The Super Rare mustang powered Sierra XR8 from South Africa
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
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South Africa has an impressive history of manufacturing exceptional cars. Some of the notable examples include the 325is, the 333i, the Opel Kadett Superboss, AMG-modified Honda models, and the special edition Golf MK1s. In this video, we will take a closer look at another rare South African collector's car from the 80s - the Ford Sierra XR8, which boasts a powerful V8 engine.
The Ford Sierra XR8 is a rare and unique performance car that was built in South Africa from 1985 to 1989. It was a high-performance version of the Ford Sierra, a mid-size family car that was produced by Ford Europe from 1982 to 1993. The XR8 was designed by Ford South Africa to compete in the Group 1 touring car championship, which was the premier racing series in the country at the time.
The XR8 was powered by a 5.0-liter Windsor V8 engine, which was a small-block V8 engine that was originally developed for the Ford Mustang. In its standard form, the engine produced 200bhp, but the figure quoted for the Sierra XR8 was closer to 215bhp - now I have to note that here in south Africa we weren’t it subject to the tough US emissions standards that limited the power of the Mustang, Which is probably why the Windsor in the XR8 made more power.
Now along with the bigger engine the XR8 was equipped with a number of high-performance features, including AP Racing four-pot calipers at the front and modified ATE Porsche 914/Ferrari 308 calipers at the rear, providing excellent stopping power. The car also had custom 6J Ronal 15-inch alloys, which were machined to fit over the calipers. A bi-plane rear spoiler was used once it was discovered that it delivered lower lap times.
Ford quoted performance figures of “under eight seconds” for the zero to 62mph sprint and “in excess of 225km/h (140mph)” for the top speed, which made the XR8 one of the fastest cars of its time. For context, a Sierra RS Cosworth could hit 62mph in 6.2 seconds before maxing out at 150mph. The XR8 had one distinct advantage over the ‘Cossie’: an eight-cylinder soundtrack. Now by Grand dad actually owns one, and trust me the thing sounds amazing. And another random fact. The first time I ever went over 200kmph in a car, was in the XR8. I was still young but back then it seemd so fast. When thinking back on this car Three words stand out: “real muscle car”.
All XR8s were finished in Ford Motorsport white, with tri-blue stripes running along the flanks and boot, and grey/blue PVC panel below the doors. The inside was fitted with velour.
Now The XR8 was granted international Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) approval, with Bob Lutz, the then executive vice president of Ford, flying to South Africa to do the sign off at Aldo Scribante racetrack. He ordered two, one for himself and another for display at Ford’s Dearborn HQ. Smart Guy.
Now here in South Africa The Ford XR8 is a must-have for any car collector or Ford enthusiast. This rare and unique car was originally built for racing, but it also delivers an incredible driving experience on the road. In total, only 252 XR8s were built, including a pair of prototypes, with the first two sold to Ford enthusiasts from the Cape West Coast. Surprisingly, this is 50 more than required by racing homologation rules, and all cars were completed before the XR8 went racing.
#Sierra #302V8 #XR8 #Cosworth
The soundtrack definitely makes it stand out from the Sierra Cosworth. Loved the Cosworths when they were racing in Australia.
In 2019, I bought one of the last Alfasuds, made in South Africa. It spent most of it’s life in the Kalahari Desert. The last Suds here had an overdrive 5th, but mine has close ratio, and a Ti engine in a saloon. Half the weight and half the power of a modern hot hatch, the look on a 2017 Golf GTi driver’s face 10 miles later was a picture! 😂
My first car was an Alfasud 1.5 Superhatch, I got it with a blown engine, found a mechanic in Bedfordview that had a race car motor on one side from a car that had a nasty rear ender on the track, he fitted it to mine and I regularly gave a buddy of mine with a Golf CTi a good hiding on the highway between Benoni and Boksburg...I really miss that little Bull Terrier of a car...
@@ca9968 they are so much fun. it took me 25 years to find one again, and because it spent 32 years In Oudtshoorn, it is very rust free. But..I have a theory the whole car was pressed from local steel due to local content rules. Certainly the floor pan was. But then, they were apparently painted better than Mercedes out there. Why not recreate your youth? Find one. I know 2 people out there with 5 Suds each 😂
I remember when these Sierras first came onto the market, the motors from the US were "detuned for emission control" once they hit these shores they were tweaked for maximum power!
Fantastic car. As with most who are viewing this video I'd never heard of this Sierra until stumbling upon your channel. It's amazing how Ford shoe-horned the Windsor into that small engine bay.
It would have been warmly welcomed in Australia had it been available as Ford here stupidly ceased V8 production for most of the eighties. Great video sir.
Please also do a video of the 3.0iRS SAPPHIRE 3.0IRS WAS ALSO A VERY RSA EXCLUSIVE LIMITED EDITION CAR.
my dad worked for Ford (then SAMCOR) in the 80s and 90s. I got to right in this car befor it was officially on the market.
we had the 3 door XR4i , with spoiler and a 2,8i 6cyl
Ford build 255 xr8 there were 5 prototypes the 1st car was a automatic the two prototype cars is still in posession of the owner of koekenaap garage in the western cape.
I’ve heard of the XR8… it’s practically a 4-door Foxbody!
And for me I thought I was tripping when I saw a foxbody for the first time.
Beast! ❤
BMW South Africa also had a e28 745i with the BMW M1 engine instead of the turbo used overseas. Basically the first supersaloon...
They did a lot of their own things... Land Rovers with BMW engines.... Sierra utes. VW flat 4 vans with golf motors ECT.....
@@danieltynan5301 Yuuuup...it was a crazy time
I have one of these in essex in the uk and there was another one local to me, also one up near Birmingham, don't know if either are still owned by rhe same people
Ah, the good old glory days of Ford Muscle 💪
Nice.
Love the Sierra, sadly in Argentina the most powerful version had an 2.3 liter 120hp...😢
Can you please do a video about running cars on ammonia?
Ill look into it😁
I have only seen one in my whole life, and it had a coyote swap lol.
It had Ronal wbeelrims not Momo.....My XR8 was number 233 of 255 produced
Wheel
Note that the XR8 was de-tuned......
I fail to see why the golf 1 was mentioned.
Does it matter? It's a little beast
I remember the Sierra when it came out , I knew it was a fast car but ,,,ugly. Great walk down memory lane.
This story is as South African as biltong and Bobotie.
Except the car and ford in general have nothing to do with south africa ford even created samcor which is now defunct..
I'm sure you are aware that ford builds cars in many countries.
I remember this car coming out in the 80’s. At that time it was the fastest production Ford in the world at just over R30,000 brand new. I was very disappointed not to see one Ford Sierra in the Ford museum in Detroit Michigan. . To me the most successful Ford in racing. ua-cam.com/video/srZrC98E0W4/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared
Looks like a Dodge Lancer