Ford Sierra RS Cosworth. MY HOLY GRAIL.

Jonny gets to work on and drive his Holy Grail of cars, a 1987 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth.
EPICENTER GARAGE:
/ @epicentergarage4952

[@cossie60]

Now that ladies and gentlemen is a proper car. A genuine 150mph rocket from the 80s.

[@sammni]

Sierra Cosworths were used as police cars here in Northern Ireland.... Absolute beasts

[@richardclarke376]

and Northumberland

[@Tochinoki]

Yeooooo!

[@heavydiesel]

Same here, Marlborough police had a burgundy Sierra Sapphire they used to zoom about in.

[@dR-bh9kt]

They had to used them as police cars. The thief’s were out running them in the in the Sierras.

[@throwback19841]

@@dR-bh9kt "Oi, boss, the old bill have got cozzas now, we can't outrun them." "Right, get in the Lotus Carlton boys"

[@Vanuatoo]

My first car was 1991 Ford Sierra made in Belgium with 2.0 "Pinto" engine, with 5 speed manual. It did not have anything, no power steering, no abs :). Had it for 5 years, very reliable and fun to drive.

[@Sourstromming]

I’m swedish and this was the dream car for many of us, together with the Celica gt4. ❤

[@philtucker1224]

Yes those Celicas are great cars too! 🙏

[@wotexpat9367]

I had a Celica GT4 from 1993-1996. Loved it. Great car and looked awesome with the air scoop.

[@raffe65]

🫡👍🇸🇪 I owned a 1985 Sierra 4x4. V6 2.8l 4wd with 64% rear and 36% in to the front wheel.. it was so fun to drive in the winter. I miss that car.

[@1chish]

Its worth mentioning to US friends that this car is not a Merkur XR4Ti. The parent Sierra may be the same but the Cosworth was a very different car and the RS500 very different again as it was hand built by Tickford. The bodyshells are different and while the XR4i bodyshell was used to prototype the Cosworth concept they became two distinctive cars in production.

[@tomhorst7614]

Thanks for clearing this up. I was wondering.

[@ianmontgomery7534]

the RS500s were all right hand drive weren't they.

[@jonnyseller]

And an RS 500 has just sold for over £500,000

[@1chish]

@@ianmontgomery7534 The original Tickford RS500s were all RHD but some aftermarket tuners have produced LHD replicas.

[@Ridcully72]

The differences with the 500 was a bigger turbo, eight injectors (4 connected), larger intercooler and different management. Externally Tickford added aero to the front, a lower spoiler at the rear with a lip added to the upper spoiler and your fog lights were in a box in the boot.

[@Ingens_Scherz]

Can't believe Car Ninja's favourite car is a Sierra Cozzie! I'm so happy!!

[@stevencrellin9842]

Right! I would have never guessed it!

[@mrpibbsdotcom]

I used to live next to Keith Duckworth one of the two founders of Cosworth. Nice guy and very unassuming. He’d retired by the time the YB series engine had been developed, but Cosworth as an engineering company is still going despite some ups and downs.

[@buggerlugz6753]

You should check out the engine they've done for Gordon Murray's T50 on the Gordon Murray automotive channel!

[@mrflippant]

@@buggerlugz6753 That, and the one they did for the Aston Martin Valkyrie!

[@scottsmith2958]

Wasn’t near long Buckby was it?

[@cossie60]

Costin and Duckworth. Name a better duo

[@In_memory_of_Dad]

That 2.0 Cosworth engine really is something special 👍❤️👍

[@redsidebiker]

Alongside Vauxhall's C20XE, which is a Cosworth engine, one of the best ever built as a daily and developed into a racing engine (oh, and BMC's A series like in proper Minis). All could be carefully tuned and some, more than others, callously tuned. Back in the days when we could do so!

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

Man, we did have some cool cars back in the 80s, didn't we? 🙂

[@isleofthanet]

We had better ones in the fifties😎😎😎

[@Tmrfe0962]

@@isleofthanet we had better ones in the 60’s!😊😂😎

[@ToreDL87]

Well specifically speaking, in the 80's you had the cool 50's, 60's and 70's cars as well. So best of everything lol

[@crestinventories5921]

Wow, did not expect to see a 'Cossie' on your channel, great work. The American viewers must look at that engine and not be able to get their heads round how quick the car is. Hope you get to own it one day Jonny!

