1983 Ford Sierra BASE (Poverty/UN Spec)
Discussion
The spec list (or lack of it) and the photos of the engine bay remind me of my first car - a 1982 Cortina 1.6L Estate.
And as an observation, there's a (not quite so early - it's on an 'H' plate I think) red Sierra estate knocking around the Farnborough area as a daily driver. And on my son's street in Reading there's a five-door hatch parked outside a terraced house in a road where about half the houses seem to be rented out to students.
I love seeing the 'ordinary' Sierras out on the roads. My dad worked at Ford, on the hub manufacturing line for the Cortina, and so i presume he was involved in making parts of the Sierra too. He wasn't very charitable about the design though, didn't like them very much at all, and has never owned one despite driving a string of Fords over the years. The Mk 2 Granadas were his favourite cars.
I would love to have a late Mk IV/V Cortina again myself, because I owned one as my first car whereas I only ever drove a Sierra once, and it was from a rent-a-wreck car hire outfit in Chatham. I didn't get half a mile out of their yard before the clutch gave up, so i ended up in a s
tty base model three-door Escort estate for the weekend.
And as an observation, there's a (not quite so early - it's on an 'H' plate I think) red Sierra estate knocking around the Farnborough area as a daily driver. And on my son's street in Reading there's a five-door hatch parked outside a terraced house in a road where about half the houses seem to be rented out to students.
I love seeing the 'ordinary' Sierras out on the roads. My dad worked at Ford, on the hub manufacturing line for the Cortina, and so i presume he was involved in making parts of the Sierra too. He wasn't very charitable about the design though, didn't like them very much at all, and has never owned one despite driving a string of Fords over the years. The Mk 2 Granadas were his favourite cars.
I would love to have a late Mk IV/V Cortina again myself, because I owned one as my first car whereas I only ever drove a Sierra once, and it was from a rent-a-wreck car hire outfit in Chatham. I didn't get half a mile out of their yard before the clutch gave up, so i ended up in a s
tty base model three-door Escort estate for the weekend.I have such fond memories of late 70s and early 80s Fords - such a wide range of cars!
After the Y-plate Escort Popular I mentioned earlier with vinyl trim and rubber mats I moved to another office of the same firm in 1985 and my boss had the revised "billy basic" company car - a 1.3 Escort Popular Plus! It even had cloth seats.
But the next grade of company car came with the option of Sierra or Cavalier, and in that office anyone eligible went for the Cavalier - I suppose the Sierra was too radical for 80s management! To be fair early 80s Cavaliers were very good cars anyway. (Although our Branch Manager was another grade up - he had a Carlton).
Anyway in the late 80s I had moved on and had my 2nd Capri 2.8 Injection. A "spirited" launch from a set of traffic lights saw some teeth from the differential exit out of the back plate, so it went for a fix!
While it was away a mate of mine in the trade who mostly dealt in salvage lent me a Y-reg 1.6L Sierra in a dark green colour with the grey plastic trims that had been a mini-cab. It had done over 100K miles, was scruffy and stank of curry but it drove pretty well - and anyway beggars can't be choosers!
In 1993 I bought a Sierra Sapphire 2.0GLSi from the same mate, but it felt like a totally different car.
After the Y-plate Escort Popular I mentioned earlier with vinyl trim and rubber mats I moved to another office of the same firm in 1985 and my boss had the revised "billy basic" company car - a 1.3 Escort Popular Plus! It even had cloth seats.
But the next grade of company car came with the option of Sierra or Cavalier, and in that office anyone eligible went for the Cavalier - I suppose the Sierra was too radical for 80s management! To be fair early 80s Cavaliers were very good cars anyway. (Although our Branch Manager was another grade up - he had a Carlton).
Anyway in the late 80s I had moved on and had my 2nd Capri 2.8 Injection. A "spirited" launch from a set of traffic lights saw some teeth from the differential exit out of the back plate, so it went for a fix!
While it was away a mate of mine in the trade who mostly dealt in salvage lent me a Y-reg 1.6L Sierra in a dark green colour with the grey plastic trims that had been a mini-cab. It had done over 100K miles, was scruffy and stank of curry but it drove pretty well - and anyway beggars can't be choosers!
In 1993 I bought a Sierra Sapphire 2.0GLSi from the same mate, but it felt like a totally different car.
Wonderful stuff.
