Four fast Fords add to the fun & interest of H&H Classics online-only auction
LONDON.- For all Ford fans the next H&H Classics sale on April 29th offers a feast with no fewer than four Fast Fords to choose from.
“If you are a fan of the model of Mustang immortalised by Steve McQueen’s Lieutenant Frank Bullitt and one of the most memorable car chases in cinema history, then you’ll probably be blown away by ‘YTA 488E’, which is without question the best 390 GT we have ever seen”, says Damian Jones, Head of Sales for H&H Classics.
“We understand the nut and bolt restoration it has been treated to accounted for some 3,800 man hours, and we can well believe it – apparently £25,000 was invested in the paint alone. According to the accompanying Marti report, this matching numbers Fast Ford was built at the company’s Metuchen plant on July 13, 1967 where it was sprayed in Burnt Amber and equipped with the standard Black bucket seats. Its big block, big carburettor ‘S’ code 390ci engine was linked to a four-speed manual transmission driving through a 3.25:1 limited slip differential, and the specification additionally included: the desirable GT Equipment Group performance package; F70-14 wide oval tyres with White sidewalls; AM radio; and the exterior Décor Group option.”
The original supplying dealer was Berry Motors Inc. of Paramus, New Jersey and the car remained in the US until being imported to the UK in 2014. It is now being made available, complete with the aforementioned Marti report plus a large collection of invoices, and is not surprisingly currently considered by the vendor to possess ‘excellent’, bodywork, paintwork, interior trim, V8 engine and transmission. Without doubt, ‘YTA 488E’ represents a very exciting and rare opportunity for Mustang aficionados everywhere.
1990 Ford Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth
Estimate: £18,000 -£22,000
This car was subject to a repaint in its original special order colour of Magenta and had its cambelt changed in the summer of 2019. A rare rear-wheel drive variant, it shows 32,189 miles on the clock and is very clean throughout.
Successor to the extravagantly bewinged 1986 Sierra RS Cosworth, the February 1988 launched Sapphire RS Cosworth was a much more discreet yet equally effective road burner. With the new four door saloon bodystyle the sum total of the distinguishing external modifications were a body colour front grille, rocker panel extensions, front and rear spoilers and lattice style alloy wheels. However, underneath the skin it was transformed with a 204 bhp 1993cc turbocharged engine, front / rear disc brakes and completely reworked suspension.
Hailed as a drivers car ‘par excellence’ by the motoring press, the Sapphire Cosworth outperformed the original BMW M3 at far less cost and was an instant success. Standard equipment included Recaro front seats, ABS and heated front screen. Improving on such a car was difficult, yet Ford engineers managed it in February 1990 by adding a rear-biased (34:66) permanent 4wd system, uprated 16 valve 220 bhp engine and enlarged air-to-air intercooler. Even more controllable as well as faster, the Cosworth 4×4 seemed set for greater sales success. However, the huge hike in insurance premiums that affected all performance cars in the early 1990s following an explosion in car crime slowed sales to a trickle and the model was discontinued like all Sierras in March 1993.
1993 Ford Escort RS Cosworth
Estimate: £38,000 – £42,000
This car was imported to the UK from Hong Kong in 2013 and recommissioned over the next three years. Kept garaged by its two UK registered keepers it underwent an engine strip down and overhaul including a cambelt change in 2017/18 and has moved little since. There is a great history file and the car is warranted at 25,454 miles.
The Ford Escort RS Cosworth was a rally homologation special of the fifth generation Escort. It was designed to qualify as a Group A car for the World Rally Championship, in which it competed between 1993 and 1998. It was available as a road car from 1992-96 in very limited numbers, only 7,145 vehicles were produced from the start of production on 19 February 1992 until the last car rolled out of the factory on 12 January 1996. It was instantly recognisable due to its large “whale tail” rear spoiler. The main selling point was the Cosworth YBT engine, a highly tuneable turbocharged 2-litre engine which had an output of 220 PS in standard trim.
Acquired by the present registered keeper during October 2016, ‘K251 LUB’ has been kept garaged. Treated to a thorough engine strip down and overhaul 2-3 years ago, the Cossie is warranted by the vendor to have covered just 25,454 miles from new (a corollary of Hong Kong being a small island chain). Rating the Escort’s bodywork, interior trim, gearbox and electrical equipment as ‘very good’, he considers the paintwork and engine to be ‘excellent’. Starting readily upon a recent, pre-lockdown photography visit, the Escort appeared to be notably sharp outside, inside and underneath. As prices of well-maintained ‘Fast Fords’ are increasing rapidly, this is certainly worth consideration by any long-term investor or collector.
1982 Ford Fiesta XR2
Estimate £18,000 £22,000
This Fiesta XR2 underwent a complete professional bare metal body and mechanical restoration to an outstanding level. It is original with all correct specifications and has done 89000 recorded miles.
It is the best XR2 we have ever seen and possibly the finest in existence. All specific items are Ford branded, even the aerial and washer bottle motor and it comes complete with a genuine Ford sunroof bag and Ford PVC protective mats and the correct Pirelli P6 Cinturato tyres all round.
This simply stunning XR2 has been painstakingly professionally restored over a five-year period by the vendor. The quality and attention to detail is quite simply staggering. Much time and money has been spent on sourcing the correct Ford branded parts. A full pictorial record shows the various stages of the work carried out. The whole car has been both mechanically and bodily restored with no area left untouched with the exception of the interior which is pleasingly original even down to the Ford radio, undamaged door cards and rear parcel shelf. Surely a unique opportunity to acquire what is arguably the finest example currently available.
