Barn Find Ford Sierra XR4i - derelict for 30 years (plus bonus 1 owner MR2!)

Barn Find Ford Sierra XR4i - derelict for 30 years. Jonny is in South Wales for this classic Ford garage discovery, which ends up spawning a second (bonus) barn find before the end of the shoot. Parked since the early 1990s this 1984 Sierra XR4i has some 13,000 miles on the clock, and was locked away when the late owner was medically advised to pause driving.
Thanks for stopping by The Late Brake Show.
Before the Sierra Cosworth the XR4i was Ford's sporty flagship. Launching a year after the Sierra model emerged (40 years ago this year) the XR4i had its own bespoke bodyshell design and utilised a fuel injected 2.8-litre V6 from the Granada. It was a fairly short-lived model, as the Cosworth replaced it and dominated all racing formats to cement its place in both motorsport history and street hooligan folklore. Today there are thought to be less than 100 XR4is on UK roads.
For a detailed story on how this shoot went and for some behind the scenes shots, join our Patron: / thelatebrakeshow
DO YOU KNOW OF A CAR THAT MIGHT BE WORTHY OF JONNY HELPING TO UNEARTH ON VIDEO? DO YOU OWN A CAR IN A BARN/HEDGE/GARAGE THAT MIGHT JUST RUN OR NEED A NEW HOME? Email the Late Brake Show via [e-mail]
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Filmed by Bryn Musselwhite / brynmusselwhite
Edited by: Matty Graham @ Pixel Click pixel-click.com
Thumbnail by: Matt Tarrant www.matttarantdesign.com
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Jonny Smith
Creative content maker, car presenter & car pervert for hire since '98
Website: www.carpervert.com
Instagram: / jonnycarpervert
Twitter: / carpervert
CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
#survivorfordsierra #classicfordbarnfind #sierraxr4i #thelatebrakeshow

[@craigrobertson7938]

I hope that the car is restored. It is rare, evocative of the era and very low mileage. The mr2 is possibly much easier. Jonny, thanks for doing these. Your natural enthusiasm for cars is brilliant and the stories behind the cars are great. Really enjoy the barn finds, the garages / man caves, car reviews and the chats with motoring people like Harry metcslfe.. channel should have many many more subs.

[@samholdsworth420]

The only issue I have is that it's a five-digit odometer. It could easily be 113,000 miles. Still cool it survived.

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

@@samholdsworth420 Ex rep car for first few years, so if so, could very well be.

[@adambrand7601]

No

[@WarrenF]

Low mileage is irrelevant when it hasn’t moved in 30 years

[@davidf2281]

Aw, I love the little human stories and nostalgia in these episodes. It's not _really_ about the cars at the end of the day, it's about the people. So good.

[@Spike0000]

History and Memories of better times....

[@wardmontgomery9259]

and hopefully better times to come -

[@littlsuprstr]

Love the Welsh accent. The MR-2 is the real find.

[@richardmatthews6325]

Ronnie is a legend. Casually dropping in there ' I'd forgotten about the other car'....and how many people park a car up, and buy a new one ! Awesome video Jonny

[@seanodriscoll8153]

I bought a black sierra XR4i in a scrap yard many years ago Johnny for 2 thousand and restored it and sold it about six months later for 15 thousand I think it had less than 30 thousand miles on the clock i can imagine how much these cars are worth today, cheers Johnny love your channel 👍

[@ashleybugler215]

These episodes are so good. It's refreshing to watch a programme that is mature, really entertaining and has a total lack of bullshit.

[@Matteo_Licata]

These barn find videos are my favorites. It's going to be a challenging and expensive restoration project this one though... Hope there will be a Ford enthusiast skilled and brave enough to pull it off though.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

[@1one3_Racing]

I want to preserve all the cars. Iconic or not. But I dont think it'll happen for this one. Realistically you could buy a good one for 1/3 the price if the resto

[@tattoojim182]

Lee at Smarden classics is your man to get it restored

[@patdavey7187]

Pointing a camera at people normally makes them clam up but JS, you manage to make people feel so comfortable and open up. Love this series.