As a gawky kid I did used to love to spot oddities, often being more excited by some bit of weird poverty spec BL detritus than say a Ferrari. Two of my favourite spots were any Sierras with the black plastic grille like this or any 3 door Sierras that weren't Cosworths. I can't recall now whether you could combine those two stand out features in spec.
As a gawky kid I did used to love to spot oddities, often being more excited by some bit of weird poverty spec BL detritus than say a Ferrari. Two of my favourite spots were any Sierras with the black plastic grille like this or any 3 door Sierras that weren't Cosworths. I can't recall now whether you could combine those two stand out features in spec.
TVR Moneypit said:
Benmac said:
Wonderful stuff.
As a gawky kid I did used to love to spot oddities, often being more excited by some bit of weird poverty spec BL detritus than say a Ferrari. Two of my favourite spots were any Sierras with the black plastic grille like this or any 3 door Sierras that weren't Cosworths. I can't recall now whether you could combine those two stand out features in spec.
Yes you could.As a gawky kid I did used to love to spot oddities, often being more excited by some bit of weird poverty spec BL detritus than say a Ferrari. Two of my favourite spots were any Sierras with the black plastic grille like this or any 3 door Sierras that weren't Cosworths. I can't recall now whether you could combine those two stand out features in spec.
There was one for sale in the summer of last year. Sadly, the iconic grey grille had been cruelly 'upgraded' to a smooth Ghia version. Worse still, the car was sold to someone who's in the process of convincing themselves that it's something that it's not.
I'm so chuffed to see that this has been saved, a few years ago I seem to recall finding pics on the net of it, I didn't even know such a thing as a base existed!
My first car was a 1.6GL MK1 Sierra (pre October '84) which was actually registered in January 1985. The GL meaning it had electric mirrors, but not windows, no rev counter nor 5 gears, no central locking and an original radio where the tape was inserted the other way round from every other tape deck I've ever seen! It too had a very hard working life before I as a 17 year old got hold of it - it had been a company car and a couriers van before I got it!
Like every 17 year old in the early 90's I put a stereo in it that was all up was worth more than the car, with the obligatory 6 x 9 Pioneer speakers in the rear shelf! You'll be glad to know I didn't butcher the original shelf but made one myself, keeping the original as was, i.e. saggy!
I had it from August 1992 until July 2007 when my mother moved and it had to be removed from her garage and scrapped
B54BMF - I still have the registration plate and some of the badges, it's the only car I've ever named!
Funny you should mention the VV carb, after years of managing with first the original knackered one then various ones from breakers that too were knackered I bought a new re-conditioned one from Ford, I meant to remove it before the car was scrapped as it had done perhaps 2k miles over the previous 8 years the car had sat in the garage for but stupidly didn't so it got scrapped along with the rest of the car.
Does yours when first started struggle to run properly, I remember often juggling the throttle and break coming to a stand still to keep the car running!
Sounds like you're Cambridge based, which isn't far from me, are you intending to go to any shows this year, would love to have a look at the old girl, only recall seeing one early Sierra at any shows over the past ten years or so.
Cracking thread
My first car was a 1.6GL MK1 Sierra (pre October '84) which was actually registered in January 1985. The GL meaning it had electric mirrors, but not windows, no rev counter nor 5 gears, no central locking and an original radio where the tape was inserted the other way round from every other tape deck I've ever seen! It too had a very hard working life before I as a 17 year old got hold of it - it had been a company car and a couriers van before I got it!
Like every 17 year old in the early 90's I put a stereo in it that was all up was worth more than the car, with the obligatory 6 x 9 Pioneer speakers in the rear shelf! You'll be glad to know I didn't butcher the original shelf but made one myself, keeping the original as was, i.e. saggy!
I had it from August 1992 until July 2007 when my mother moved and it had to be removed from her garage and scrapped
B54BMF - I still have the registration plate and some of the badges, it's the only car I've ever named!
Funny you should mention the VV carb, after years of managing with first the original knackered one then various ones from breakers that too were knackered I bought a new re-conditioned one from Ford, I meant to remove it before the car was scrapped as it had done perhaps 2k miles over the previous 8 years the car had sat in the garage for but stupidly didn't so it got scrapped along with the rest of the car.
Does yours when first started struggle to run properly, I remember often juggling the throttle and break coming to a stand still to keep the car running!
Sounds like you're Cambridge based, which isn't far from me, are you intending to go to any shows this year, would love to have a look at the old girl, only recall seeing one early Sierra at any shows over the past ten years or so.
