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Had one here in the U.S. where it was called the Merkur XR4ti. Loved the car, but parts and dealership distribution here was not great. Love your videos! So great to see a young person who is so knowledgeable about older cars.
XR4ti was basically the XR4i with the 2.8 V6 removed and the 2.3 turbo engine replacing it, although this version isnt the original 'jellymould' version
Nice review of the Sierra, you are talented at putting together these with just the right amount of information, personal opinion, balanced views, etc.
Before long you'll have more subscribers than Idriveaclassic, your videos are clear and concise and you have a knack for it , a lot less waffling on with a camera focused on yourself driving for 20 minutes , and a lot more shots of the car, well done.
Great video. My dad had a few Sierras and he loved them. If he was still around I’m sure he’d get a kick out of this . Thanks for bringing back some fond memories.
When ford first offered a diesel in the Sierra, it was a 2.3 Peugeot engine, which was very agricultural. I remember when these cars were first out in 1982, the music on the tv advert was vangelis “chariots of fire” With the slogan “man and machine in perfect harmony “
CRS1964 I think the engine was from the pug 505. It really did sound like a tractor! Ford didn’t catch up until they did the 1.8 which wasn’t a bad engine.
I have a huge soft spot for Sierras, my dad owned a 1987/D plate white estate around 1990 which was used for towing a massive caravan and also used as his work vehicle/van, that was replaced with a 6 month old ‘92 J plate 1.8 LX for my mother when he bought a van. Had that for 3 years before we were involved quite serious head on smash. It ended up half its length and pretty much unrecognisable, but we all walked away without a scratch, absolutely loved that car! Great video as usual too.
My Dad had a series of Ford 'Company Cars' starting in 1970 with a MkIV Zodiac and then MkIII, MkIV & MkV Cortinas through the 70's, and ending up with a 1982 Sierra 2.0 Ghia. It seemed like a huge change and 'step-up' from the prior MkV Cortina 2.0 Ghia. The ride was so much more comfortable in the Sierra, the changed rear suspension was a huge improvement. All my Dad's cars were autos, so there was plenty of left-foot room for the driver and the 'new' 4-speed auto box improved not only the economy but also the high-speed cruizing ability of the car. In top gear the Sierra cruized at 70mph at under 3,000 rpm as compared to the Cortina's 3,500 rpm. It made for much more relaxing long distance trips and much improved fuel economy. The centre console had not only more waring lights, but also a basic trip computer and a little graphic that showed you which doors were open, and boot lid and bonnet, and whether there was a chance of ice on the road, all very advanced seeming, at the time! Thanks for the review, it's brought back lots of memories of my Dad's cars. Jonathan
Very true, I had a mk5 Cortina at the time and the Sierra was a very Marmite car when it came out. So different to what was around at the time. To be honest I wasn't keen and I was only 19
Hats off to Ford, they had the guts to bring out totally new and radical shapes at the time. Remember when they launched the Focus? It seemed like we were transported 50 years in to the future when we first saw it
One of my friends had a Sapphire Cosworth he must have been the only young driver with one in the early 2000s not to destroy it with a silly body kit, made an absolute mint selling it about 5 years a go.
I spotted straight away that the wheels and spoiler were out of place - I used to own a 1989 Sierra 1.8 LX. It was originally my company car, but when I was made redundant the company included the car in my redundancy package. It had 16 miles on the clock when I was originally handed the keys, and it was some 8 years, and over 154,000 miles, later when I sold it. (I saw it about 2 or 3 years later on the M40, so it lasted quite a bit longer). It had the CVH engine, and the one outstanding thing I remember was that in all those miles I never had to top the oil up, I just changed the oil and filter every 4,000 miles - not bad for a car that's gone round the clock over one and a half times! The reason I chose it was because it was the only hatchback on offer by the company I worked for, but it must have had some affect on me because almost all of my cars since then have been Fords. The LX was priced to be attractive to the company car market, and although it lacked things like electric windows and mirrors, it did have the same seats as the GLX, with mechanical lumbar adjustment, which I believe were better than those fitted to the GL model. A great car, I was sad to see it go.
I've had every type of lovely car, but even so I've got a soft spot for the Sierra it's trim level it gave something to everyone and their budget....a rare option ❤️
Great review. The Sierra , as long as you have an original body no or minor rust , you've got yourself a good car. Very economical , engine easily repairable . No silly technology . I had a Cortina 2.0 GL and it never let me down on the road within the 8 years that I owned it.
I've owned several from the sapphire cosworth, xr4i on a b plate to a normal 1.8lx...they were great and loved them - bar the cvh manual fuel pump that wore out terribly! As a child I was absolutely fascinated and obsessed with them. I was born in 82. My step dad was a car dealer and when I saw the scorpio in its highest trim form....well that blew my mind as it was in my mind a bigger Sierra....regardless- that smell!!
As far as I know the smoked rear lights started in 1990, my H plate 1.8 turbo diesel certainly had them. Dashboards were different colours to the door trims, but were usually different shades of the same colour and usually complimented the paint colour. Not sure blue door cards with red paintwork is right. The early cars had a hinged rear parcel shelf with a lidded storage box, but this was soon changed to a one piece item ( probably to cut costs). The centre row of warning lights monitored engine oil level, coolant, washer fluid, brake fluid and brake pad wear and was quite an advanced feature for the time. As you said, apart from the Cosworth, the run of the mill cars seem to have disappeared from the roads, although I have recently purchased an original 1986 low milage 1.8 Laser which is in remarkable condition for a 37 year old car.