[@jwoo20594]

I'm currently restoring an xr4i that's been sat for the past 21 years with around 32k miles on the clock 😁 good to see others being found 👍

[@lucasbarton1773]

Amazing!

[@erinwiebe7026]

In 1989-90, a high school friend of mine showed up at school one day in his father's brand new Merkur (as it was known here in Canada) X4RTi. It looked like something from the future! He took us for a drive during our lunch hours and a few weeks/months later, he let me drive it around the block too. I don't really know why that memory stayed with me, but I remember how fun it was to hang out and listen to our favourite music in (on cassette of course)!

[@mikeford963]

Those Merkur's were made by the German of Ford of Europe. At least that's what I've been led to believe.

[@E9JMX]

@@mikeford963 yes they where. "Ford Werke Köln". In 2014, i had 1 of 3 UK registered Merkur XR4ti's. B35 RHC was the reg. It was unfortunately bodged to make a 3dr Cosworth

[@antbrown1632]

I'm hoping that this is what happened to all the Sierras of my childhood, they're not all scrapped, there are just many, many garages out there hiding them 😁 . Hopefully you can find them all!

[@colinscutt5104]

not all of them are hiding, i drive one every weekend 😎

[@JelloTypeR]

I hope they’re being kept in better conditions. This poor example has been in a shallow pond for 30 years with the handbrake on and battery still connected. A pile of oxidization with metallic blue paint.

[@Mk2fSaloon]

And that garage is then hidden also... by some rich dude that only cares about talking about how much its worth instead of actually driving the damn thing! 138k for a Ford escort cosworth lately is just a piss take and a way for rich people to wave their cocks around.

[@scrapyardwarriorvlogging]

I hope someday I could find my dad’s old Sierra, which I came home from the hospital in when I was born. A510 SVV, 1.6L Auto in red. Last taxed 1996 but last V5 issued 1987, so I’m hoping someone’s got it tucked away somewhere.

[@bobbybridgeman2629]

@@scrapyardwarriorvlogging my dad bought one brand new reg A767 MVS it was a silver 20i Ghia automatic, many fond memories as a young boy, these videos are kinda nostalgic don’t you think?

[@peteredwards7872]

Superb episode. I struggle to understand how you can “forget” about two cars 😂😂

[@kaboombox1581]

2 “ran when parked” at that!

[@andrewmartin2103]

Lost his dad could not face it.

[@neiliosr8]

Such a shame, if that was in the garage with the MR2 then it would be a whole different ball game. It would be good to see it restored but I think it could be too far gone, the whole underside is probably worse than the top.

[@jameslatimer1432]

Old Sierra cars rot from the Inside Out

[@mikeclifton7778]

As others have said, it beggars belief that people can park up a relatively new car and leave it for 30+ years, worse still to completely forget about an MR2! Having said that, the Barn Find series is enjoyable and interesting, especially the back stories of the owners. Good work.

[@Assimilator1]

Yea, just crazy it was left to rot :(

[@jeffo83]

he must be loaded

[@matthewgodwin3050]

I really enjoyed this, what a cracking find. Dad's Sierra. Cassettes of eighties classics. Naff sunglasses, and questionable aftershave. Transported me right back to the eighties that did. Marvellous. And what a brilliant brilliant car. This Sierra so deserves to be restored. I'd love to see it back on the road.

[@iainweller452]

Definitely restorable and the rarity would say save it, love a barn find great episode 👍

[@mfnd502]

I love the owner just addressing the camera directly.

[@FizzicalProductions]

When Johnny said it was parked up at 6 years old I thought this’ll be a right little gem! Bit gutted to see what the ravages of time have done to it despite it being garaged + the no key situation. Fantastic series these barn finds, very enjoyable watching Mr Smith!