[@aleksanderursus]

The series 1 Sierra and Escort RS Cosworth... absolute dream cars 🥰

[@dinoplescia9715]

Hi Jonny, you are a pro. Although I was born in Canada I am an Italian whose ancestry is originally Albanian. Our town can be traced back to the 1490s when it was settled by Albanians loyal to General Skanderberg. My first language is albanese dialect. Your patience and temperament reminds me of my uncle. Must be in the genes. Love your videos.

[@nukesploder]

miredite! Glad you're keeping your albanian heritage alive! I'm in the same boat, Canadian raise but Albanian family from kosovo. Gezuar! Tip, jonny himself is albanian!

[@nicho9292]

An Italian who’s Albanian but speaks French and lives in Canada lol nice to meet you 😂

[@aljosakrojac9085]

Fun fact. Skanderberg was Serbian knight. :P

[@crazypeoplearoundtheworld304]

You're not Italian if you're Albanian

[@lutomson3496]

If my experience memory is correct the Albanians were the best at forging documents, passports, immigration etc very creative and precise

[@giovannibez9509]

Ford Europe made amazing cars, this is one of them.

[@redwarrior01]

Sa fitova nja 2 birra bast! Thashe qe ky mjeshtri eshte shqiptar, anglishte perfekte por theksi eshte unik! Te lumshin duart!

[@armendi04]

Hi, Jonny! Greetings from Kosova, Prishtina. I watched almost every your video! Keep up with good work.. Puna e mbare..💪

[@ianmangham4570]

🙏🇬🇧

[@carlosbonilla1637]

Awesome Johnny. Working in one of my heroes… now you need to get a hold of a Renault R5 Turbo, Ford RS200, Mercedes 190e Cosworth 16V, and of course the best BMW ever produced.. the e30 M3

[@Beer_Dad1975]

As a kid who grew up in the 80's, this was a car I lusted after. I remember when I was at Intermediate school, someone parked one at the school staff car park regularly (guessing it was a PTA member or something, not a teacher) and I'd just stop and stare at it every time - for me it was far more interesting than a Countach or Testarossa. Funny Jonny doesn't want to work on Fords - sure they are often horribly unreliable - but they are usually easy to fix... unlike BMW's which are often horribly unreliable and difficult to fix.

[@TheJohn8765]

Fords have their own unique tools and used to change part numbers mid-year. They can be a real pain in the ass. I don't blame Jonny for wanting to avoid buying a whole new suite of specialist tools. Looks like his lifts are always full with Bimmers, anyways.

[@rogerbarrett9920]

Absolutely agree - I bought a brand new Rosso Red Escort RS Turbo MK 2 in 1988 I paid £10,500 as I was in the trade. Loved it and it was totally reliable plus easy to work on.. I still have a sporty hatch - a 2011 Mazda 3 MPS, which I swear I'm never going to sell. I'm the same as you, I have always loved sporty versions of "normal" road cars. Forget the Porsche's, Maserati's etc.

[@Beer_Dad1975]

@@TheJohn8765 I've only ever really done serous work on Aussie Fords, which are easy as anything to work on - though they do some oddball shit with assembly hardware - bolts doing the same job requiring varying socket sizes, mixing up torx and hex all over the place etc. (probably whatever they had on hand), but no real special tools, not like a lot of German cars I've worked on. Fortunately most of the time I'm working on Japanese cars, which are usually fairly logically put together.

[@jamescadigan925]

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[@buffy123]

​@@rogerbarrett9920 p p

[@brokensmilephoto]

Just needed some opera music and the Italian Alps and I'm sure we have seen Johnny cry tears of joy.

[@blaketindle4703]

2:34 that hoodie John was wearing is so dope!!! 👍🏻

[@mkalamo]

Another fantastic video, I head to Italy on Sunday, a trip with my son we will be visiting the Ferrari and Lamborghini museums!

[@JSC577]

Love a good YB powered Sierra. Puts a smile on your face when you drive it. A RS500 just sold for £596k here in the UK.

[@martij30]

That's a neat Cosworth, awesome that you got a chance of working on it and drive it.

[@MrBlueWRX]

Back in the eighties i worked at a bodyshop in the north west of England that prepared and painted Sierra Cosworths for Jimmy McRae and then Colin McRae, also Didier Auriol, the cars arrived as brand new shells straight from a fabrication firm called Gartrac where they had been fitted with roll cages and fully seam welded, we painted them up in their rally colours and sent them on their way, most of them didn't survive more than a few rally stages.

[@d33b33]

That's a sweet looking Cossie.

[@EngineerLewis]

I borrowed a Sierra Cosworth (4 door saloon version) for as my departure wedding car in 1993 - it was amazing to drive and of course I remember the day well!