I can remember my Dad spitting feathers when the Sierra came out. Yet the only Cortina he'd ever owned had to be routinely bump started in the winter, even when it was almost new.
Where did all the Sierra's go? The banger tracks - no doubt after being used as taxis. Had 3 of them: 2 1.6 '86 models, one with hideous amounts of rust and a rather lovely '93 1.8GLX in bright red complete with the smoked rear lights, headlamp wipers and body coloured bumpers. Would have another any day but even the humdrum models are now silly money for what they are. Good vid, cheers!
Ahh it's making me nostalgic, first car I remember my dad owning, I know some models may have differed, but I dont remember his having these many features
The Sierra really was an Icon of the 80s in the UK. Yes, the Cosworth was the one everyone remembers, but there was the V6-engined XR4 & XR4x4 and the Twin Cam which was popular with reps. The diesel variants sold well to cab companies. The Sierra was a very adaptable, comfortable car.
had a 1.6gl E plate and a G plate 2.0i ghia with the pump adjusted seats , they just loved to swing out , fun times. The interior is actually a ghia interior, same exact one as my silver one
Another great video. I had a 1990 1.8 GL as well in maroon. It was comfortable but so dull. Everything about it's performance was 4/10. Rough, underpowered engine, a very long gear change, loud tyre noise, poor brakes. Mine was 4 years old when I got it and it wasn't too long before the rattles of the cheap plastic made it sound like I was driving around in a bag of nails. 8 years later after many years of dullness sold it for £50! Keep up the great work. Loving your channel.
nice car and review, just one thing, its a mk2 prefacelift. the facelift was done in late 90, gave them smoked rear lenses with number plate surround, also had clear front indicators and a new dash with switches.
It wasn't your video young man,I just thought the old girl detracted from the usual high standard of motors I have come to almost expect from you? No insult meant! Keep up the good content!!
This was over a year ago. While I do try nowadays to keep the standard of the cars I feature close to original and in good condition, I had no choice at this point, when I had less than 500 subscribers.
I remember the Sierra and Cortina mk 4’s and 5’s well, they were like street furniture at one time, they were a familiar site on uk roads, they were very popular cars in the 80’s and 90,s. Like most old cars they rotted their way into scrapyards, and the remainder have now turned into modern classics commanding 4 figure sums for even tatty examples! Why do classic Fords command such high prices? Great video Ed, very enjoyable, keep em coming.
The Sierra was a huge leap forward. I bought a 1984 1.6L estate from a friend and kept it for 11 years. Interesting, at that time the estates and Ghia models were made in Germany, the rest in Dagenham.
I never owned one but drove plenty as hire cars, always liked them. The gearbox was very useful to racers, kit car builders and Escort upgraders. The card may be gone but the gearboxes live on.
The Sapphire name was only used in the UK. In other countries it was simply called the Sierra saloon. In the rest of Europe the predecessor was the Taunus. The last Cortinas were simply badge engineered versions of the Taunus.
hi mate I have very fond memories of the sierra.lovely to see a young guy that loves these old classics so much . the best car I ever owned was a1969 victor vd.25000 miles and no problems. lol colin
Really like your videos. Really interesting getting a young persons view on cars of my youth ....(any car was good to many of then lol) . It would be nice if you put in some photos of other cars that you refer to when you mention them. Just like the cortina in this one. Thank you
an RS Cosworth sold for £80k at the weekend in a Kings lynn auction. Plenty of love for the Sierra - although of course that was the high performance version with such a rich motorsport heritage. The car has only done about 8k miles and been in storage for 28 years!
Brilliant video, good on ya!!! I had a 1.6 L hatchback, a 2.0 Sapphire GL, and a couple of estates. Funny that you showed the Mark 5 Cortina, in 1991 I bought a Mark 5 2.0 Ghia saloon finished in Meadow Green, making it a rare one. Owned her for 6 years, heartbroken when she had to be scrapped. Would love just one more.......currently driving a Mk 2 Galaxy but also have a Mk 2 Mondeo 2.5 v6 Ghia X estate, would love to see a video about the Mondeo.
Classic cars my dad had a 2.0GL on D reg 1986 for 6 months during 1992 I remember dad always replacing the clutch after 6 months of having it sadly he sold it .
Good cars. After the Cosworth, pick of the bunch was the GLS 4x4. Looking like 1.8 and with just a GLS badge on the rear and small 4x4 badges on the wings, it was basically a XR4x4 . The 2.9 V6 engine was a tough old lump. Always kinda wished I had the chance to fit the Scorpio Cosworth V6 to that car, would have made quite a Q-car in the early 1990s.
Loved both my red XR4X4 2.8 MK1 87 and 2.9 Mk2 1989. Real stump pullers from those cast iron Cologne engines. The earlier 2.8 i had a muther Garret T5 fitted, not many cars been in where rev counter goes up in 4th as fast as revving in neutral. 35mpg on a run. Still suffer from whiplash now from 40mph, traction unreal but cv joints and transfer box it regularly tore apart. Could be in 3rd at less than 10mph right trough to 85 in a 4 wheel slide across fields. 2nd best car ever had behind a mk3 Capri 2S big valve. The later 2.9 changed firing order, didnt even sound like a V6 but still easy to drive and less economical sub 24mpg.