[@neildaniel8232]

While it's sad to see a car with such low mileage parked when young and just rotting away it's a timely reminder that a lot of old cars in garages and barns will be like this. The idea of finding an easily restorable car hidden away is rare, unless it's something particularly special lots are just good enough for donor parts before being crushed. Still great to watch them being unearthed as the stories behind them are almost always worth hearing!

[@jimbo4375]

Especially in a rainy part of the country. In the south east it might not be quite so bad, as long as there's no burst pipes!

[@Neil2022]

Especially with a burst water pipe.

[@GREYHOUND1874]

I just love these videos...thank you so much...Finding cars all over the UK and saving them is amazing..

[@arthuradderley5872]

Love this episode. I've owned my xr4i for 34 years, good on Ronnie keeping his.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

34 yrs? That is awesome Arthur.

[@nicwilson89]

Oh man, I want that MR2...absolutely love them!

[@Kompoism]

I really like these videos, it's the ownership stories as well that go with them that make these finds that bit more special.

[@CRhodesDesign]

I remember someone up the street from me as a kid had a yellow MR2 and I thought it looked amazing, you know what it still does! Love to see a video on that if you ever pop back. Be great to see them out on the road again both are classics.

[@olejacobstalesen6558]

Incredible what can be found in old storage! Fantastic video, a *lot* of work to do on that Sierra...

[@thomaspendlebury4793]

Love these Barn find videos. Especially when they have little bits of nostalgia knocking about the car or garage… the stories behind them too. If any of the barn finds get restored would love to see follow up videos to them 😄 keep up the great work Jonny 👍🏼

[@richs7107]

Brilliant, must bring back so many memories of people who probably aren’t with us anymore. Love these barn find videos, could watch them all day long.

[@IndaloMan]

Fond memories of my XR4i reg A734 LLK. It was an ex Ford demonstrator and was entirely colour coded white including the alloys, headlight and rear light covers. I remember it even had electric heated seats and headlamp washers. #goodolddays

[@hwajones]

Love Jonnys enthusiasm for ‘normal’ exotica like this! To me this is true petrolheady stuff. Keep it coming!!!!

[@davidbillberg2203]

I mean. All these barn finds videos are just incredible. Love a Ford Sierra. I grown up in one. My family bought a blue estate Sierra back in june 1988 and we had it until 2005.

[@joemclaughlin995]

Class! From an age when Ford made some of the most iconic cars on the road.Thanks to everyone involved in bringing us this piece of motoring history and hopefully breathe life into it again

[@besenzon1]

Absolutely love the Barnfinds !!! Hope they both get back on the road 👍👍

[@MrTubeuser12]

maybe for future videos you could do a "barn find follow up" series to revisit any of the barn finds that have been restored.

[@Satchm00]

Nice vid, amazing what gets tucked away! Brought back some nice memories of my Grandad’s blue Sierra. All the best Ronnie, thanks for sharing!

[@robtpb]

Awesome stuff Jonny. Thanks for the video!

[@idesignyou...9257]

Got to love the MR2!! My dad use to have a 1994 (M) in British Racing Green, superchipped with K&N, boy did that thing go well and gripped the road like no end with its Yokies!! Please do a video for the MR2 Jonny!

[@dan3092]

My uncle had one new bought from Elstons in Brecon the same colour and year, 13k with a pretty mint interior that's got to be worth restoring the MR2 is Barn Find Auction fodder that could start the funds off for the restoration so Ronnie can cruise the 4i again but more important than the money with this one is the family story nice one Jonny.

[@eoink8219]

Great episode ! I own a 1981 Capri 2.8 injection since 1987.Still in perfect condition. It never ceases to amaze me people throwing stuff on their cars !

