1988 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth

Highlights

• Campagined in period by 1984 WRC champion Stig Blomqvist 
• Highly original car with original stickers and body parts 
• Multiple rally winner and frequent podium achiever 
• Available for road use 

General Description

Heading into 1983 Ford appointed Stuart Turner as Head of Motorsport for Ford Europe, who quickly came to the realisation that the company were no longer competitive as they had been in years gone by. With the Sierra lacking in sales and 1986 signilling the end of Group B regulations, the Sierra was highlighted as a potential Group A prospect - one that could take Ford back to winning ways in the 1980s.

Stuart proceeded to contact Ford's Vice-President of PR, Walter Hayes, an ex-RAF pilot who later became a key-figure in the team that backed Henry Ford II's quest to take on Ferrari at Le Mans. Hayes had also been key in developing Ford's entry and later-success in Formula One, having been responsible for signing Jackie Stewart and developing the Cosworth DFV V8. Hayes taste for competition and a great story, resulted in green lighting Turner's ambitions and consequently the duo wasted no time in collaborating with Cosworth on their Group A aspirations.

Heading into the 1987 season Ford found that their rear-wheel-drive layout struggled for traction compared to some of the four wheel driven competitors and therefore reserved the loose-surface rallys to the XR4x4s whereas the Cosworth took the lead on tarmac, proving instantly competitive.

Heading into 1988, the XR4x4's engine was deemed too under-powered leading Ford to take the decision to turn their full focus to the Cosworth. Like its touring car sibling, the Sierra was an instant icon, regularly achieving top 5 finishes at the hands of legendary drivers such as Stig Blomqvist, Carlos Sainz and Ari Vatanen. Not only did it compete at the highest levels, but the Sierra racked up multiple wins at regional events across the globe thanks to its popularity with privateers including championship victories at the hands of legendary drivers such as Jimmy McRae, Didier Auriol and Erwin Doctor.

About this specific vehicle

‘D705 SVW’ is arguably most original ex-works Group A Sierra Cosworth in existence. A factory-backed car in period with none other than than 1984 World Rally Champion Stig Blomqvist and subsequently with Dutch rally legend Erwin Doctor, winning on multiple occasions.

The car still wears its now three-decade old stickers on the windows from the 1989 season when it was last campaigned by Erwin Doctor as well as the July 1987 fuel tank sticker on the tank cover. 

Following the end of the season D705 SVW was returned to the UK and remained in Doctor's colours until it was repained around 2010. 

The car is still covered in unrepeatable ‘works’ parts bolstering its presence on the market as the most original ex-works car including the original part-steel, part-alloy cage. There are multiple parts of the car both internally and externally that have not been touched, including handrwitten marks and drawings around the vehicle from period. 

D705 SVW is a regular invite to classic events such as the Goodwood and the Eiffel Rally. Not only would this Sierra further compliment a race or rally collection, but is also usable for the road - exactly where it shone best in-period.

Period race history:

1988 (Blomqvist / Melander)

• Rally 1000 Miglia (Blomqvist / Melander) - 2nd
• Rallye de Portugal (Blomqvist / Melander) - 5th

1989 (Erwin / Badenberg)

• Internationale BMW Zuiderzee Rally  - 3rd
• FINA Nacht van Achtmaal  - 3rd
• Omloop van Vlaaderen  - DNF
• AvD/STH Hunsrück Rallye - 5th overall & 3rd in class
• Ypres 24 Hours Rally  - 6th
• Holland Hellendoorn Rally  - 1st
• Internationale AMAC Tulpenrallye 1989 - 1st
• Amsterdam BP Holland Rally - 1st