[@cliffcampbell4267]

Crazy the cars we love from our past..

[@GixxerRider1991]

I always wondered where you were originally from, Johnny. Albania is definitely on my list the next time I go over to Europe.

[@MrJuly151995]

Love it. Finding survivors like this is rare. Thanks for the content today, keep it up.

[@martinjulecki2728]

I want more cosworth content, this is awesome

[@TheNismo777]

Unless he end up buying it, thats about all u get :D

[@christopherclarke5978]

The Sierra Colmworth RS 500 is one of my favourite cars too. Awesome car.

[@Kingdonnerkebab]

I owned the saloon version here in Scotland known as a Sierra Sapphire Ninja, it was 4 wheel drive and had 220bhp. Great cars the Sierras and worth alot of money these days.

[@craigconey9971]

I prefer the sapphires they look great in moonstone blue, I also really like the cav 4x4 turbo really rare cars today 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@TheSTUDIOKONDI]

Pershendetje Jonny , jam nje ndjekes i joti qe kur ne nje prej videove te tua me Hoovis Garage pashe qe kishe flamurin shqiptar gjithashtu per videot interesante rreth makinave. Ndihesh gjithmone krenar qe sheh shqiptare qe fal aftesise , punes se palodhur dhe modestise kane arritur te krijojne dicka te bukur. Mu be shume qefi qe permende origjinen tende dhe besoj se e perfaqson denjesisht figuren e shqipetarit. Te uroj gjithe te mirat dhe shume sukese !

[@zoperxplex]

The cleanest repair shop you will ever likely to come across.

[@sfm.x]

Growing up i didn't like the way the car looked, but now that RS has massively grown on me. Hopefully you'll get one for yourself Ninja

[@roheetpatel8378]

Ahhh lovely, I had lots of friends that worked in the Colmworth Factory in Worcester UK. Wonderful buddy

[@In_memory_of_Dad]

The Sierra RS Cosworth is a fairly common car here in the UK but since a RS 500 Cosworth sold for over half a million pounds here in the UK a few days ago making it a world record price the value of them has shot up massively!!!

[@philtucker1224]

Absolutely right! And in another ten years we won’t even be allowed to make ICE performance cars anymore so they will double in value AGAIN !!!

[@In_memory_of_Dad]

@@philtucker1224 Totally agree 👍

[@Lukeywoodsey]

Fairly common? They've all been crashed, rusted or scrapped sadly. I've seen a few but most of the time is a Sierra RS Turbo

[@Lukeywoodsey]

Glad you can show off a car like this to the America Market. You do see a few in the UK, but very very rare. The Escort Cosworth is one of my favourite cars.

[@donkeylongsack7075]

I appreciate you lining up the white guide marks on them water hoses!

[@ashleyjarvis954]

Nice surprise! Fond memories thrashing a Sierra 😊

[@rickb6694]

I always have a chuckle when Jonny pops the hood on something like that M6; I remember when I was learning to wrench on cars, I encountered my first 32 valve V8 and I thought my head was going to explode. These Bimmers are just in another plane of existence lol

[@matthewdutoit]

Ford Sierra Cosworth is special. Sapphire Cosworth as well. Both extremely rare. Love them. I own Sapphire GLX executive with 3.4 V6. Also lovely car. My mechanic have Sapphire Cosworth. I was so drooling 🙈. Beautiful car.

[@irdibasha391]

Te rujt zoti o xhon! Na bere krenar

[@kerrylewis2581]

It's nice to see Jonny having fun

[@OG_MuttDog]

The music tones when you shift are beautiful.

[@daviddennis8310]

Awesome! I have not seen one of those in years! Thanks Jonny!

[@aaronhempy9906]

Also, glad you had the opportunity to work on your dream car! Was nice to hear the lifters quiet down!😄

[@cindyaraya7317]

Hi Johnny!! And here I thought that you only worked on fancy luxury vehicles! 😊😊

[@barryaitchison5565]

wow what a car epic to watch very well done

[@gordythecreator]

DUDE! NiNJA! freekin'Awesome choice Sir! My 1st car was 1989 escort & i saw less than TEN Xratti Cossies around VaBeach. I've drooled over them ever since. Even considered buying the euro-engine and swapping it into a U.S.escort

[@pfsantos007]

Having also been born in Europe, I see where you're coming from (no pun intended). Ford built up a very respectable reputation in Europe back in the day, not the least of which through racing. Even their small models were held to a high standard. I'm not surprised you have a sweet spot for them, especially a Cosworth. In North America, the Escort was a different animal (some generations completely different) and lacked any of the love given to it in Europe. edit: on the subject of power steering systems, a note for those who may not know: a good hydraulics shop can usually make custom hoses and fittings, including oil cooler hoses, for cars that you may not be able to buy these parts for anymore.

