LOT 130
1987 Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth 3-Door VIN. WF0EXXGBBEGG39043
Estimate: US$160,000 - US$220,000
Lot 130
Exceedingly rare in the USA
1987 Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth 3-Door
1987 Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth 3-Door
The Audrain Concours Auction|4 October 2024, 17:00 EDT|Newport, Rhode Island, International Tennis Hall of Fame
1987 Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth 3-Door
VIN. WF0EXXGBBEGG39043
VIN. WF0EXXGBBEGG39043
1993cc DOHC 16-Valve Turbocharged Inline 4-Cylinder
Electronic Port Fuel Injection
224bhp at 6,000rpm
5-Speed Manual Gearbox
Independent Front Struts, Independent Semi-Trailing Arm Rear Suspension
4-Wheel Disc Brakes
*Ford's 150mph 'blue collar hero' Group A homologation special
*Wildly successful in touring car and rallying
*One of 500 built by Tickford with improved engine and aero
*Exceedingly rare in the USA
*Powered by the legendary Cosworth YB
*Superbly presented with just 48,300 miles
*Very well sorted example with extensive work on preservation
*Among the most successful Group A cars in motorsport history
THE FORD SIERRA COSWORTH RS500
For enthusiasts of a certain age, motorsport peaked with FIA's wildly successful Group A. Fans marveled at huge fields of pumped-up versions of everyday family saloon cars battling wheel-to-wheel on the world's greatest circuits. Ford had been a major player in saloon car racing and rallying since the 1960s, with the Cortina, Escort, and Capri leading the charge for the blue oval. In the early 1980s, the Escort had gone to a front-drive platform, and Ford nominated the all-new mid-sized Sierra family car to lead the charge on the circuit.
Ford renewed its alliance with engine builder Cosworth to create the eponymous Sierra, with the initial production of 5,000 units required for Group A homologation commencing in June 1986 at the Genk, Belgium factory. Based on the three-door Sierra bodyshell, the RS Cosworth combined the 1,993cc 'Pinto' four-cylinder block with a forged steel crankshaft and connecting rods. Topping it off was a Cosworth-developed, twin-camshaft, 16-valve cylinder head fed by a Garrett AiResearch turbocharger, necessary to achieve a competitive power output for racing, which in time would amount to over 500bhp! Even in standard road trim the Sierra RS Cosworth produced a stout 204bhp initially, its Weber-Marelli engine management system keeping lag to a minimum. Naturally, the standard Sierra underpinnings were comprehensively uprated to cope. Even in its initial 204 horsepower form, the RS Cosworth could accelerate from 0-62mph in 6.2sec on its way to an official top speed of 150mph. 6,021 examples had been completed when production ceased in 1986, and today the model is much sought after.
In 1987, when the Sierra Cosworth first hit the race track, it was immediately clear Ford was onto a winner. By June of that year, it had taken victory at the first two rounds of the Monroe British Championship; the Willhire 24 Hour race at Snetterton; and the Nürburgring 24 hours. It also proved handy on the special stages, with eventual world champions Colin McRae and Didier Auriol both piloting 'Cossies to victory. Ford soon exploited FIA regulations permitting modifications to be made to cars intended for racing, providing that 500 road-going 'Evolution' models had been built: enter the RS500 Cosworth.
Ford turned to Aston Martin's Tickford subsidiary in Bedworth to produce the RS500. Tickford took delivery of 500 complete Sierra Cosworths and set about converting them to the higher specification. The body was altered with a 30mm Gurney flap on the rear wing, an additional spoiler on the trailing edge of the boot, and a bumper with more air vents and a lower lip. The engine was modified too, with a bigger turbo and a revised inlet manifold to increase peak power to 224bhp. All the RS500s were intended to be black, ultimately with 392 in black, 52 blue and the remaining 56 white.
Pushing the limits of the rulebook with the RS500, Ford cleverly incorporated non-functional components on the road car, legally allowed modifications on the race cars. The Cosworth YB engine had an inactive secondary fuel injection system, which, when activated on the race cars, their engines could consume additional fuel and produce even more power. With different engine mapping, racing RS500s made upwards of 485bhp. And, if that was still not enough, it did not take much further modification before the engine was putting out 525bhp in qualifying trim. With the likes of Andy Rouse dominating the BTCC and Rudi Eggenberger's sinister black Texaco-liveried 'Cossies mopping the competition in Europe, the RS500 Cosworth earned its place an absolute legend of motorsport.
THE CAR OFFERED
To satisfy FIA regulations, Ford and Tickford produced 500 examples of the RS500 Cosworth for the 1987 season, and we are proud to offer one of these coveted, iconic homologation specials here, likely one of the only of its type currently available in the USA. The VIN corresponds with the correct sequence of bodies sent to Tickford (GG38600 through GG39099), confirming its identity as a true RS500. As with the majority of production, this authentic example is finished in black over a grey interior with red check accents. This car, offered from the respected Squadra Lupo collection, is presented in superb condition, showing just 48,300 miles recorded at the time of cataloguing, and critically, the consignor reports it is unmodified from standard specifications. With big power easily attainable, many Sierra Cosworths and RS500s suffered from heavy-handed tuning, making cherished showroom standard examples such as this all the more rare and desirable.
The consignor reports this car had just two previous owners and that it has been well-maintained and documented along the way. In current care, it is also reported the car received detailed preservation work and was fitted with fresh Continental tires. Its cherished history is evident, from the superb original Rial alloy wheels to the excellent Recaro sport seats and beautiful black paintwork. Offered from the famed Squadra Lupo collection, this Sierra received the same fastidious preservation and service work as do all of the cars from this collection. The car has received all of the work required in order for it to perform and drive just as it did when it was new. The main focus while in its current ownership was to preserve as well as ensure the driving experience was up to date, making this car capable of daily driving.
This RS500 will be accompanied with a custom fitted Italian car cover in iconic Texaco livery as well as tire cushions to ensure the longevity of the tires when parked. Additionally, the car comes with a comprehensive Squadra Lupo folder that meticulously documents the entire preservation process, providing future owners with an in-depth history and clear evidence of the care and attention to detail this car has received. This right-hand drive "youngtimer" is bound to become a future classic with its recipe of great race-bred history, performance and handling. Rarely offered in the USA, with this car likely being the only one currently offered for sale in America, the availability of this Sierra Cosworth RS500 presents a one-off opportunity to add a proper Group A hero to your collection.
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