One ashtray each side at the back was the usual thing for decades. I suspect that back in the days when car ownership was not as common as today it would be far more common for a car to be fully populated with adults in the back... so this was not really encouraging children to smoke. Besides which, they are very good for putting your sweet wrappers in. ;-)
Interesting video, love your presentations on ordinary British cars. The Sierra seems like the British equivalent of our own stylish smooth blob 80s car, the Ford Taurus.
The US Taurus was considerably bigger, more alike to the Granada/Scorpio stable-mate to the Sierra. The Taurus was used a mechanical workhorse for early Mondeo prototypes as the outgoing Sierra was too short and a little too narrow.
I clearly remember the very first Ford Sierra that I saw on the road, it was a radical design for the time and seemed very futuristic, but I have to admit I never liked it in hatchback form, I did think the later booted Ford Sierra Sapphire was ok. They were very popular in the 1980's, they seemed to be very reliable and very sensible choice for families or repmobiles. Myself I thought the Vauxhall Cavalier was a better car in that class.
Always liked the Sierra. Had a few in my time from 1.6 base to 2.9 4x4. Ford had strange trim levels, Sierra GL of 86 electric windows, tachometer, electric mirrors...Granada GL (which I had at the time) didn't. Smoked lights "facelift" came in '90 and the large chuby hole on the N/S above glove box is in fact a backing plate for models without ABS module.
I remember a friend whose Mum had a 1990 5dr Sierra 1.8GL he thought it was faster than my Dad's 1991 chipped Rover 416 GTI because bigger engine😂 this was in 1993 when the 416 GTI was a geeky but quickish car that loved to bounce off it's 8000rpm rev limiter, honda twin cam goodness
That the revised model where the made the side windows large. The car was late coming to the UK and my grandfather purchased a Europe a 2.3 ghia 10 months before the UK launch and it had smaller side window for had to do a early retooling to change the door pressing to make the side windows larger. Styling was a huge step forward it's a putty the engines took longer to change.
Great review. This of course is not the true 'Jelly mould' Sierra however as that accolade goes to the original body shape or MK1 Sierra if you like. The 82 early cars. The Sierra though a ground breaking design was not that refined or ahead as its under pinning's, platform and engines were common with the MK5 Cortina's. Only the lean burn 1.8 and the later 2.8 XR4 engines were new and exclusive to the Sierra and I believe carried over from the Granada MK2.
Great video. Ford did a clever job here….under that revolutionary body was the running gear of the last cortina. The early models looked slightly different…not as nice or tidy. The best imo were the last of the run sapphires….they were nice. If u haven’t done one yet, can you do a video on the 3rd gen jelly mould Ford Granada…the front drive design.
I had a 1.8 LX late 1990 model Sierra, which had clear indicators, back in the early 1990s. By the way, the 1.8l CVH engine (1769 cc) developed 90bhp, not 79bhp, and it was designed as a high torque engine. It replaced the 1.8 l pinto engine around 1987, which also produced about 90bhp, but I don't think was designed for lead free petrol. The 1.6l pinto developed 75bhp, was a bit of a slug. I liked it for the time only cost me £2600 at the time, a good car. A 2 litre 8v twin cam was introduced in 1989 to replace the old pinto, and with fuel injection developed 125bhp. Unusual with rear wheel drive, but to be fair, the mk2 Cavalier was a better car, especially with 1.8 or 2 litre engine.
That got GHIA seats and door cards hence the colour difference. I had a 89 2.0 gl carb engine sierra for a bit and it didn't have those seats or rear head rests. Was fun on the wet and once the 2.0 got passed 30mph but much prefer the cavaliers I had and binned my sierra after a few months for a mondeo.
Whats the width and height of your front tires? I bought mondeo ghia rims for 150euro (6,1/5J…et40, 16inch) and current tire (205 55 16) is rubbing against the front shock absorber and i don't know if buying 205 45 16 would solve the issue, considering that car is now standing on Bilstein b4 ... Thanks
I have never owned a Sierra, last Ford we had was a Mk3 Cortina pickup (built in South Africa) I remember well seeing them and contemporary Escorts, Capris etc in our local pub car park. My car then (this in my late teens) was a Peugeot 404.. It was unusual, sure, but way quicker and nicer to drive
Good interesting video, I've just watched 'Big car's Ford Sierra story video as well. You two & Hubnut should get together & make a feature length video about 70's & 80's cars!
I see HubNut has competition! Has the owner put new bumpers on and repainted the lower half of the doors with stonechip? Red side inserts were usually on LX and GLS models, GL specs had chrome and body coloured lower paintwork rather than black, which went with the LX/GLS. Those low profile ExCos wheels look a bit weird, for some reason they appear even smaller than the standard 13/14 high profiles. The higher spec (Ghia, XR) models did indeed have the warning light cluster. Bulb outage, door open, ice warning etc. Given an option, the 2.0i engine (the sohc Pinto still at this time, before the I4 dohc 8v came in) has quite a bit more poke than the CVH 1.8 and was a bit of a sleeper. Looking forward to more of these :) The reason the heated windscreen and fog light switches seem a bit lightweight is because they weren't latching switches, just momentary contact. Looks like one has been replaced and the clips have fallen out. Normally they feel pretty solid.