[@rossnos]

if i got offered the mr2 i'd snap it straight up 😂 love these barn find videos its absolutely amazing hearing these stories i'd love to see the xr4 restored it'd be so worth it

[@sih1095]

' man and machine in perfect harmony' That was the strapline 😂

[@leepearce2285]

Late brake show knocked it out the park again ,superb little episode,well done Johnny and the crew 👌👌👌

[@MrJordanwain]

Fascinating barn finds!! Love an 90s era car

[@preonmodel8354]

Sierras... back in about 1990, my brother in law had loads, engines for a hundred quid from the scrapyard, 2 hours work and then we were sideways on roundabouts having a right lark... we got an XR3 for 200 quid , put an XR2 engine in it.. fantastic sound.... After that I had an XR3i with RS body kit, flat out everywhere.... good memories thanks Johnny!!!

[@ScenesThroughTravels]

You done it again Jonny , ............Only another BLOODY Amazing video 👍👍👍🙏🙏🙏

[@ENGLISHISBEST]

I had an 82 plate, one of my favourite cars from my past.

[@protestagain]

I drove a XR4i when it was new, a short distance. Later when the XR4i 4x4 came out, I had one of those for a long journey, maybe 600 miles on winding roads from Oslo to western part of Norway. What a journey with that car on snow.

[@davidminns9799]

Another brilliant barn find 👍 love these episodes with all the car n human stories 😊 Johnny such a pro n you can feel his genuine excitement 😊

[@sch-corp]

What I love most about these barn finds is that the people in them and their families are true, cut from the cloth car enthusiasts. The kind of people who love driving so much that they own and drive an MR2 until they literally can't get into and out of it, move on to another car, but can't bring themselves to sell it. I just hope that people like that aren't a dying breed.

[@davidtaylorbfd]

I can never forget seeing the Sierra for the first time. Playing football on our street in the early 80s and this vehicle which looked like something out of space went past, totally different looking car.

[@stevenking2946]

Me and my dad just recommissioned his mk1 xr4x4, 20 years sitting in a garage. Some minor recommissioning and it went through a mot with no advisories....excellent cars..

[@Roverturbo]

I have an estate version.

[@stevenking2946]

@@Roverturbo I know I watch your channel....got a brief video on mine if you wish to view...

[@Roverturbo]

@@stevenking2946 yes mate.

[@shaunlilley]

Try looking above the sun visors for the keys or under the floor mats. Great video Johnny.

[@vincecoxon1632]

Mint video, love barn finds 🙌🏼

[@THEDTSMAN]

wonderful videos, absolutely brilliant to watch.

[@legaltechinnovations1594]

Great episode this. What a top bloke, and that German Shepherd a beautiful old dog 👍🏻

[@ATomRileyA]

Enjoyed this always love these videos, seemed like a nice chap too. Shame the rot has gotten to the XR4i but i bet it could be sorted and if it had not been stored it probably would have been scrapped long ago.

[@sheldonpearce2365]

Wow whatta pair of gems m8 nice find jonny 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@tombarker9765]

Lovely car, I really hope it can be saved. Ronnie is great character too. Thanks Jonny

[@antonylimbouris1992]

Absolutely banging what a legend.

[@barongreenbackthe2nd418]

I had one of these in 93,I was 24 years old ,white,2.8 with a full jan speed exhaust,I loved it.

[@charliejohnson4037]

Awesome! Didn't realise Bryn who does the auctions is on your channel. He's a top bloke!

[@kevinbenton7320]

Had an Xr 4i, then XR 4x4 2.8, then XR 4x4 2.9. Dare I admit I used to tow caravans with them! Great cars. Great episode.👍

[@johnprince5931]

Love the camera work in these vids. The way the camera gets that low shot as they pull roll of fencing out is perfect.

[@peterdashper2251]

Yes but the sound still needs sorting out!

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Great video as always Jonny, Shame to see the condition of the Sierra but what a great family story about the car, the music tapes, the aftershave, the sun glasses. And then the MR2!

