1989 Ford Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth |

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1989 Ford Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth

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Mileage~57,242 at MOT
TransmissionManual
Engine2.0-litre
LocationChester

AUCTION CLOSED

1989 Ford Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth

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Introduction

Paul Wright

Professional Consigner

An iconic car from the '90s, which spent the past 30 years in storage before being recommissioned recently.

The Ford Sierra Sapphire Cosworth follows on from its motorsport-bred predecessor. It retained much of the same overall feel, but subtly tweaked the handling traits of the original. Packaged in a more practical, stiffer, and manageable car, the Sierra Sapphire was rolled out in 1988 with well-weighted steering and an excellent balance of agility and stability. The Sierra Sapphire makes for a genuinely engaging drive.

As you can see, this is a slightly different Sapphire Cosworth…what makes it so different? The huge-spec 1989 Sapphire Cosworth was built back in the early 90s and featured in the ever-so-popular Max Power magazine back in 1996.

Since then, it saw another keeper for a couple of years before going into storage for 30 years. Cue our vendor, John, who spotted the car for sale at the start of this year and simply couldn’t resist the opportunity to own an iconic Max Power feature car. The Sierra comes with a fresh advisory free MOT valid until 10.06.2027.

This listing was written from information supplied by Paul after meeting John the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

John is a self-confessed petrolhead/car geek with a passion for anything from a Mk1 1.3 Escort to a BMW M2, and everything in between.

John has been on a journey over the past 20 years, which has seen him buying and selling various special cars; some have stayed with him, some sold on. The self-taught enthusiast loves nothing more than finding something rare, adding his touches to return it to an OEM or OEM+ state, to preserve just what made the cars so unique.

It's this passion that fuelled the enthusiasm for this project. Returning the former Max Power car back to its former glory after 30 years in storage was simply too good an opportunity to miss out on.

John will be happy to answer any questions in the comments section below.

John

Vehicle Owner

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Exterior
Interior
Mechanics
History
All Images

EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

The '90s saw some crazy colour schemes. This Cosworth might stand out, but it is actually painted in an OEM colour: Ford 'Zinc Yellow'.

Wheels and Tyres

John has fitted some Compomotive TH1781 alloy wheels which suit the Cosworth perfectly. These are new, so therefore are in superb condition.

The tyres are a matching set of Michelin Pilot Sport 5s, which are again in new condition, having covered just a handful of miles.

Please take the time to review the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior, wheels and tyres so you can make your own assessment of their condition. Tyres are a key safety item, and you should consider replacing any that are cracked, perished, unevenly worn, or over 10 years old.

Bodywork

The Sapphire’s bodywork looks to be in excellent condition with evenly aligned panels and no dings or dents. There are then the subtle modifications, such as having all the locks removed. This was done as it was used as a Clifford alarm demonstration vehicle in period. Recently, John has refreshed some of the underseal and treated the car with Lanoguard to help future-proof this iconic classic.

We've highlighted our observations in more detail through our hi-resolution images and videos, so please take the time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer and to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The Sapphire had a complete colour change inside and out several years ago to the factory colour of Ford 'Zinc Yellow', which presents extremely well.

John has had some areas tidied up from a couple of marks caused by being in storage for 30 years.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these hi-resolution images and videos of the car and make up your own mind about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

All of the windows appear to be in good condition, with no obvious scratches or marks. The Cosworth also has an optional heated windscreen. The window seals all look to be in good order with no signs of perishing or shrinkage.

The headlights are in good condition with no damage to the lenses. The same can be said for the fog lights, indicators, and factory-tinted rear lights.

Please view the photos and video below to review the condition of the glass and trim for yourself.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

Leather Recaros were, and probably still are, the ultimate interior choice for any Fast Ford of the '90s.

Seats and Carpets

The leather Recaro seats in the front and back are in excellent condition with minimal signs of age, especially in the usual high-wear areas such as the bolsters. The front door cards have had some custom speaker builds added, which are all in good order.

Throughout the cabin and boot, the carpets are in good clean condition with no signs of heavy use.

Inside the boot there is an Alpine subwoofer and amplifier, which could easily be removed if preferred.

Dashboard

Thanks to the 30 years in storage, the Sapphire has been subject to minimal UV exposure, which has prevented the dashboard from cracking or splitting.