The door bottoms have been painted at some point, and you’ll notice there is no rubbing strip above it! The owner hasn’t had the car for very long, so hasn’t done much to it. The only thing he has done is fit standard springs to the back. When he got it it had its arse right on the floor! 😂
Arse on the floor isn't a good look, lol. Probably a previous owner changed the bumper, not exactly unusual to have a bit of a bump in a car this age :D
@@TwinCam This car, being one of the last GL Sierras, had 14-inch steel wheels with the 10-hole early-mk3 Granada Ghia wheeltrims fitted originally. The original seat and door card upholstery was grey strobe, sort of a very thick tweed/twill black and grey diagonal stripey pattern cloth. And Radiant Red was a brand new colour on all Fords for 1989, replacing the slightly darker Rosso Red. Also, this was a great Sierra review. A very nice example this one is, a credit to the owner for maintaining it very well and keeping it well in-tune. The rear bumper fits perfectly level as well! I enjoyed this video.
The sierra still looks modern to me. I don't like the modern trend toward huge flattened boxes on wheels (looks sideways at the range rover evoque). Back then cars had individuality
My uncle had the 1990 2.0 sedan with tinted taillights. But he said that it was luxury? But what is luxury? Did they came with electric windows and a/c?
there werent as many 'facelifts' as you make it out to have. yes there were differences but mostly they were to help differentiate the trim specs from one or other, and for cooling on some models. also there were only ever 2 models, mk1 and that one, the mk2, with a mild mid model refresh in 1991 when the rear lights were added and some wrongly call it a mk3. extra warning lights were model dependent, and not fitted to all versions. ive spent more time in Sierras than i care to think of, having had them in the family and owned them myself, and having worked in a Ford Dealership with Sierras. gearstick throw might be longer than youre used to but its far better quality change than many cars of the era. as for the trim being a different colour, they are Ghia seats (i dont remember the GL having the pump up lumbar support either or rear headrests) and door trims.
Great review young man !Yes the first generation were not liked poor build quality compared to the MK5 Cortinas but but they got a lot better and more roomy than the Cavaliers
I used to own a perfect Cortina Gear in two toned brown and silver. It had silver disc trimms. Then I purchase a Sierra sapphire I think that was a upper model.. Gear I think. They was lovely cars..
In the USA it was the Merkur XR4TI it came with a 2.3L turbo engine they where quick !! for the time .. The looks was a little to much for the American market at the time .. But it was a sign of what was to come in the States.. My car is a 2018 Fiesta ST ..
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I think the most handsome of the sierras was the 1992 sapphire cosworth. With smoked tail lights!
Actually the lights were smoked from 1990 and onwards.
Deffo.
Anyone else would have done an XR4I or XR4x4 or even a Cosworth...
But you do a 1.8 GL!!!! Cool :)
Had one here in the U.S. where it was called the Merkur XR4ti. Loved the car, but parts and dealership distribution here was not great. Love your videos! So great to see a young person who is so knowledgeable about older cars.
XR4ti was basically the XR4i with the 2.8 V6 removed and the 2.3 turbo engine replacing it, although this version isnt the original 'jellymould' version
Nice review of the Sierra, you are talented at putting together these with just the right amount of information, personal opinion, balanced views, etc.
Great review mate! You’re a natural presenter and think you’ll go far in the YT car scene ;). New subscriber here for sure!!
A good insight into the background of the Sierra.
Your videos are great, I have enjoyed them all so far and look forward to many more.
Before long you'll have more subscribers than Idriveaclassic, your videos are clear and concise and you have a knack for it , a lot less waffling on with a camera focused on yourself driving for 20 minutes , and a lot more shots of the car, well done.
Great video once again!
My Grandad has had Cortinas, Sierras and Mondeos for years and years- such brilliantly reliable cars !
Great video. My dad had a few Sierras and he loved them. If he was still around I’m sure he’d get a kick out of this . Thanks for bringing back some fond memories.
When ford first offered a diesel in the Sierra, it was a 2.3 Peugeot engine, which was very agricultural.
I remember when these cars were first out in 1982, the music on the tv advert was vangelis “chariots of fire”
With the slogan “man and machine in perfect harmony “
CRS1964 I think the engine was from the pug 505.
It really did sound like a tractor!
Ford didn’t catch up until they did the 1.8 which wasn’t a bad engine.
Loved my Sierra great cars and everything about them so glad i had one :)
Always easy on the eye, love the videos, keep them coming
I have a huge soft spot for Sierras, my dad owned a 1987/D plate white estate around 1990 which was used for towing a massive caravan and also used as his work vehicle/van, that was replaced with a 6 month old ‘92 J plate 1.8 LX for my mother when he bought a van. Had that for 3 years before we were involved quite serious head on smash. It ended up half its length and pretty much unrecognisable, but we all walked away without a scratch, absolutely loved that car! Great video as usual too.
