Latest addition - Sierra Ghia garage find

[fefu17]

So I came across this Sierra listed as a 1 owner with 14,000km. I wasn't really looking to add another car to the collection but I was too curious to see it and hear its story, which goes something like this...

It's 1985 and this gentleman having recently been to the UK was fascinated by the Sierra's futuristic design. So back in Malta, he went to the local Ford dealer and ordered a Sierra. Not one of the basic versions, but a 2.0 Ghia finished in diamond white. He also wanted to have xr4i wheels but those would have costed him an extra 1k so he fitted a set of mille miglia instead which were smaller but similar in design.

Fast forward a couple of years and an unfortunate accident at his place of work prevented him from driving the Sierra again, mostly due to its lack of power steering. But he couldn't part with it. So he just locked it up in the garage and did not move it ever since.

The Sierra was never meant to be his daily car so it was never taken out in the rain or made use of its huge luggage space. When I went to see it (pictures below taken in previous owner's garage today), the doors were stuck, it was impossible to push (sticky wheel cylinders) and it's engine was last started up in 2007. Original steels and trims tucked away in a corner covered in dust.

We got some jump leads and all the warning lights from the trip computer came to life on the ignition. We removed the air cleaner, poured some fuel on the carb and after a couple of misses, the pinto came to life!

A deal was struck and it will now be off to the mechanic for re-commissioning.

 

 

 

 

 

[DT36]

Love it. I had the exact same car when we needed a 4 door, after 2 kids popped out of my Betty's flower. Bought it tax free when I got posted back from Germany to the UK. 

Served us really well until a nice old lady decided to park her car into my front quarter and twisted the chassis. 

[fefu17]

Some photos on its journey to the mechanic... Fitted a new battery and poured some fuel in the tank and started up without much hassle Any attempts to drive it failed though and a new clutch seems to be the only solution. I was also concerned about the 34 year old timing belt 😆 which will get replaced along with new oil/fluids/filters etc.

 

 

 

 

[ShaunS]

Thats a very good looking sierra, 

Congrats on the find, 

[caprimk1v4]

"Love it. I had the exact same car when we needed a 4 door, after 2 kids popped out of my Betty's flower."

Hurt my lungs laughing to what "dt36" said, bloody brilliant, you will have to wear "Rubber Gloves" next time you are going "GARDENING" !!!!!.

Made my day that has.

 

 

Oh yeah, nice Sierra as well, forgot all about the car.

 

[fefu17]

Got it back from the mechanic today 😁 Still need to go through the process of classic car certification before I get the plates. Managed to take it for a short drive (on a private road) though and ran like a dream 😉

Here's a short video:

 

 

[fefu17]

Ans it’s finally on the road…not much done to it other than a good clean and a power wash to the engine bay. Needs a good polish, a couple of small dents pulled out and some other minor details.

Went for a long night drive yesterday…pulls well and doesn’t handle too bad either considering she’s still wearing the original uniroyal rallye’s 😁

Really tempted to put some 15 inch BBS replicas (JBW) and lower it a bit…or else just put the original steels and trims for a factory look 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[DT36]

Fair play, it's looking good 👍

[Rally Pack 2000]

Gosh that scrubbed up well. Im just going to get the high pressure hose on mine if that's all it takes for a decent restoration these days!

[fefu17]

Original tyres had to go and with a set of compomotive turbos lying in the garage waiting for my escort mk2 project wrapped in new tyres, it was rude not to!

13 inch are a bit small on her but with some lowering and grey or gold centres I think they can look ace. What do you think?

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[fefu17]

Found a set of refurbished pepperpots with new tyres for a really good price today so I snapped them!  Hoping for that factory fresh look once they're on 

[fefu17]

Wheels on! Next on the list are paintless dent removal, detailing (clay bar, 2 stage polish and wax), fix radio/electric aerial

...more work than I expected

 

 

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[fefu17]

Back from paintless dent removal and detailing 😀 Nice deep shine considering the age. Next on the list is replacing electric antenna and repaint mirror covers.

 

 

 

 

 

[quickrack]

That's was a great find.
It's looking real well now.
If you are modifying it, dont do anything permanent I reckon as the original car will be worth more eventually.

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[fefu17]

Thanks! I was originally planning to put slightly bigger wheels and lower it but now happy with the factory look. Given the condition and mileage, I agree that its wiser to leave it as it is. Mirror covers done as well

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[fefu17]

We were quite blessed with the weather last week so took the Sierra for a quick run while everyone else was wrapping gifts

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[Nobbly]

I absolutely love this 😍

Hit me up if you ever want rid of it...

[fefu17]

Some shots taken last weekend by the photographers we have planted on our main coast road 😀 Odometer now reads a whopping 17,800km 😛

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[fefu17]

Some recent shots 

 

 

[BaileyMex]

Looking good there!!

[Rally Pack 2000]

Got any under bonnet shots? Does it all just look standard Pinto?

[fefu17]

On 30/03/2023 at 16:12, Rally Pack 2000 said:

Got any under bonnet shots? Does it all just look standard Pinto?

100% standard

 

 

[Rally Pack 2000]

Thanks we never got Sierras here so I never knew what a Pinto looked like under the bonnet of one! Plenty of room.

[ShaunS]

Awesome looking Sierra, and I bet these are pretty hard to find in that condition, no matter where you are in the world. 

The original 14 inch rim above ( 7 spoke ) rim looks period correct as well. Incidentally the XR8 here in ZA used the same spec but in a 15 inch called Ronal's. . The rumor has it, these preferred as they cooled the brake discs down better on the XR8s fronts. . Again another extremely hard rim to find here. 

Nonetheless, your newer design 14 inch, often referred to a the bullet hole alloys, where the period correct Sierra XR6 wheel. 

 

Would love to get a set of those in 15 inch for my Sapphire. 

I ve kept my late moms Sapphire 1989 2.0 i Gle for standard for almost 10years, and well .......................time gets the better of you eventually  

Edited April 3, 2023 by ShaunS

[fefu17]

Just wanted to share a picture taken during the filming of Wheeler Dealers World Tour Season 2 Episode 9 shot in Malta in which they featured a mk2 Cortina. The Sierra got some coverage in the end during the car reveal/meet up along with other local classics