Hi All,

I have an opportunity to purchase a Sierra Cosworth. I believe the seller to be a genuine chap but I want to be sure the car is a genuine Cosworth.
I have the chassis number but I’m still struggling to confirm this.

The car is red in colour & looks genuine but Some people are telling me they didn’t come in red & some are telling me they did.

The car was a UK car taken into the Republic Of Ireland. It is registered as a 1984.

The car has manual windows which the owner tells me this car was originally intended for rallying.

Again I believe the seller to be genuine & with seeing the car I also believe it to be genuine

any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

year of manufacture would suggest a B reg, i thought D 86 was the first reg for 3drs.

Please step in the cossy knowledge boffins....perhaps 1.6L 3dr shell??

 

Is there any way of confirming details via chassis number.

Obviously have spoke with Ford dealers but vehicle isn’t coming up.

Checked it on Cartel & it’s coming up ok

 

Pictures speak a thousand words.....post some up or link to an advert if possible...

Rs owners club??

Theres many tells to id a genuine car.....

Personally id be very wary of a red b reg 3dr.....

I think there was only one and it was in a private collection and former press car for a motor show.

 

I think this is a model of the said 1 and only red 3dr

 

I’m hoping I have attachments added. - not so good at this.

is there any way of confirming via chassis number

 

Should do.....

 

All the information should be on the vin plate. Make sure the Actual chassis number matches what is on the vin plate.I also thought D reg was the first 3 door Cosworths.

 

A Google search found this.....

Theres a few websites that offer decoding info....

 

Is that a current photo or an old one? Was there any information with it?

 

Heres the link.......

https://95ron.com/fit-for-a-duke-vin...erra-cosworth/

 

As far as I know my mate has the only good built road going red 3 door pictured above was owned by famous race driver Vince woodman

 

Some very interesting info on that link, thanks.

 

 

Ok,
so finally worked out how to upload images - these any help

 

The earliest press cars were on a C plate, the majority of the road cars are on a D, and likewise the majority of the RS500's are on an E plate. The trim levels didn't vary (to the best of my knowledge), so all examples would have had electric windows from the factory.

As Jay said earlier, the only one to leave the factory in red was the one specially built for the Duke of Bedford, and that's currently up for auction (or has been auctioned recently), and was expected to fetch in excess of Ł70k, so unless this one is being sold for that kind of price, then I have more doubts on the authenticity of the seller.

If the date of manufacture is 1984, then it's likely to be a 1.6L 3 door shell (which would account for the manual windows), or possibly an XR4i with the rear quarter lights changed to look like the Cosworth.

The VIN plate should give you more clues about the engine, colour, transmission and trim. I've attached a photo of my VIN plate and the other plate on the slam panel (not sure what that's referred to as), so the one you are looking at (if it is a Cosworth) should look very similar.

Mine is a Diamond White car, so that's what the colour codes identify. The other colours are Moonstone Blue and Black. Not sure what their colour codes are but I'm sure someone on here will.

The two letters towards the end of the VIN number (in my case GA) denote the engine month/year of manufacture. GA equates to November 1986. This won't necessarily tie in with the date of first registration obviously, mine was in fact not registered until May 1987, but it should give you a good idea of when the car was built originally.
The 5 numbers after these letters are the engine number

Here's a list denoting all the month/year codes - https://www.burtonpower.com/tuning-g...ure-dates.html

 

Also,

the seller has the original wheels

 

Wheels can be bought from a variety of sources, so no guarantee of authenticity

 

Good info Del...

 

Take a photo of the vin plate and compare it to the one shown in the post above by BigDel. That should confirm exactly what car it is..

 

It's quite simple it's to early to be a real cosworth so it's either a 1.3 or 1.6 shell made to be a replica

 

whats the reg on it ?, i may know the car

 

84 W 20

Irish car

 

different one sorry

 

no way its a cosworth in 84

 

its not James there were 3 cars made in read one got stripped at boreham thecsecond got smashes by ford and was in a hanger where John Taylor stored the Rs200 project at the site and the third is what Del has said about my mate owns now and its just to old

 

At the end of the day Jay it's down to the seller to have the balls to admit it is a replica and if bmac is happy to buy it knowing that then go for it. As we are all aware there are some very good replica's out there. As long as the seller is not asking top genuine 3 door Cosworth money for it and it has been built up properly it can still be a good car for bmac to own.It's a pity that bmac has not had a friend with extensive knowledge of Cosworth's to go with him to view the car and ask all the important questions.

 

Yes bud totally agree with you but he states the seller is saying it genuine

 

You have proven that it is NOT a genuine 3 door Cosworth in red, so for me if the seller is insisting it is I would walk away!

 

I wonder if it’s 500 HXD which was painted red some years ago has 18” comps on it and 500 kit, originally white, I believe that went to Ireland but I could be wrong. I don’t know of any other red 3dr cossies.

 

Pretty sure that had sun roof and 500 front bumpers/rear spoilers...

 

Sorry I didn’t see the pictures above, its definitely not the car I was on about lol.

 

well that clears that up jay


the build date on mt boreham is april 85 going on the vin detail

 

As previously mentioned if the OP puts up a photo of the chassis and build plate the relevant information can be decoded from that. If he wants to PM me an email address I can send the breakdown information to him. Cheers David

 

I think now Jay has sorted out it can't be a genuine Red 3 door Cosworth it would be interesting to find out from the vin plate as I suggested what exactly it is.Sellers can lie but the vin plate as long as it is the original will tell you everything you need to identify it 100%.

 

the chassis tag should match the chassis no which is stamped in the d/s floor pan, I personally think it is a copy, no sunroof door locks are chrome, 3dr they were black plastic type, the aerial looks like a pull up type, lookas as if there is a chrome strip in the rear window, all of which were on the lower models, 3dr were not registered in 84 either, It need a lot more investigation i think before parting with your cash.
Good luck
Paul

 

How much is it and we will soon work out if it’s real lol

 

We haven't had much from the original poster for a few days??

Bmac....anymore info....

I'm deffo thinking replica....there was a red 3dr with a pinto for sale a few years ago but that was A reg.

Same things as above, chrome window trims, no sunroof....windy windows.

Surly a good replica build with genuine/quality parts and an honest seller would go along way.

 

Out of interest, what would something like this be worth if it was a replica Vs the real thing?
and if the price was right would it still be worth having?

If it's a re shell job I guess it could be cheap way into cosworth ownership?

 

nothing wrong with a rep or a reshell ,as long as your told at the time .value wise it may be worth more as a sum of parts than it would as a complete car