Thanks Mark ☺️
Looks like a Range Rover on those springs! Absolute beauty of a motor though and what a lovely condition it’s in
My Dad had a series of Ford 'Company Cars' starting in 1970 with a MkIV Zodiac and then MkIII, MkIV & MkV Cortinas through the 70's, and ending up with a 1982 Sierra 2.0 Ghia. It seemed like a huge change and 'step-up' from the prior MkV Cortina 2.0 Ghia. The ride was so much more comfortable in the Sierra, the changed rear suspension was a huge improvement. All my Dad's cars were autos, so there was plenty of left-foot room for the driver and the 'new' 4-speed auto box improved not only the economy but also the high-speed cruizing ability of the car. In top gear the Sierra cruized at 70mph at under 3,000 rpm as compared to the Cortina's 3,500 rpm. It made for much more relaxing long distance trips and much improved fuel economy. The centre console had not only more waring lights, but also a basic trip computer and a little graphic that showed you which doors were open, and boot lid and bonnet, and whether there was a chance of ice on the road, all very advanced seeming, at the time!
Thanks for the review, it's brought back lots of memories of my Dad's cars.
Jonathan
This car brought back so many memories - thank you fot another great video :)
I remember when the Sierra came out and you're right, it did look very radical. Unless you were there it's hard to image just how different it was.
Very true, I had a mk5 Cortina at the time and the Sierra was a very Marmite car when it came out. So different to what was around at the time. To be honest I wasn't keen and I was only 19
I missed the release of the Sierra but I remember the mk 1 Mondeo being released I'm guessing it was that kind of radical?
Good work twin cam.. I loved this video as I seem to love all your videos. I love cars and your perspective I find very appealing. UK
Thanks again Peter :)
Just found your channel brilliant mate keep it up respect from Scotland 🏴
Cheers Allan ☺️
Hats off to Ford, they had the guts to bring out totally new and radical shapes at the time. Remember when they launched the Focus? It seemed like we were transported 50 years in to the future when we first saw it
Bloody good cars, I had a 91 Sierra 2.0 Ghia and my old man had a 1.8 LX. Kept the Ghia for a few years, I do really regret getting rid.
One of my friends had a Sapphire Cosworth he must have been the only young driver with one in the early 2000s not to destroy it with a silly body kit, made an absolute mint selling it about 5 years a go.
I had an E reg 1.6L estate in the mid 90’s, big sluggish but great motorway cruiser. Great video bought back great memories.
Good video. Quite a few added extras from previous owners. And the interior seats and door cards are from a 92 spec Ghia.
I spotted straight away that the wheels and spoiler were out of place - I used to own a 1989 Sierra 1.8 LX.
It was originally my company car, but when I was made redundant the company included the car in my redundancy package. It had 16 miles on the clock when I was originally handed the keys, and it was some 8 years, and over 154,000 miles, later when I sold it. (I saw it about 2 or 3 years later on the M40, so it lasted quite a bit longer).
It had the CVH engine, and the one outstanding thing I remember was that in all those miles I never had to top the oil up, I just changed the oil and filter every 4,000 miles - not bad for a car that's gone round the clock over one and a half times!
The reason I chose it was because it was the only hatchback on offer by the company I worked for, but it must have had some affect on me because almost all of my cars since then have been Fords.
The LX was priced to be attractive to the company car market, and although it lacked things like electric windows and mirrors, it did have the same seats as the GLX, with mechanical lumbar adjustment, which I believe were better than those fitted to the GL model.
A great car, I was sad to see it go.
I've had every type of lovely car, but even so I've got a soft spot for the Sierra it's trim level it gave something to everyone and their budget....a rare option ❤️
Great review. The Sierra , as long as you have an original body no or minor rust , you've got yourself a good car. Very economical , engine easily repairable . No silly technology . I had a Cortina 2.0 GL and it never let me down on the road within the 8 years that I owned it.
I've owned several from the sapphire cosworth, xr4i on a b plate to a normal 1.8lx...they were great and loved them - bar the cvh manual fuel pump that wore out terribly! As a child I was absolutely fascinated and obsessed with them. I was born in 82. My step dad was a car dealer and when I saw the scorpio in its highest trim form....well that blew my mind as it was in my mind a bigger Sierra....regardless- that smell!!
As far as I know the smoked rear lights started in 1990, my H plate 1.8 turbo diesel certainly had them. Dashboards were different colours to the door trims, but were usually different shades of the same colour and usually complimented the paint colour. Not sure blue door cards with red paintwork is right. The early cars had a hinged rear parcel shelf with a lidded storage box, but this was soon changed to a one piece item ( probably to cut costs). The centre row of warning lights monitored engine oil level, coolant, washer fluid, brake fluid and brake pad wear and was quite an advanced feature for the time. As you said, apart from the Cosworth, the run of the mill cars seem to have disappeared from the roads, although I have recently purchased an original 1986 low milage 1.8 Laser which is in remarkable condition for a 37 year old car.
I can remember my Dad spitting feathers when the Sierra came out. Yet the only Cortina he'd ever owned had to be routinely bump started in the winter, even when it was almost new.
After watching I want to have a Sierra..and after watching vids about the Metro, I want a Metro...and...and..
That indicates how good your content is.
Thanks mate, that's very kind of you to say :)
Two tone paintwork was a big thing in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Still looks great now.
Where did all the Sierra's go? The banger tracks - no doubt after being used as taxis.
Had 3 of them: 2 1.6 '86 models, one with hideous amounts of rust and a rather lovely '93 1.8GLX in bright red complete with the smoked rear lights, headlamp wipers and body coloured bumpers. Would have another any day but even the humdrum models are now silly money for what they are. Good vid, cheers!
I would add that they also got used alot in the making of kit Cars.