[@NickJames-vh7dl]

Amazing car , grew up with these in the mid - late 80s, great to see one , not may left in UK now

[@Broadshore]

OMG... Sierra RS Cosie... The ONE Car I've been wanting...

[@itspart]

I had the Escort Costworth in the mid 90's I wish I still had it. That Sierra Costworth is in fantastic condition every one i knew wanted this car in the late 80's ❤

[@alskjflaksjdflakjdf]

Oh man, my dream car as well! Living in Canada I only saw these pictured in books and still haven't seen one in person. I had an 87 Escort as my first car, but being the north american version it was dog slow. Thank you for showing this car on video!

[@masakirahvi7095]

That is a first real car here! I love rallying.

[@ilesoft82]

This brought back so many beautiful memories. I bought a one year younger Cossie like this, a 4-door 2WD saloon, exactly 20 years ago. Had the car for over eight years and it was a bittersweet time. It was the best car I've ever driven, but so fragile. Had the engine in pieces three times for bad head gasket and incorrectly set timing belt tensioner. So many bent valves and machine job hours... Btw: What's the deal with Albanians and Italians? When I was in Albania over eight years ago they seemed to have the caffeteria culture just like in Italy. Even bier was called birra there. Beautiful country and amazing visit I had.

[@TheNinjaRider]

Oh that is an awesome Cossy! This and the e30 has always been on the top of my list

[@pieceofcake2008]

I drove one back when they were somewhat affordable. Just awesome. One of my favourite cars.

[@jasonlouis5498]

2 very special cars, that cosworth is awesome, very rare for the US! State of the art! 🇦🇱 😎

[@adambrett2005]

One of the best cars ever 👌 Classic ! Fords finest

[@Mr2pint]

Fond memories of following this beast, on touring car circuits - Bathurst 👍

[@CS-oe8og]

I remember how awesome these cars were when I was a kid

[@fredmahar5431]

Love that car !.....thanks Johnny!!

[@tpdtopcop2010]

If that’s your merchandise, when you showed that sweatshirt "German Motorworks" you need to start selling those. I would love to have one.

[@ronstucker3550]

I believe the Mecury Merkur XR4TI Rack is the same. I remember owning mine bought it new in 1985. Black with grey leather interior and a 5 speed. I installed an intercooler it had 200 HP and a big interior for 4 adults. Great handling. I installed Mustang LX 15" wheels with 205- 30 front and 225- 40 in the rear.(No problems)

[@markwgoldsmith]

Lucky enough to drive one, the Sapphire, for a friends wedding. What a lovely machine. My Dad had a series of the standard cars from the '80s, finishing with a 2.9 V6 AWD. Fond memories of them.

[@shahinnadji8991]

You’re the best Johnny !

[@RollingRoadEFI]

I grew up in England, and my neighbors son always used to drive me around in his Sierra Cosworth RS500. What a sick car that was.

[@lenoredubois95]

Guys, please make more videos! I know your customers come first! As they should! Johnny, your are so good at what you do! Please give us more. Much ❤️

[@matthewrooke386]

I used to work a Ford dealer in the UK and got to drive my first Cosworth powered Ford, it was a 1993 Ford Escort 4x4 Cosworth a later incarnation of the Sierra with the same engine and drive train, took the car Ford a ‘test drive’ the grip around tight corners and round a bouts was epic, I did not have the talent to drive this car properly but some how it stuck to the road like a limpet and I didn’t crash.

[@octaneandwrenches12]

That is truly a dream car!

[@Tochinoki]

That was the coolest car to own when I was growing up.

[@StarfleetCommand71]

Cool. I have owned two of these. Both original. One black and one white. But the holy grail is the Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500.

[@tomgibbs6396]

One word describes this car. Legendary!!

[@markhouston3404]

That tappet tick takes me back to my childhood

[@hadtopicausername]

I really like your calm and methodical attention to detail.

[@rodm5968]

Love the old Cossie

[@Neighborhood-Black-Guy]

The way he sighs between talking. He loves the thing. I can identify.

[@aelaan12]

Good memories, my brother drove one likes this, his one was red. They were so popular in the rally cross in those days. This one looks to be in good condition.

