southampton. All listed items were authorised and recommissioning commenced.

It was agreed the recommissioning could be carried out at an undemanding pace as the car was simply going to be moved from one collection to another.

Since being collected and fully recommissioned by Tremona Garage over 10 years ago the car has remained in their care and control as I was unable to accommodate it with my other cars.

On completion, the Sierra was taken by covered transport to a discreet, private location an indoor car cover was obtained and fitted before a new Carcoon was carefully placed over the cover, which constantly controls temperature and totally eradicates any condensation.

When asked why was a car cover required in addition to the carcoon – Rob explained that even carefully placed on the roof of the Sierra before inflation, the carcoon

could cause minor surface marks, that’s what you call attention to detail!

I am fortunate to be a 25 year Goodwood Road Racing Club Member and in 2018, I was invited to display the Sierra in front of Goodwood House, as part of the exclusive annual vehicle display.

Malcolm, Rob and Richard delivered the Sierra by their covered transport to Goodwood House where it was displayed to the members. This one and only outing provided me with the opportunity to drive the Sierra around the perimeter of the Duke’s circular lawn at 5 mph, a total distance of approximately 200 metres, before being reloaded on to the transporter and returned to storage, where it has remained for the last seven years.

I have the original vehicle handbook with the Cosworth Supplement, audio books, service book, Ford Extra Cover Certificate, Spare Key and even the original pre-delivery inspection sheet carried out by Endeavour.

Additionally, I have the Ford RS Cosworth Workshop Manuals Volume 1 and 2 plus the RS500 Supplementary Workshop Manual and the original tyres replaced during recommissioning with their 1986 manufacturing dates.

There is a photographic record with over 700 photographs of the recommissioning, taken by Tremona Garage and a detailed invoice of the no expense spared recommissioning.

I ran a Texaco owned, specialist, used Ford dealership throughout the 80’s and retailed thousands of high specification, low mileage ex -Ford Motor Company cars, from Fiestas to Scorpios, but was never able to purchase a RS500 and really wanted to own one. If you were around at the end of the eighties, you may remember the stunning image of the black Texaco RS500 on advertising boards around the country, placed by Texaco, which simply said World Champion.

Although I am the second registered keeper, I have never used the car on the public roads, so although it is technically a two owner car, I view myself and Tremona Garage simply as 10 year custodians and definitely not users.

The Sierra will be fully recommissioned and MOT tested after 10 years in storage, including the replacement of the cambelt which has covered less than 4 miles, but is due for replacement on a time basis.

The directors of Tremona Garage, who possess an extremely detailed knowledge of

E900KBK, have kindly offered to converse with any serious, prospective buyers.

I have been privileged to own an RS500 which came from the same stable, Tremona Garage, as the one which sold for nearly £600,000 and is in their opinion at least as good.

A Fast Ford in equivalent condition would be considered in part exchange.

The photographs were taken in Tremona Garage during the recommissioning and at the Goodwood Members Annual Vehicle Display in 2018, before it returned to long term, temperature controlled storage.