@@antjeeismann4684 Good point! 👍
Ahh it's making me nostalgic, first car I remember my dad owning, I know some models may have differed, but I dont remember his having these many features
The Sierra really was an Icon of the 80s in the UK. Yes, the Cosworth was the one everyone remembers, but there was the V6-engined XR4 & XR4x4 and the Twin Cam which was popular with reps. The diesel variants sold well to cab companies. The Sierra was a very adaptable, comfortable car.
Impressed to see that such a young person into these cars! I'm nearly 40 and this was one of my dream cars when i was his age! Quality.
My dad had about 8 Sierras when I was growing up from a 1.3 3 door to a 2000E and 2.0gt they all had different colour dash compared to door cards 🤣
had a 1.6gl E plate and a G plate 2.0i ghia with the pump adjusted seats , they just loved to swing out , fun times. The interior is actually a ghia interior, same exact one as my silver one
Another great video. I had a 1990 1.8 GL as well in maroon. It was comfortable but so dull. Everything about it's performance was 4/10. Rough, underpowered engine, a very long gear change, loud tyre noise, poor brakes. Mine was 4 years old when I got it and it wasn't too long before the rattles of the cheap plastic made it sound like I was driving around in a bag of nails.
8 years later after many years of dullness sold it for £50!
Keep up the great work. Loving your channel.
nice car and review, just one thing, its a mk2 prefacelift. the facelift was done in late 90, gave them smoked rear lenses with number plate surround, also had clear front indicators and a new dash with switches.
My dad had a 2.9V6 Sierra. Have fond memories of that car. He traded in his Granada to buy it.
It wasn't your video young man,I just thought the old girl detracted from the usual high standard of motors I have come to almost expect from you? No insult meant! Keep up the good content!!
This was over a year ago. While I do try nowadays to keep the standard of the cars I feature close to original and in good condition, I had no choice at this point, when I had less than 500 subscribers.
I remember the Sierra and Cortina mk 4’s and 5’s well, they were like street furniture at one time, they were a familiar site on uk roads, they were very popular cars in the 80’s and 90,s.
Like most old cars they rotted their way into scrapyards, and the remainder have now turned into modern classics commanding 4 figure sums for even tatty examples! Why do classic Fords command such high prices? Great video Ed, very enjoyable, keep em coming.
Thanks William ☺️
If you haven’t already, do check out my video on the Mk5 Cortina!
Twin-Cam Thanks! Will do.👍
Massively ahead of its time when launched similar to the rounded version of the cavalier with that cars relaunch somewhere around 88
The Sierra was a huge leap forward. I bought a 1984 1.6L estate from a friend and kept it for 11 years. Interesting, at that time the estates and Ghia models were made in Germany, the rest in Dagenham.
I never owned one but drove plenty as hire cars, always liked them.
The gearbox was very useful to racers, kit car builders and Escort upgraders. The card may be gone but the gearboxes live on.
Always been a Vaux-nut but love Sierra’s in any spec!
The Sapphire name was only used in the UK. In other countries it was simply called the Sierra saloon. In the rest of Europe the predecessor was the Taunus. The last Cortinas were simply badge engineered versions of the Taunus.
Not true, Sapphire badged versions were sold in South Africa.
The old girl sounded great. nice vid again mate.
It just occured to me... The people who called this car a jelly mould probably grew up buying cars with fins and space-rocket styling. That's ironic.
Subscribed love your videos keep them up. ❤️
hi mate I have very fond memories of the sierra.lovely to see a young guy that loves these old classics so much . the best car I ever owned was a1969 victor vd.25000 miles and no problems. lol colin
Really like your videos. Really interesting getting a young persons view on cars of my youth ....(any car was good to many of then lol) . It would be nice if you put in some photos of other cars that you refer to when you mention them. Just like the cortina in this one. Thank you
Top review as always !! Where do you source your prey, sorry subjects from ? Also classic motor show coming up !!
I just get offered them by people if they’d like their car to be in a video!
an RS Cosworth sold for £80k at the weekend in a Kings lynn auction. Plenty of love for the Sierra - although of course that was the high performance version with such a rich motorsport heritage. The car has only done about 8k miles and been in storage for 28 years!
Brilliant video, good on ya!!! I had a 1.6 L hatchback, a 2.0 Sapphire GL, and a couple of estates. Funny that you showed the Mark 5 Cortina, in 1991 I bought a Mark 5 2.0 Ghia saloon finished in Meadow Green, making it a rare one. Owned her for 6 years, heartbroken when she had to be scrapped. Would love just one more.......currently driving a Mk 2 Galaxy but also have a Mk 2 Mondeo 2.5 v6 Ghia X estate, would love to see a video about the Mondeo.
Classic cars my dad had a 2.0GL on D reg 1986 for 6 months during 1992 I remember dad always replacing the clutch after 6 months of having it sadly he sold it .
Good cars. After the Cosworth, pick of the bunch was the GLS 4x4. Looking like 1.8 and with just a GLS badge on the rear and small 4x4 badges on the wings, it was basically a XR4x4 . The 2.9 V6 engine was a tough old lump. Always kinda wished I had the chance to fit the Scorpio Cosworth V6 to that car, would have made quite a Q-car in the early 1990s.
Loved both my red XR4X4 2.8 MK1 87 and 2.9 Mk2 1989.