[@pclayton5063]

Back in the 1980's you could get the Merkur XR4Ti in the US which was modeled after the Sierra and built in Germany. I drove one from a rental company back then and it a great drive and really quick. So, you can scratch that Sierra itch with one of those if you can find a nice one. Enjoyed the video!

[@cmcb7230]

I’m always shocked by how cheap they sell for over here, considering how popular they are in Europe. You’d think someone would snatch them up for peanuts over here and export them back to Europe to be used as rust free donors for the rusted cars over there.

[@MikeB4pl]

@@fw1421 Same engine was in Ford Sierra made in Argentina -- but without turbo .... Merkur was a Xr4i Sierra with some reinforcements for US standards and with US engine (the European original Xr4i had the 2.8i V6)

[@MikeB4pl]

@@fw1421 I seen one on youtube when somebody travel in the US on the bridge in California in normal traffic .... so they are out there. Also Hoonigans have one or two, Jared of Questionable garage showed one. 1. they did not sold too much of them - it was expensive due to exchange rate German Mark / US dollar -- and they created new brand for them MERKUR (which is Mercury in German) 42 464 Merkurs were made the Sierra Xr4i (V6) 25 662 were made for European market 5542 Sierra Cosworths Mk1 were made (they were crazy expensive) The XR4Ti was a version of the XR4i European Ford Sierra (that had the 2.8 V6 150~~160 HP top of the line at that time 1983-1985, Merkur had the american drivetrain) in that time weight 500-600 lbs more Mustang 1982 had 157 HP and 1983 had 175 HP ? 5.0 V8 ? The XR4i also did not sell well in Europe because it was expensive. Most of the Ford Sierra sold were 1.6 (72 HP) or 2.0 4 cylinders (101~115 HP) cheap and economical engines.

[@MikeB4pl]

@@fw1421 In 1986 the Mustang GT started at 10,691 $

[@derekgardin1512]

Thats one if my favorite cars ever. You have great taste. I have owned 4 Merkur XR4Ti, two 1986 and two 1987.

[@revveduprides5125]

I love how at the beginning you keep wrapping your knuckles on the top of the wahle tail. If that was my car I’d not be happy about that. I use Harvey Gibbs in the uk 🇬🇧 to look after mine and they really take care when working on it.

[@SterlingWheel]

It's so cool that you get to enjoy working on such an amazing car! One day I'll have the Escort Cosworth RS like I used to see in European Car Magazine as a kid.

[@readrepairs]

Very cool. Great to see you repairing that car so lovingly.

[@wellybobs4403]

I had one great trip over the pennines about 34 years ago. The fastest drive of my life. The cars brakes and suspension had to be replaced after the two hours of torture. The tyres were ripped to pieces. It took almost a full bottle of malt whisky to calm down.

[@nickhannaford3253]

Nice Cossie! I really liked the Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4. A bit more understated, a real “Q Car”.😎

[@gregjarvis3288]

Nice nice car. You looked at home behind the wheel😊😊

[@getoutofthekitchen]

My neighbor had a 1988 Merkur XR4Ti (sold here in the states) back in the mid 90's. 2.3 Liter turbo 4cyl with a 5spd. Very quick and fun car. Looked nearly identical to this Cosworth.

[@unstablebobgable]

Jonny has good taste in cars.

[@kevinkyser1274]

I always liked the front end and wing on these cars…so unique.

[@terencekuzgundehaas5025]

What I like about this Channel better than Wizard is that here you actually see the work done

[@Cobretti_GTI]

It seems we have the same taste!!!. My favorite car ever. I also love Ford Escort RS Cosworth, Ford Fiesta RS Turbo and this on is special (Ford Fiesta RS 1800 ) . Good times!

[@murray1759]

Really enjoyed this episode.....

[@admranger]

Saw one of these in Boulder, CO at a car enthusiast's house. Very nice.

[@bobb.7230]

I used to have a Mercur XR4ti, which I believe was a distant cousin to this. I really liked it because it was fast and very comfortable…

[@mauriebarnes8272]

I had a Ford Escort Mk II 1980 RS2000. Fast little car in its day. The RS Cosworth was a beast by comparison. Great cars!

[@andrewmccarrick1036]

Love those cars

[@thebigguy8306]

Thank you, Johnny, think we all have that one (or more) cars we fell in love with upon driving. Mine would be 83 Audi Coupe, all-wheel drive in a car - say what?

[@ArberBrahaj]

Pershendetje nga Tirana! Vec kënaqësi kur sheh flamurin te officina jote!