The instruments are working as you would expect and the odometer shows that just ~57,054 miles have been covered, at the time of our visit, John took the car for its MOT and it has ~57,242 on the clock now.

Update Since Pictures Taken: John has removed the old buttons from the dash, replaced them with an OEM panel, and moved the boost button to the gauge cluster - you can see the updated picture at the end of the interior gallery.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The RS three-spoke steering wheel is in great shape with minimal age-related wear. The gear knob has been replaced with an anodised aluminium MOMO item, which is free from scratches.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

An extensively modified 2.0-litre Cosworth engine shows how things were done in the '90s.

Engine and Gearbox

John tells us that when the car was built, the engine was upgraded to a Sierra Cosworth 4x4 engine block, fitted with Group A forged pistons, a ported and polished cylinder head, a Group A head gasket and bolts, 403 grey injectors, Dash-switchable two-stage boost control, allowing selection between actuator-only base boost and ECU/AMAL-controlled boost. Period documentation, including the Max Power feature, references boost levels of 18–26 psi, although these figures have not been independently verified during current ownership. A Garrett T35 hybrid turbo, a Mocal oil cooler, alloy ancillary tanks and an oil breather tank.

This was topped off with a dump valve and a Group A-style side-exit exhaust, which has recently had an additional silencer fitted just to tone it down slightly.

Since John purchased the car, a full recommissioning has been carried out with new fluids, spark plugs, an O2 sensor, thermostat, auxiliary belts, starter motor, Group A ignition coil, and a performance ECU chip.

The fuelling side has also been refreshed with a new fuel tank, filter, 3-bar fuel regulator, Bosch performance fuel pump, new fuel lines, and an AEM wideband gauge that closely monitors the air/fuel mixture.

The engine is said to produce around 360 bhp, although this remains unverified. Whether it's 360 bhp or not, it is undeniably quick and serves as a reminder that old Sierras can still surprise much newer machinery. It fires up and runs superbly, with no issues reported by John during his ownership.

The gearbox is the factory Borg-Warner T5 gearbox paired with a Group N clutch and short-shift kit for those quick changes.

Update: John said he's upgraded the old radiator to an alloy radiator and upgraded the OEM intercooler to an RS500 Style bit from Airtech with new Samco Silicone hoses, as well as a new dual-piston Forge BOV.

Suspension and Brakes

After sitting for its long stint in storage, the suspension wasn’t in the best shape, so John has replaced the dampers with a set of Bilstein B6 units, Graham Goode standard-height springs, and new top mounts. The car has also had the bushes replaced, lower arms fitted, and a strut brace fitted, helping transform the Cosworth’s handling.

The braking system was partially refreshed before John acquired the car, including refurbished callipers all round. Braided brake hoses and new rear hard lines have also been fitted. The car now comes to a stop quickly, in a straight line, with no issues reported.

The Drive

Taking you straight back to the '90s, the Ford Sierra Sapphire Cosworth is a wonderful car to own and drive.

The 2.0-litre turbocharged Cosworth engine delivers a distinctive surge of power, and thanks to its extensive, well-specced setup, the performance is superb, especially when set to higher PSI. As the boost builds, the performance is excellent, followed by the wastegate chatter and dump valve. This sound is unmistakable and a fantastic reminder of what 90s performance cars were like.

Electrics and Other

All of the switchgear is in good order and working correctly. There is an additional boost button mounted on the dashboard. The head unit is a Pioneer SPH-2DAB, which easily connects to your phone via Bluetooth and supports DAB. A Kenwood graphic equaliser is there to fine-tune the sound, and the door speakers have recently been replaced along with the amplifier and subwoofer.

There is also a Clifford alarm system fitted and, as mentioned earlier, the car was used as a demonstration vehicle back in the day. At the time, this system was top of the range.

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History and Paperwork

There is an extensive collection of invoices collected by John for parts purchased.

Unfortunately, with the car being in storage for so long, most of the original paperwork has been lost. There is, however, a substantial amount showing all of the parts purchased by John during his short ownership to resurrect and bring this former Max Power feature car back to the land of the living.

The Sapphire Cosworth is certainly an iconic Fast Ford, but one that remains largely unchanged since it was featured in one of the most iconic motoring magazines of the 90s, making it something rather special. Which is exactly what drew John to take on this project, and we think you’ll agree he has succeeded in his mission.

