An iconic Ford Sierra Cosworth is set to sell for £90,000 – over five times what it was worth back in the 80s.
The red RS edition – which can do 149mph – cost £16,000 brand new 39 years ago.
The car was dubbed a bargain supercar of its time due to its relatively low cost and high performance.
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It was a modest family saloon car given a souped up two litre, 204 bhp engine.
This car is believed to be the only RS Cosworth factory-finished in rosso red.
It was made for Robin Russell, the 14th Duke of Bedford, and owned for many years by touring car racer Vince Woodman.
When Russell ordered the motor there were just three colour options – diamond white, black and moonstone blue.
It is not known how he persuaded Ford’s special vehicle engineering department to finish one in rosso red.
But the distinctive car was given to the Duke on long-term loan, as reported by Luxury Auto News.
When that arrangement came to an end, the car remained registered to the Ford Motor Company until 1988 when it was sold to Vince Woodman.
The touring car racer enjoyed most of his successes at the wheel of various Ford Escorts and Capris.
The red Cosworth could regularly be spotted in the club car park at Silverstone race track.
The car – which would have been worth £47,000 brand new with inflation taken into account – was purchased by its current owner five years ago.
In 2022, it was treated to a refresh and a repaint in its original rosso at a cost of over £4,000.
It is being sold by Iconic Auctioneers in Northampton on Saturday (17 May).
Robin Russell was a British peer, stockbroker and animal conservationist.
He became well known to the public by appearing in three series of the BBC reality television programme Country House.
He died in 2003 aged 63.
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