What price a near-perfect Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4×4? Between £60,000 and £70,000, reckons Silverstone Auctions, which sold the 13,865-mile example seen here.
Classic fast Fords often reach heady prices, but that’s only a reflection of the cult following these cars command.
From the Fiesta ST to the GT40, we’ve picked 20 of the Blue Oval’s greatest hits. Do you agree with our choices?
In fact, the ‘Cossie’ was bred for motorsport, winning the World Touring Car Championship in 1987. Its 207hp 2.0-litre turbocharged four-pot was boosted to 227hp in RS500 versions.
The plain-Jane RS1600 also boasted stiffer sports suspension and a stronger, seam-welded body. It formed the basis for one of the most successful rally cars ever.
Forget straight-line speed, though. It’s the way the Fiesta ST goes around corners that makes it a classic-in-waiting. Few sports cars offer so much fun on a twisty road.
The RS200 never quite delivered on the rally stage, but a mid-mounted 1.8-litre turbo engine, lightweight fibreglass body and four-wheel drive make it fearsomely fast on the road.
Mexico owners across the land replicated rally-style cornering techniques on wet roundabouts. And Ford learned that an affordable performance car could bring in big profits.
On the outside, gaping air intakes, 18-inch wheels and a rear wing shout about this Ford’s, er, fastness. Its interior is even less subtle, with racing-style bucket seats and blue trim.
Unlike the third-gen Focus RS, the Mk2 channelled all its horsepower (305hp in the standard car, 350hp in the RS500) through the front wheels. Even so, it’s more civilised to drive than the wayward Mk1 – yet still blisteringly fast.
British sports car maker Lotus fitted its own 107hp 1.6 twin-cam engine to the Cortina, along with lightweight aluminium body panels. Most were painted white and green, as seen here.
The GT40 was built with one purpose in mind: defeating Ferrari on the racetrack. This photo is from the 1966 Le Mans 24-hour race, where the Fords finished first, second and third. Job done.
Just as its ancestor frightened Ferrari on the racetrack, so the Ford GT scares established supercars on the road. With a 656hp twin-turbo V6, it hits 60mph in three seconds and won’t stop until 216mph.
The original Series One RS Turbo, seen here, was only available in white. Later Series Twos were sold in other colours. Both offer plenty of raucous, old-school charm.
Like many of the greatest fast Fords, the RS 1600i was bred from motorsport. It had a close-ratio five-speed gearbox for rapid acceleration. The equivalent XR3i made do with four speeds.
The Sapphire started life with 207hp in 1988, then got an upgrade to 223hp in 1990. At the same time, a four-wheel-drive version arrived. It set the template for the Subaru Impreza Turbos and Mitsubishi Evos that followed.
Under the bonnet, the Cossie has a 230hp 2.0 turbocharged engine driving all four wheels. Get past the turbo lag and it’s a very quick car. Jeremy Clarkson spent his own money on one.
The Capri 2.8i was launched in 1981 with a four-speed gearbox. A five-speeder arrived soon after. Its top speed of 130mph was impressive for the time.
The ultimate Mustang is surprisingly sophisticated, with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, 20-inch wheels and bespoke suspension. Sadly, it was never officially imported into the UK
The RS2000 looked the part, too. It boasted lowered suspension and wider wheels, plus optional bonnet stripes. The Mk2 version here could hit 62mph in 8.9 seconds and a top speed of 110mph.
Ford got the styling of the Sportka just right, with great details such as a reversing lamp that resembles a centre exhaust. A convertible version, the Streetka, was endorsed by Kylie Minogue.
Driving the Focus ST in 2019, we said: ‘It has to work as a daily driver, a school-run shuttle, a family holdall – and it does all of those with a similar breadth of abilities to the benchmark Golf GTI’.
Although it never actually went racing, the sportiest Puma boasted big brakes and a limited-slip differential. It’ll cost you several times as much as a standard car, but future classic status is assured.
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XR4i ???