Real stump pullers from those cast iron Cologne engines. The earlier 2.8 i had a muther Garret T5 fitted, not many cars been in where rev counter goes up in 4th as fast as revving in neutral. 35mpg on a run. Still suffer from whiplash now from 40mph, traction unreal but cv joints and transfer box it regularly tore apart. Could be in 3rd at less than 10mph right trough to 85 in a 4 wheel slide across fields. 2nd best car ever had behind a mk3 Capri 2S big valve.
The later 2.9 changed firing order, didnt even sound like a V6 but still easy to drive and less economical sub 24mpg.
One ashtray each side at the back was the usual thing for decades.
I suspect that back in the days when car ownership was not as common as today it would be far more common for a car to be fully populated with adults in the back... so this was not really encouraging children to smoke.
Besides which, they are very good for putting your sweet wrappers in. ;-)
The tailights looks so much better then the older sierras.
I thought the Sierra was ugly untill this came out
Good looking old barge but the Mk3 Cavalier was a big improvement .
Colonel Ed front wheel drive though so I’d take the Sierra over the cavalier although I’ve had both and prefer the look of the cavalier
Another great review 👍
I always loved this car 😍
Love my sierra 2.0 dohc estate
78 thousand miler from new in black
Love a retro ford
Extra bonus of a Jaguar X-Type driving off in the background. The rear quarter lights look very similar to those on an Austin 1800. I wonder…
Top video. I had a 1.8 J reg Sierra Sapphire (J69 NRJ), I bloody loved that car until a 4 x 4 reversed into it and it ended up being written off.
Interesting video, love your presentations on ordinary British cars. The Sierra seems like the British equivalent of our own stylish smooth blob 80s car, the Ford Taurus.
The US Taurus was considerably bigger, more alike to the Granada/Scorpio stable-mate to the Sierra. The Taurus was used a mechanical workhorse for early Mondeo prototypes as the outgoing Sierra was too short and a little too narrow.
@@rangeroverblues3489 Interesting, I didn't know that the Taurus was used in the Mondeo's development.
Amazing video, amazing car fantastic 😍
Cracking video mate love all the details
I clearly remember the very first Ford Sierra that I saw on the road, it was a radical design for the time and seemed very futuristic, but I have to admit I never liked it in hatchback form, I did think the later booted Ford Sierra Sapphire was ok. They were very popular in the 1980's, they seemed to be very reliable and very sensible choice for families or repmobiles. Myself I thought the Vauxhall Cavalier was a better car in that class.
Yes, I’m fully aware that I could do with buying a decent microphone!
Nothing wrong with your videos. Down to earth, correctly informative videos without any bs, are just great!
You're doing a great job!
Seems fine to me to be honest! An inexpensive clip-on lavallier mic is probably a good investment though.
Anyway to gift you a good mic?
Ollie Mcphillips Email me!
twincamcars@gmail.com
Always liked the Sierra. Had a few in my time from 1.6 base to 2.9 4x4. Ford had strange trim levels, Sierra GL of 86 electric windows, tachometer, electric mirrors...Granada GL (which I had at the time) didn't.
Smoked lights "facelift" came in '90 and the large chuby hole on the N/S above glove box is in fact a backing plate for models without ABS module.
I remember a friend whose Mum had a 1990 5dr Sierra 1.8GL he thought it was faster than my Dad's 1991 chipped Rover 416 GTI because bigger engine😂 this was in 1993 when the 416 GTI was a geeky but quickish car that loved to bounce off it's 8000rpm rev limiter, honda twin cam goodness
Terrific Video.
They changed to the black out lights in G reg, think that was 1990
Yes, I had a 1.8LX in this red/black colour scheme on a late G plate - it had the black out lights and white indicator lenses at the front.
That the revised model where the made the side windows large. The car was late coming to the UK and my grandfather purchased a Europe a 2.3 ghia 10 months before the UK launch and it had smaller side window for had to do a early retooling to change the door pressing to make the side windows larger.
Styling was a huge step forward it's a putty the engines took longer to change.
Good looking motor and video we had the 2 litre wish we had it now
Great review. This of course is not the true 'Jelly mould' Sierra however as that accolade goes to the original body shape or MK1 Sierra if you like. The 82 early cars. The Sierra though a ground breaking design was not that refined or ahead as its under pinning's, platform and engines were common with the MK5 Cortina's. Only the lean burn 1.8 and the later 2.8 XR4 engines were new and exclusive to the Sierra and I believe carried over from the Granada MK2.
Those escort rs cosworth wheels are a bit posh for a 1.8 gl Sierra 👍
It's great that all Ford wheels were interchangeable,apart from the Probe which wasn't really a Ford anyway.
Great video.
Ford did a clever job here….under that revolutionary body was the running gear of the last cortina.
The early models looked slightly different…not as nice or tidy.
The best imo were the last of the run sapphires….they were nice.
If u haven’t done one yet, can you do a video on the 3rd gen jelly mould Ford Granada…the front drive design.
Thanks David :)
I had a 1.8 LX late 1990 model Sierra, which had clear indicators, back in the early 1990s. By the way, the 1.8l CVH engine (1769 cc) developed 90bhp, not 79bhp, and it was designed as a high torque engine. It replaced the 1.8 l pinto engine around 1987, which also produced about 90bhp, but I don't think was designed for lead free petrol. The 1.6l pinto developed 75bhp, was a bit of a slug. I liked it for the time only cost me £2600 at the time, a good car. A 2 litre 8v twin cam was introduced in 1989 to replace the old pinto, and with fuel injection developed 125bhp. Unusual with rear wheel drive, but to be fair, the mk2 Cavalier was a better car, especially with 1.8 or 2 litre engine.