Cracking thread
Speed 3 said:
Funkycoldribena said:
Fat Albert said:
1.6? That were luxury!
My Dad had almost the same spec 1.3 in Red as his second Company car with Tesco in 1983 (his first was a 1.3 Metro!)
That interior was a special kind of harsh grey, but had a very particular smell
I had a later 1.6 and that was underpowered!My Dad had almost the same spec 1.3 in Red as his second Company car with Tesco in 1983 (his first was a 1.3 Metro!)
That interior was a special kind of harsh grey, but had a very particular smell
1.3 in one of those was ridiculous.
Fantastic. My uncle had one of those in beige - it's one of my earliest car memories. Even then, it was very old and probably in worse condition than your one - I remember huge clumps of moss growing on the window rubbers, and the rear door once sprung open whilst going around the Elephant and Castle. It was eventually scrapped, and replaced with a 309 GTI my dad gave him: my uncle later said he preferred the Sierra.
BorniteIdentity said:
Thanks for all the positive comments. Amusingly, it's always a hit at car shows/meets with the fairer sex. Most girls I know think highly of their Dads, Most Dads had Ford Sierras, and therefore it's quite a magnet for 30 something females!
Funnily enough I have found over the years that my Sapphire Cosworth has quite the opposite effect. My wife hates it with a passion 
Loving this thread. I have both fond and painful memories of my first car - a J-reg Ford Sierra 1.6 (Pinto) Laser. Whilst it was a pretty basic spec, it wasn't quite as sparse as this one. It at least had a radio, 5 spd gearbox and manual sunroof. Oh and wheel trims. That was about it. When you've had a car with so little, you really appreciate the little things, like central locking. Or a tachometer.
Bookmarked, looking forward to more updates.
Bookmarked, looking forward to more updates.
MJK 24 said:
Moving forwards slightly, does anyone remember seeing a Mondeo Aspen? No rev counter, analogue windows and no side rubbing strips.
I think it was an evolution from the Sierra base. I've seen two in real life, back in the day...
The ASPEN would replace the Ford Mondeo ‘base’ later in life, but you could buy a boggo one from launch. A lovely guy Ben Day has one in Kent which is smashing. His is currently sporting GLX trims but this one is how they looked from new.I think it was an evolution from the Sierra base. I've seen two in real life, back in the day...
Transit speedo iirc!
https://flic.kr/p/9qWdf1
You'd assume, that for a car where 95% are sold with power windows, it would be cheaper to fit them to all the models instead of retaining expensive tooling, different door cards etc for the keep fit ones.
My Uncle got one of these back in the day, having chopped in a GLX Sierra for it. Made no sense why he would move to a poverty spec having enjoyed the sumptuous luxury of its predecessor.
My Uncle got one of these back in the day, having chopped in a GLX Sierra for it. Made no sense why he would move to a poverty spec having enjoyed the sumptuous luxury of its predecessor.
'' nobody can quite put their finger on the exact moment that all Ford Sierras disappeared from the roadside ''
I'd say the early 2000's is when they started dropping like flys, bets on the rust taking hold of most and not letting go. although the last ones probably died with the scrappage scheme in 2008/2009 and finished them all off for good, early jelly moulds would of been over 25 years old by then, and even late sapph's, over 15 years old.
Props to you and your sierra though, its a beaut, i seriously LOVE seeing old cars like this still on the road. any pre 2000ish 'mainstream' car thats still on the road now has done bloody well lets be honest.
I'd say the early 2000's is when they started dropping like flys, bets on the rust taking hold of most and not letting go. although the last ones probably died with the scrappage scheme in 2008/2009 and finished them all off for good, early jelly moulds would of been over 25 years old by then, and even late sapph's, over 15 years old.
Props to you and your sierra though, its a beaut, i seriously LOVE seeing old cars like this still on the road. any pre 2000ish 'mainstream' car thats still on the road now has done bloody well lets be honest.
Edited by mcholeboy_59 on Friday 12th January 08:24
mcholeboy_59 said:
'' nobody can quite put their finger on the exact moment that all Ford Sierras disappeared from the roadside ''
I'd say the early 2000's is when they started dropping like flys,
Waaaaayy before that, mid 90s I reckon.I'd say the early 2000's is when they started dropping like flys,
Edited by mcholeboy_59 on Friday 12th January 08:24
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