[@MrRobster55]

another cracking barn find! 😎👍

[@85NickT]

Every time I see one of these I wonder just how many cars are out there undiscovered. Some people just aren't into cars and might have no idea how treasured the thing that's been taking up space all these years could be by someone else.

[@charliemanson4808]

My brother had one of these, same colour and when it eventually needed a fair bit of welding he parked it up in his (thankfully under house heated) garage for 20+ years. The hope was to restore it someday. He sold it recently I believe and the rust he put it away for...now classed as extremely minor! Most rotted and the body panels/shells have always rare. It's a Fast Ford, someone will restore it. Peace Charlie 🇬🇧

[@admstick]

What a car! I was a kid when the Sierra was launched and it looked mental compared to anything else on the road. My dad had an XR4i and I have fond memories of him trying to hit the top speed on the local dual carriageway.

[@stubailey9433]

The dog looks worried. Great work all involved.

[@jon4539]

Great stuff Johnny thanks

[@Vinttro]

Great video as always guys.

[@SabreLilly.]

This show really makes we wonder just how many amazing cars are sat abandoned across the world. If I had all the money and time in the world, I think I'd spend it finding them and restoring as many as I could

[@kieranwhite6647]

Jonny finds yet another Sierra barn find! Great timing as I rewatched the GLS 4X4 video the other night

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

👍🏽

[@coggrs]

Another great episode. Well it'll either get restored or worst case broken and at least some of the parts will help other owners regardless. Great show, keep them coming.

[@mrlionrocks]

Enjoyed this 👏

[@simonk337]

Those garages are epic 😳

[@midlandperformanceretro2866]

Far worse has been restored, but there’s a hell of a lot of work in that. Depends how bad the floor is. Non cracked/warped Sierra dashboards are sought after, and lots of XR4i specific parts will be sought after too, so there’s value in it even if it’s too far gone for anyone to be interested in. Try and find a Sierra Minker K1 for ultimate rarity!

[@rampanttwattery4844]

That shape of MR2 was such a looker

[@markb3756]

That MR2 was something else! That color combo with the black leather seats. Would love to have seen the interior of it for sure and to see if it was a T-Top car. I had a friend back in the early 90's who had a new white one with t-tops and blue interior. Man, the times we had in that car and she sure knew how to drive the crap out of it! 😉

[@jamespettitt9213]

Barn finds are brill!..

[@jeffshaw4553]

Wow what ashame to see the Sierra in that state hoping Ronnie does restore it would be painful to know it had to be scrapped 😭😭😭love the mr 2 aswell what lovley man well done Johnny finding these 👍🏽👍🏽

[@Rich-ll8ce]

I had a fair few xr4i's and xr4x4's back in the early 2000's when they could be had for a few hundred quid, I used to visit ford fair every year and go to XROC/Interford meetups... How times have changed, wish I could go back!.. I always fancied an XR8 myself :)

[@global_nomad.]

remember when Sierra's were launched and seeing them on the roads as a kid - they were so smooth and slick and spaceship like....they look really clunky now! Great episode and hope something can be done with the car.....and nice bonus barn find too.

[@rovingenglishman]

The controversial ‘jelly mould’! Pretty mundane shape these days

[@koitorob]

Same here. The first one i got to see close up was the one i helped push out of the snow outside my house. I was driving my first car, a Morris Marina Coupe and thought the Sierra's dash was a bit naff!

[@IanYatesDude]

I owned one of these in silver until the early 2000's, amazing fun to drive and a real head turner.

