The Autoshite holy grail is now one of us!

[Pillock]

I wonder why they did the grey grille? Was it to try and calm the shattered nerves of Cortina buyers, used to a big plastic lumpy front? Or was it genuinely cheaper to make that way? Equally with the mirrors, surely it adds cost to have two types of mirror. Bizarre.

 

Still love it though.

[midnite]

u guys, you do make i laugh you do.

[Split_Pin]

The difference between this and the L model was huge, same goes for other contemporary Fords. The base MK3 Escort had vinyl seats, rubber mats and a unique dash with no 'hang down' centre part and no speaker grille in the top part. Seems crazy to make so many parts unique to the base but I guess that it was cheaper materials used and it appears to have persuaded the majority to either get a higher spec smaller model or fork out a bit more for the L.

[Split_Pin]

Hirst beat me to it!

[Jon]

At £750 I'm having to concentrate a bit harder on resisting. It's worth that much just to piss off the troll.

 

That interior is truly minging though, and I can't see Mrs S being a big fan. Hmm.

 

 

 

The man's not wrong...

 

 

I have no space for it and no great desire to own it, but in a crazy effort to give the original spirit of Autoshite a well-needed jump start I'm happy to put up half the money if someone wants to take it on.

 

Who's up for a (now) £350 challenge??

 

 

A plan hatched?

 

On a tangent, are there any backup files of the 'kit' seen on the old front pages? I'm thinking the spots of the astoundingly terrible Renault 12s and a Renault 14, all spotted in London. Things like this will really become a thing of the past with gentrification there and indeed they already have; I'm sure the 12s were sold off (did Bickle get involved?) and the 3dr Stanza has since been scrapped, too. 

[For Fiats Sake]

Haven't we had two offers of two people going haffs?

 

In my book that means SOLD!

[seth]

Could some of these 'Base' features have been more regular parts in other parts of the world?  That way they wouldn't just be tooled up/made for the handful of UK cars of this spec.

[inconsistant]

In the loft somewhere I've got the Autocar mag that had spyshots of the Sierra pre-release, and I think it had photos of a base grey grill model and an xr4i from memory. I'm not sure what the modern equivalent might be but replacing the Cortina was a massive deal in the 80's. This car is as significant as fook. Someone please buy it asap and I promise I'll find the mag and scan it. Can't say fairer than that.

[Jon]

New Zealand sold the Sierra estate from 1984 and they were assembled locally - by all accounts, it was something like 10 months from idea conception to the first one rolling off the production line, which many thought was an impossible task.

 

Anyway, history lesson aside, the most popular model was the 2.0L, which apparently wasn't a version available in the UK. I've only ever seen Ghia versions other than this and they're uncommon, so assume they were special order imports only and the L was assembled locally, much like with the Cortina previously. Assuming that costs were kept to a minimum since cars cost more to buy here in the first place, that should explain why the Ls came with the base steels; see one of my oldspots, below:

 

 

 

Hang on though, the right one's got a posh front end. What's going on?!

[Noel Tidybeard]

I was a full on Ford licker when these came out, to the extent I was actually anti-Vauxhall. Never liked the Sierra at the time of launch as I was bang into Cortinas and just didn't like the sort of jelly mould new fangled shape of the Sierras. 

Now though I'd bloody love one, especially this particular car and would love to have enough coin to make the vendor a serious offer. I expect the dash is the same as other early Sierras, maybe the clocks are slightly different being a basic model, but if they're ok on this car perhaps a good second hand dash from a banger racer or someone could be had.

Restoring it to some showroom shiny standard might be going too far for some, but what's the problem in knocking the dents out, fixing the interior up and generally making it far nicer than it is now?   

 

no on the early base and L models the dash moulding was different- if you look at the brochure pics earlier in thread you'll see the center section stops short of the tunnel whereas the higher spec stuff comes lower

horn was on stalk as well- GL up had it on wheel

[Louise2cv]

Most of what needs to be said has been said, but look, even I get why this car is exactly what Autoshite is.

 

Surely the fact it is a poor example of what (may or may not be) a poor car is what is so GOOD about it.

 

It is still going. Someone has used that car for all this time, for years after most of the others were binned. Whoever owned this must have rated it on some level, because they have held on to it and by the looks of it they have most definitely used it. They must have looked after it too, at least the functional/legal bits anyway.

 

I think its ACE. So there.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Plus its simply a legendary car!!!! Folk on here have been spotting it and keeping an eye on it for donkeys. Now it could actually be bought and saved from extinction! Its a great car and a great story.

[Cheggers]

My offer still stands...a £350 donation towards the purchase price, no strings attached. All I ask is if the car ever leaves the Autoshite fold, either half the sell price or £350 (whichever is the smaller amount) is donated to a charity of your choice.

 

I'll even help* with the collection

[egg]

Can't we raise the other £350 via raffle? £6 tickets?

[inconsistant]

The difference between this and the L model was huge, same goes for other contemporary Fords. 

 

 

Mostly from memory so probably some errors/omissions, the differences between the Base and L are:-

 

I think I can help here:

 

 

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/15614-1982-ford-sierra-brochure-scan/

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I'll chip £25 into a kitty to buy it.

[JohnK]

Add £175 to Bols contribution.

 

We need £150...

[Skizzer]

I'm willing to buy it, especially in a share with someone else, but I'll struggle to store it.  I'm in discussions with another shiter about a possible deal, but meanwhile other serious offers of assistance with looking after it would also be welcome.

[BorniteIdentity]

Fuck it. I'm in. I can fetch it and stash it.

 

I'm stuck at work until end of play today though.

 

Same as above. Shares disposable upon sale at input price.

[BorniteIdentity]

It already needs an original wheel by the looks of things. I don't want to mint it... But I think it deserves its original steelies

[Louise2cv]

I started liking the posts above but frankly I can't be arsed.

 

Know this:

 

Like like like like like etc.

[Cheggers]

Despite some folks' best efforts, occasionally this place IS what it used to be

[JohnK]

I'm sure I can store this for a bit if needs be.

[Skizzer]

OK, we're on it.  No news yet.

[fordperv]

Mostly from memory so probably some errors/omissions, the differences between the Base and L are:-

 

- The amazing grey grille

- Half hubcaps instead of full ones

- Skinnier steel wheels

- Non-colourcoded fuel cap

- No side rubbing strips

- No passenger side mirror (I think they added it after a couple of years)

- Vanity mirror deleted from the passenger sun visor

- Special crap seats, rears don't have split/folding setup

- Head restraints deleted but available as an option

- Completely vinyl/plastic door cards

- No radio or aerial setup whatsoever

- No clock

- Less soundproofing

- No intermittent wipe

- No spec badging

 

There's probably more to be fair.

The base didn't have rear seat belts, the head restraints were a plastic type with a hole in the middle, no rear wiper,

 

they were made of solid gold win

[JohnK]

I love it when a plan comes together.

[Cavcraft]

Is this going to be a 50/50 split or something? Hats off to those involved.

[garbaldy]

Is this going to be a 50/50 split or something? Hats off to those involved.

50/50 between five folk, its gonna be an interesting discussion with the insurance company.

[inconsistant]

The base didn't have rear seat belts, the head restraints were a plastic type with a hole in the middle, no rear wiper,

 

they were made of solid gold win

 

A frame head restraints optional at extra cost

[Cheggers]

50/50 between five folk, its gonna be an interesting discussion with the insurance company.

For me it's like adopting a panda or polar bear...I'm happy to pay, delighted to see it saved for humanity but don't necessarily want it at my house