Image copyright © BMIHT

With the aim of producing a competitor for Group A motorsport, the Sierra RS Cosworth was first launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 1985 and was the first Ford to carry the Cosworth badge. Fast forward to 1990 and Ford’s third attempt at a    high-performance on-the-road car: the Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth 4x4.

Intended for road use rather than rallying, the car had a 2.0-litre Cosworth engine fitted with a Garrett turbocharger which was teamed with a MT75 five-speed gearbox. Various tweaks were made by Cosworth to the engine, including stiffening the engine block for additional smoothness and power, and reducing turbo lag to a minimum. The Sapphire name denoted the four-door body with a boot instead of the three-door, hatchback Sierra.

Such was the car’s reputation for speed and performance it was fitted with a sophisticated alarm system to ward off would-be thieves, but sales still wobbled due to high insurance premiums. The four-wheel drive system allowed driving at speed in all-weather conditions and combined with the lightest and stiffest chassis in the range, it is the best Sierra that Ford designed. This car is the last Sierra Sapphire Cosworth 4x4 to be produced and has been in Ford’s collection from new.