For those who never got the chance to experience the Sapphire Cosworth in its heyday, this is your chance: you could even take it to the Max Power Reunion show being held later in the year. What an experience that would be! The Sierra comes with a fresh advisory free MOT valid until 10.06.2027.

Finance Available.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Trade Classics Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative (IAR) of AFS Compliance Ltd which is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under firm number 625035. Trade Classics Limited is a vehicle sales business with permission to introduce prospective finance clients to Revered Finance Limited who is also an AR of AFS Compliance Ltd and an independent asset finance brokerage not a lender. We are not independent financial advisors and are unable to provide you with independent financial advice. Trade Classics Limited and Revered Finance Limited will receive payment(s) or other benefit from the finance provider if you decide to enter into an agreement with them. We work with both discretionary and non-discretionary commission models. Commission payments are factored into the interest rate you pay.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
11.06.2026	MOT	57,242
01.04.2026	New Auxillery belts	56,930
13.02.2026	Owner full self service	56,373
05.02.2026	Spark plugs, new tyres	56,350
21.01.2026	Extensive recommissioning started, carried out over 4 months
09.09.2025	MOT	56,321
01.09.2025	Service inc timing belt	56,302
15.11.2024	MOT	56,234
01.11.2024	New brake lines	56,230

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Key Details

Year1989
Finance AvailableYes - contact us
ModelSierra Sapphire RS Cosworth
TransmissionManual
Reg. Date01.07.1989
CC1993
Mileage~57,242 at MOT
ColourFord Zinc Yellow
Interior ColourBlack
Interior TrimLeather
Chassis #WFBFXXGBBFJS32551
Engine #JS32551
RestoredYes
Engine RebuildYes
MOTYes Exp: 10.06.2027
HPi ClearYes - all clear
Former Keepers5
# of Keys2
LHD or RHDRHD
VisitedYes
Sale TypePrivate
Owned~4 months
Key FeatureFully recommissioned Max Power feature car
Vehicle RegistrationF73 UVX
Auction ID3710

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Vehicle Location

Chester

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Auction Closed

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This car didn't meet its reserve price and may soon be available as a private sale - please contact us for more information or let us know if you want to be notified when a similar car comes to market.

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Seller : Adam Purrier - Trade Classics

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8 Comments

ColinB

Admin

1 month ago

*** Auction Update ***

John has fitted a new intake pipe, you can see a photo of it here:

https://www.tradeclassics.com/auctions/ford/1989-ford-sierra-sapphire-rs-cosworth-2/#gallery4-120

Thanks,
Colin.

Adam Purrier - Trade Classics

Seller

1 month ago

*** RESERVE LOWERED*** John has reduced the reserve on this car ending this evening. Good luck, Adam – TC

ColinB

Admin

1 month ago

*** Auction Update ***

John has added a boost gauge under the radio, tidying up this area, and also tidied up the battery wiring, you can see photos of these here:

https://www.tradeclassics.com/auctions/ford/1989-ford-sierra-sapphire-rs-cosworth-2/#gallery4-118

https://www.tradeclassics.com/auctions/ford/1989-ford-sierra-sapphire-rs-cosworth-2/#gallery4-119

Thanks,
Colin.

ColinB

Admin

1 month ago

*** Auction Update ***

John has received confirmation that the car does not have any warnings registered on it from HPI, you can see the report here:

https://www.tradeclassics.com/auctions/ford/1989-ford-sierra-sapphire-rs-cosworth-2/#gallery5-6

Thanks,
Colin.

jonnysideways

1 month ago

Car has had a new type 34 waste gate actuator, and can confirm boost is now between 15 & 28 PSI depending on boost button. ? This can obviously be adjusted lower or higher if so required.

jonnysideways

1 month ago

** Car has just passed its MOT with no advisories** Regards J.

ColinB

Admin

jonnysideways

1 month ago

You can see the certificate here:

https://www.tradeclassics.com/auctions/ford/1989-ford-sierra-sapphire-rs-cosworth-2/#gallery4-109

Thanks,
Colin.

johnd73

1 month ago

Quick Hello and update from me, I can confirm, after verification, that the low boost mode on the car runs 14psi, of wastegate alone, and steady 20PSI on the AMAL(OEM Boost controller) Thanks J.

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