Ford Sierra Cosworth

Together, Ford and Cosworth released the Sierra Cosworth RS as a homologation special for Group A rally. Thankfully 5000 examples were needed for homologation into Group A rally and by 1986 the car went into regular production.

The Cosworth-developed YBB engine was a Pinto-based block with a Cosworth aluminum head. It was equipped with an intercooled Garret AirResearch TO3 turbocharger that delivered 9psi of boost, resulting ...
...shape of the 500. As Ford began to realise, running 226 bhp through only two wheels as they did with the 500 was dangerous, they released the 4x4 model with the Saphie, however as we all know the only way to get good drift and fishtail fun is with a 2 wheel/rear wheel drive, so ford placed torque converters on the Saphie so 70% of its raw power was still run to the rear and only 30% to the front. The brakes were improved and also the dampers. The ... more

Together, Ford and Cosworth released the Sierra Cosworth RS as a homologation special for Group A rally. Thankfully 5000 examples were needed for homologation into Group A rally and by 1986 the car went into regular production.

The Cosworth-developed YBB engine was a Pinto-based block with a Cosworth aluminum head. It was equipped with an intercooled Garret AirResearch TO3 turbocharger that delivered 9psi of boost, resulting in just over 200 horsepower. While for a road car this power was exceptional, especially given the price, in motor sport it was not ample. Given the fact that the car was also rear-wheel-drive and suffered from turbo lag, it is no surprise it didn't take any outstanding victories in Group A.

Although unsuccessful in rally, the RS Cosworth was quite capable on the road. It even out-powered and weighed less than the BMW's E30 M3. As a result the car achieved a top speed of 150 mph with a sub six second run to sixty mph.

Based in the RS Cosworth, 500 special RS500 models were built with a more powerful engine. Eventually the whole project evolved into the Escort Cosworth RS which was a more purpose built machine.

As time progressed, so did the Sierra Cosworth, the RS500 rear wheel drive series ceased production on the D-plate and so began the birth of its successor the Saphire Cosworth!

The Saphire or Saphie as it is better known as was the 5 door saloon shape, not the 2 door hatchback shape of the 500. As Ford began to realise, running 226 bhp through only two wheels as they did with the 500 was dangerous, they released the 4x4 model with the Saphie, however as we all know the only way to get good drift and fishtail fun is with a 2 wheel/rear wheel drive, so ford placed torque converters on the Saphie so 70% of its raw power was still run to the rear and only 30% to the front. The brakes were improved and also the dampers. The interior was also improved, a lush choice of leather Recaros, full electrics and six speaker sound systems. The dashboard was given a face lift, as the mk1 500 dash was known to crack in direct sunlight. Still keeping the multi-spoke alloys, however again modernising them and also doing away with the hughe wailtail spoiler for a more subtle boot lid one, this was for two reasons.......
1. The Saphie was a saloon and not a hatch, therefore having a large bootlid.
2. The hugh wailtail of the 500 was banned in several EU countries due to poor rear visibility, this is why you see the early 500's with high tails and the later 500's with mid level tails, so as they could continue with the sales abroad!
The engines were basically the same as the 500, however emmission laws meant some modifications had to be made. So as people were able to distinguish between the two engines the Saphie was given a red head as the 500 had a blue head! The Saphie continued sales untill it ( the Sierra ) was fased out in 93 to make way for the "steady eddie" Mundaine Mondeo! However to be fair they did produce the 24v 200bhp Mondeo Wolf, then the ST24 and now the ST200, but by no means can they be compared.

I sold my Cosworth to make way for my Rover Tomcat Turbo, however I still swear to this day I will own an RS500. Even for a 20yr old RS500 I am looking to pay as much as 15k for one in standard and tidy form........ but how often do you find these un-tuned???? NEVER! Some of these cosworths are running as much as 900bhp, imagine having 900 horses ready to send you into orbit!!!! If anyone has seen the films The Fast and the Furious this will in no way set you up ready for a highly tuned Cosworth.

Subaru knockout the Imprezza, Mitsubishi the Evolution and Nissan the Skyline, yet not one of these cars will touch a tuned Cossie in relation to looks, grunt and character, they truly are a cult car.

These days you will pay £££ for a good Cossie!
15k RS500
8k RS Saphire
16k RS Escort
but always remember the value will come if the car has not been tuned and is totally original, you can reduce the price drastically for one that has been tuned. Anyone interested in tuning theirs should speak to Graham Goode tuning, they only deal with Ford RS's i.e. Corworth, RS Turbo Escort/Fiesta and now the mean RS Focus!

Hope you like my review and have a good look at the RS500 on the net, you will see why I MUST HAVE ONE!!!!! Cheers  

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