[@rob_lightbody]

My dream car back in the day, in my favourite colour. My dad had an A reg 1.6GL that we all loved, in Status Silver

[@robbrown6495]

These barn finds poke the old memory bank in so many different places. I had an A reg XR4i, though I think Ronnies is in better nick than mine was back then. I had a pair of the old folding Aviator sunglasses. They were scratched to the point that I could hardly see through them, but I had to wear them because they looked cool. The anticipation of standing outside the garage waiting to open that door must be unbelievable. Years ago I was taken on to manage a stalled project. When I arrived the project was 18 months overdue and I was shown the equipment waiting to be installed. It had been locked in a secure room since being delivered almost 2 years earlier with all the computers and monitors in unopened boxes still sealed with shrink wrap. This was a time when flat screen technology was just taking off. We had 5 big flat screen monitors for the project that had cost 8,000 USD each. Once we got everything moving we moved the equipment to the installation site and opened everything up. That's when we found that sometime during the 2 year period they were in storage, the monitors had been stolen from boxes and replaced with bits of scrap for weight. Jonny - have you ever got to a garage, opened it up and found that the car had been nicked? That would be an interesting video!

[@SHOdown13]

Breaking my heart ❤️. HOW do people forget they have cars in barns and garages and then when its a Sierra or an MR-2? Mind boggling. he needs to restore the Xr4i and get the MR to a proper mechanic.

[@conesuela1]

I remember when the first came out, they looked absolutely crazy, the twin spoiler was bonkers! It was like they were from another planet

[@notroublesjustbubbles2307]

Gotta LOVE 🥰 the twist at the end!!! 👏🏻😵

[@CaptainHoratioPugwash]

I can NOT stop thinking about that MR2, I want to restore it so bad.

[@martinboulden4388]

Awesome Jonny.

[@stuartblack9258]

Love this channel cant say enough good things ! Awesome work Jonny keep it going👍❤

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Stuart, cheers v much. Welcome aboard TLBS

[@stuartblack9258]

I know this is a bit cringe but me and my son Jamie wait for every episode being posted ( especially loving the progress on the EggRoll!! Engine swap and updates👍) would you please say Hi to my son Jamie ! He will loose his mind! Thankyou for all your hard work most definitely one of the best motoring channels on KZbin 👍 thankyou in advance Stuart & Jamie 🤗👍

[@stuartblack9258]

@@TheLateBrakeShow me and my son wait for the next episode to be uploaded , it would mean the world if you could say Hi to Jamie Black a massive fan its something we do together i teach him about the older cars and he loves it thankyou for the father & son time you give us im lucky he loves the older cars 80s 90s 2000s he loves the fact he came home in a 16v calibra!! Also really enjoying the EggRoll!🤗👍 thankyou Johnny👍

[@Lazydonkey_]

Laughed out loud when i saw the mr2 with a random mattress stacked on it. Great episode jonny, love these ones.

[@Moore_Jono]

That XR4i was put into that garage same year I was born. As a fast Ford fan, I hope that someone can fully restore it!

[@martinnorth2680]

Great guy, great video

[@robsx4280]

Fabulous as usual. The Police in Essex had a couple of XR4is back in the eighties. The MR2 looked pretty good under the grime, from what I could see sills looked OK as well. Must have been very early Rev3 (Mar '94) and one of very few on an L Plate. Caribbean Blue replaced the Rev2 Zircon Blue (mine was Jan '94).

[@bakedbeanzontoast9078]

Love this channel, and you were my favourite presenter on fifth gear too.👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Many thanks

[@koitorob]

?????????????????????????????????????? No disrespect to the car pervert but... VBH............................................................

[@jamesrobert4106]

Excited!!! I haven't seen the car yet. I had a White one with red accents at the turn of the 2000s and bloody loved that car. The mighty 150bhp of Ford v6 2.8i. It seemed like a rocket ship back then. I think I had keep fit windows in mine 🤔

[@24th1879]

Loving the cars what a find a must for restoration but, OMG.. folding aviators they bring back memories I remember feeling so cool in my 20s having them... sad or what. Lol.

[@nicko9815]

My dad had one of these, in this colour. The dealers nicknamed it slammer blue as it was the colour of wet tarmac and had 4 if I remember, fender benders with people just not seeing it. What a find!!

[@PRG888]

I love that MR2, would love to get that restored