The Iconic Auctioneers NEC Classic sale will see 170 cars auctioned later this month. The lineup includes everything from hot hatchbacks to legendary race cars.
Being held as part of the 2024 NEC Classic Motor Show, the Iconic Auctioneers sale will take place on Saturday 9 November 2024.
The auction catalogue features a variety of fast Fords, but the two legends featured here turned our heads most of all.
1990 Ford Sierra RS500 BTCC
The Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 was designed to dominate Group A touring car racing. Indeed, the RS500 road cars only existed to homologate these flame-spitting motorsport versions.
This is no standard Sierra, but the genuine Andy Rouse Engineering RS500, driven by Tim Harvey during the 1989 and 1990 British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) seasons.
In 1989, it achieved two wins and claimed third place overall in the BTCC’s Class A. Following the end of the season, it was shipped to Macau, then won the prestigious Guia touring car race – again with Tim Harvey at the wheel.
Used again in the BTCC for 1990, wearing the instantly recognisable Labatt’s livery seen above, Harvey and the RS500 took another third-in-class finish. This was combined with fourth place overall in the BTCC.
After the BTCC season ended, the RS500 was left in Labatt’s colours and passed into the hands of private collectors.
A piece of British motorsport history
Bought by an Australian enthusiast in 2008, the RS500 was used for one race in the Touring Car Masters competition. In 2011, it was purchased by Paul Smith and brought back to the UK.
Ready for historic competition use, the Sierra was prepared for events such as the Silverstone Classic and Gold Cup at Oulton Park. Smith even shared the driving duties with Tim Harvey.
The car’s current owner has invested heavily in maintenance, and this year saw it driven by Tiff Needell for The Late Brake Show.
Opportunities to own one of the UK’s most famous touring car racers are rare, making this a very special auction lot.
1989 Ford RS200
The Iconic Auctioneers sale includes not one, but two Ford RS200s up for grabs. This car has a slightly higher pre-auction guide price, and also wears the distinctive Ford Motorsport livery.
Developed in heady days of Group B world rallying, the RS200 matched a mid-engined layout with four-wheel drive.
A 1.8-litre turbocharged Cosworth four-cylinder engine was fitted, developing up to 450hp in rallying guise.
The road-going examples built for homologation made do with only 250hp, but later versions gained more power.
Original tyres included
Said to be the 100th example completed, this Ford RS200 was initially delivered to Charles King Motors, a Ford dealership in Bedfordshire. The original owner specified a full leather interior, along with the Ford Motorsport decals.
Despite having four previous owners, the RS200 has covered fewer than 1,800 miles from new. It even still wears its original Pirelli P6000 tyres (now long overdue replacement) and comes with a complete factory-supplied tool kit.
As a standout example of an already special car, the RS200 could sell for between £220,000 and £260,000.
ALSO READ:
First new Group A-spec Ford Sierra RS500 is ready to race
