You hear Keith Maricich’s Ford Sierra before seeing it. There’s a recognisable American V8 rumble, so you turn around expecting a classic Mustang of some type. But no.
Instead, here’s a sensible-looking unfamiliar family sedan with the Blue Oval on its nose. It burbles past and you spot a mighty rear wing and, yes, an XR-8 badge on the boot lid. What is this thing?
The Sierra XR-8 is the rarest production version of the model. And, as is often the case, we have a performance-hungry market and motorsport homologation to thank.
Unlike Falcon-dominated Australia, Ford South Africa sold the five-door Sierra with its flagship having a 3.0-litre Essex V6. The Sierra XR-6 had its fans – Keith’s mum had one when he was a boy – but South Africans are as partial to bent-eights as we are.
The UK sold the hot (for 1983) Sierra XR4i three-door with the Capri’s Cologne V6, but neither this body shape nor engine were available in South Africa. Importing the XR4i was too costly, so Ford South Africa took matters in to its own hands, with ready access to the 5.0-litre (302 cu in) small block V8 from Ford’s Mustang, so you can guess the rest.
In 1984 and 1985, Ford South Africa built 250 Sierra XR-8s. To go Group One touring car racing, 200 were needed to satisfy homologation rules – the extra 50 became export specials. “I believe from the 250 built, 50 went to the UK,” Keith said. “Who knows how many survive, maybe three dozen? Only 10 or 12 of those remain unmodified originals, and I reckon mine’s one of only two in Australia.”
Denne historien er fra Issue 484-utgaven av Unique Cars.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra Issue 484-utgaven av Unique Cars.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
V8 MATES
THIS HOLDEN SL/R 5000 BUILD WAS THE CATALYST FOR A GREAT FRIENDSHIP
ICE ICE BABY
TAKE ONE VOLKSY FASTY AND ADD A SUBY FLAT FOUR ... SIMPLE
LOST & FOUND!
THEY THINK THEY MIGHT HAVE FOUND AMELIA EARHART'S PLANE...WE ALREADY HAVE HER CAR!
CAB CHARGE
WHEN IS AN EX-TAXI NOT AN EX-TAXI? WHEN IT'S A FORMER WEDDING-CAR. THIS RARE EBONY BLACK VG VALIANT WAS FOUND BY SHEER LUCK
CBX1000
HONDA'S BIG-SIX TOURER IS A COMPELLING RIDE
1967 FORD MUSTANG FLASHBACK
THIS 1967 MUSTANG MIGHT LOOK LIKE ANOTHER BULLITT TRIBUTE, BUT WHAT LIES UNDERNEATH IS NO ORDINARY MUSTANG
HONDA S2000 SPORTS
THERE ARE numerous contenders for the title of 'World's Best Four Cylinder Engine' and Honda's F20C, twin overhead cam powerhouse must be right near the top of the list.
FORD ESCORT 1970-80
FORD VERY nearly turned the Japanese small-car tide with its conservative but groundbreaking Escort.
ROLLING BACK THE FEARS
HYBRIDS AND EVS ARE BECOMMING MORE POPULAR, BUT A RECENT RETHINK SEES ICE ENGINES, THEREFORE CLASSIC CARS, SET TO ROLL ON FOR MANY YEARS TO COME
SUPERCAT ON THE PROWL
TWR HAS revealed its limited edition Supercat, with a price tag of $428,000 plus taxes, with deliveries to commence late 2024.