That got GHIA seats and door cards hence the colour difference. I had a 89 2.0 gl carb engine sierra for a bit and it didn't have those seats or rear head rests. Was fun on the wet and once the 2.0 got passed 30mph but much prefer the cavaliers I had and binned my sierra after a few months for a mondeo.
Nice car men
Back in the day, the back seat adults would both smoke as well as the two up front.
Exactly! The world wasn't that pussified then.
If the back seat passengers where children they would smoke behind the bike shed at school.
I think this is when ford cars were just right with the shape
Whats the width and height of your front tires?
I bought mondeo ghia rims for 150euro (6,1/5J…et40, 16inch) and current tire (205 55 16) is rubbing against the front shock absorber and i don't know if buying 205 45 16 would solve the issue, considering that car is now standing on Bilstein b4 ... Thanks
I have never owned a Sierra, last Ford we had was a Mk3 Cortina pickup (built in South Africa)
I remember well seeing them and contemporary Escorts, Capris etc in our local pub car park.
My car then (this in my late teens) was a Peugeot 404..
It was unusual, sure, but way quicker and nicer to drive
Good video 👍 Used to love these cars
Good interesting video, I've just watched 'Big car's Ford Sierra story video as well. You two & Hubnut should get together & make a feature length video about 70's & 80's cars!
I see HubNut has competition!
Has the owner put new bumpers on and repainted the lower half of the doors with stonechip? Red side inserts were usually on LX and GLS models, GL specs had chrome and body coloured lower paintwork rather than black, which went with the LX/GLS. Those low profile ExCos wheels look a bit weird, for some reason they appear even smaller than the standard 13/14 high profiles. The higher spec (Ghia, XR) models did indeed have the warning light cluster. Bulb outage, door open, ice warning etc. Given an option, the 2.0i engine (the sohc Pinto still at this time, before the I4 dohc 8v came in) has quite a bit more poke than the CVH 1.8 and was a bit of a sleeper. Looking forward to more of these :)
The reason the heated windscreen and fog light switches seem a bit lightweight is because they weren't latching switches, just momentary contact. Looks like one has been replaced and the clips have fallen out. Normally they feel pretty solid.
The door bottoms have been painted at some point, and you’ll notice there is no rubbing strip above it! The owner hasn’t had the car for very long, so hasn’t done much to it. The only thing he has done is fit standard springs to the back. When he got it it had its arse right on the floor! 😂
Arse on the floor isn't a good look, lol. Probably a previous owner changed the bumper, not exactly unusual to have a bit of a bump in a car this age :D
@@TwinCam This car, being one of the last GL Sierras, had 14-inch steel wheels with the 10-hole early-mk3 Granada Ghia wheeltrims fitted originally. The original seat and door card upholstery was grey strobe, sort of a very thick tweed/twill black and grey diagonal stripey pattern cloth. And Radiant Red was a brand new colour on all Fords for 1989, replacing the slightly darker Rosso Red.
Also, this was a great Sierra review. A very nice example this one is, a credit to the owner for maintaining it very well and keeping it well in-tune. The rear bumper fits perfectly level as well! I enjoyed this video.
The sierra still looks modern to me. I don't like the modern trend toward huge flattened boxes on wheels (looks sideways at the range rover evoque). Back then cars had individuality
My uncle had the 1990 2.0 sedan with tinted taillights. But he said that it was luxury? But what is luxury? Did they came with electric windows and a/c?
there werent as many 'facelifts' as you make it out to have. yes there were differences but mostly they were to help differentiate the trim specs from one or other, and for cooling on some models.
also there were only ever 2 models, mk1 and that one, the mk2, with a mild mid model refresh in 1991 when the rear lights were added and some wrongly call it a mk3.
extra warning lights were model dependent, and not fitted to all versions.
ive spent more time in Sierras than i care to think of, having had them in the family and owned them myself, and having worked in a Ford Dealership with Sierras.
gearstick throw might be longer than youre used to but its far better quality change than many cars of the era.
as for the trim being a different colour, they are Ghia seats (i dont remember the GL having the pump up lumbar support either or rear headrests) and door trims.
Great review young man !Yes the first generation were not liked poor build quality compared to the MK5 Cortinas but but they got a lot better and more roomy than the Cavaliers
What do you like more? The sedan or the liftback? The mazda 626 was the rival but the 626 hatch looked way bigger
One of the coolest things that can be done with a sierra is to mount a toppola on it...
The car has to be a Liftback for it to fit.
I used to own a perfect Cortina Gear in two toned brown and silver. It had silver disc trimms. Then I purchase a Sierra sapphire I think that was a upper model.. Gear I think. They was lovely cars..
What exhaust system did that have? Sound nice!
Never a fan of the Sierra but did enjoy this video anyway.
In the USA it was the Merkur XR4TI it came with a 2.3L turbo engine they where quick !! for the time .. The looks was a little to much for the American market at the time .. But it was a sign of what was to come in the States.. My car is a 2018 Fiesta ST ..