I know, all sources say the same thing: Ford intended to use the FIA regulations for evolution cars and instead of converting some of the standard Sierra RS Cosworth they built 500 extra cars intended to be converted later. Usually meant to be in black only they ended up separating 500 cars including about 100 in white and blue. The cars were stored for some time and then sent to Tickford to have the YBB taken out and replaced by a YBD prepared by Cosworth, replace the front bumper, add the rear spoilers/lips and RS500 stickers.

AND all sources say: Ford just used RHD cars. And no one has ever seen a REAL RS500 road car as left hand drive.

Prize question: Why were the cars in the german DTM (racing 1987, 1988 and 1989 as RS500) driven by Ludwig, Hahne, Winkelhock, Reuter etc. and in the 1987 WTCC driven by Ludwig and Niedzwiedz all LHD cars? I can't tell you the VIN but all cars do have the RS500 front bumper and the rear spoiler(s). The Nürburging 24h winning car of 1987 (Ludwig, Niedzwiedz, Soper) als is a LHD RS500...

 

The car of Ludwig/Niedzwiedz (probably the WTCC car as #7 was used by a BMW 635 in the DTM) now owned by the Ford Museum in Cologne is LHD with RS500 front bumper, RS500 spoiler(s), big turbo, 8 injectors and the orange air hoses.


(Start at 11:57)

 

Ford built all RS500s as RHD for road use, but for racing they often needed LHD cars to meet regulations or suit driver preferences in continental Europe. Tickford and Cosworth would prep the race cars using RS500 bodykits and aero, and at the same time carry out LHD conversions specifically for track use. If you look at a VIN History Report you’ll usually see these cars starting life as standard RHD road cars before being converted for competition.

So yes, all road cars were RHD, but the race versions you see in DTM, WTCC, and even the Nürburgring winner were modified LHDs for practical reasons — driver comfort, safety, and sometimes series regulations. The front bumpers, spoilers, and RS500 stickers were all part of the homologation package, which is why the cars still looked completely “factory correct,” even though the steering layout had changed — something that also shows up clearly when you dig into the VIN history.

RHD for the streets, LHD for the races. That’s why you see legendary drivers in LHD RS500s even though no LHD road cars officially existed.

 

There's an update on the RS500 in the Ford Museum in Cologne. It's a shell without a VIN. So Ford Colonge probably used a spare LHD 3-door shell and all the parts neccessary to build a RS500 touring car. And Cosworth probably built a little bit more than 500 YBD units.