Sierra XR8 - a new one on me!

[andyBeaker]

250 of these 5.0 V8s built by Ford in South Africa.

how times have changed - almost seven seconds to 62mph

HOMEGROWN HERO | Remembering the sizzling Ford Sierra XR8

September is the month in which South Africans celebrate our heritage. When it comes to cars, there's a lot we can look back at rather fondly

www.timeslive.co.za

 

[Pow-Lo]

250 of these 5.0 V8s built by Ford in South Africa.

how times have changed - almost seven seconds to 62mph

HOMEGROWN HERO | Remembering the sizzling Ford Sierra XR8

September is the month in which South Africans celebrate our heritage. When it comes to cars, there's a lot we can look back at rather fondly

www.timeslive.co.za

I was only thinking about my Sierra XR4x4 the other day. I bought a two year old one in 1990, 2.8 V6, 150bhp and 0-60 in 8 seconds and she was a fantastic car.

Mrs P's 218d wipes the floor with it in every department except, perhaps, handling in the snow. How times have changed indeed!

 

[johnboy]

F249PGM a black 2.9 version bought it 9 months old, great car especially in these current weather conditions.

 

[Pow-Lo]

F249PGM a black 2.9 version bought it 9 months old, great car especially in these current weather conditions.

XR4x4?

 

[ChildoftheJago]

<Anorak alert>. 2.9 only came in XR4X4 and GLS 4X4, previous 2.8 was in XR4i and early 4X4....
Or something really rare, a Minker 323.

 

[johnboy]

XR4x4?

Yes

 

[Squag1]

Yea, liked the 323F
Woman I knew had one.
She had no idea what it was.
Another older one I knew had some kind of Toyota sport, wasted on her.

 

[Pow-Lo]

Yes

Mine was the older 2.8, also black E909TDW. I loved that car, kept her for nine years.

 

[andyBeaker]

<Anorak alert>. 2.9 only came in XR4X4 and GLS 4X4, previous 2.8 was in XR4i and early 4X4....
Or something really rare, a Minker 323.
View attachment 52556

Wow, look at that body roll.

Things have moved on!

Two of the cars I have most enjoyed owning were Ford V6; Mk 5 Cortina 2.3 Ghia and a Mondeo 2.5 Ghia X.

A Capri 2.8 Brooklands would be very welcome in my garage, as indeed would a 3.0S.

 

[slim63]

Wow, look at that body roll.

Are we on about Pow-lo's signature pic now Andy ?


Trust me I have looked and looked and looked again







just had another little peek just to be sure

 

[Nige F]

250 of these 5.0 V8s built by Ford in South Africa.

how times have changed - almost seven seconds to 62mph

HOMEGROWN HERO | Remembering the sizzling Ford Sierra XR8

September is the month in which South Africans celebrate our heritage. When it comes to cars, there's a lot we can look back at rather fondly

www.timeslive.co.za

This one would be more like my favourite...

LEGENDS: FORD CORTINA XR6

It was never going to be an easy task topping the hugely popular Ford Cortina 30S. But in 1981 Ford South Africa launched a car that certain

drivetribe.com

 

[Cougar377]

This one would be more like my favourite...

LEGENDS: FORD CORTINA XR6

It was never going to be an easy task topping the hugely popular Ford Cortina 30S. But in 1981 Ford South Africa launched a car that certain

drivetribe.com

That reminds me of the Mk5 Cortina my dad had briefly. I remember it was a V6 but I can't recall the engine size.

 

[slim63]

That reminds me of the Mk5 Cortina my dad had briefly. I remember it was a V6 but I can't recall the engine size.

I think they were 3.0L an overbore of the old 2.9L Colonge engine

 

[Pow-Lo]

I think they were 3.0L an overbore of the old 2.9L Colonge engine

Did the Cortina come in a 3 litre? As far as I remember, they maxed out at 2.3 (I had a W reg 2.3 Ghia back in the day). I thought it was only the Granada and Capri that had that 3 litre motor.

 

[andyBeaker]

That reminds me of the Mk5 Cortina my dad had briefly. I remember it was a V6 but I can't recall the engine size.

Yup, the V6 in the Mk V Cortina in the UK was 2.3, available in Ghia and GL trim only.

 

[Nige F]

Did the Cortina come in a 3 litre? As far as I remember, they maxed out at 2.3 (I had a W reg 2.3 Ghia back in the day). I thought it was only the Granada and Capri that had that 3 litre motor.

That 3.0 v6 one was only available in South Africa by the look of it

 

[Pow-Lo]

Yup, the V6 in the Mk V Cortina in the UK was 2.3, available in Ghia and GL trim only.

I think there was a GLS, too. Ford had a habit of adding an S badge and for the money, it gave 'go faster' stripes and mesh front head rests.

Watched a film last night, Killer Elite, with Jason Statham, Robert De Niro and Clive Owen set in 1980. One of the cars used was a Mk III Cortina and I'd forgotten how much I liked those cars and never got around to getting one. Still looks cool now.

 

[andyBeaker]

I think there was a GLS, too. Ford had a habit of adding an S badge and for the money, it gave 'go faster' stripes and mesh front head rests.

Watched a film last night, Killer Elite, with Jason Statham, Robert De Niro and Clive Owen set in 1980. One of the cars used was a Mk III Cortina and I'd forgotten how much I liked those cars and never got around to getting one. Still looks cool now.

Definitely not a GLS Mk v in the UK.

there was I am pretty sure a GLS Sierra.

 

[slim63]

I think there was a GLS, too. Ford had a habit of adding an S badge and for the money, it gave 'go faster' stripes and mesh front head rests.

Watched a film last night, Killer Elite, with Jason Statham, Robert De Niro and Clive Owen set in 1980. One of the cars used was a Mk III Cortina and I'd forgotten how much I liked those cars and never got around to getting one. Still looks cool now.

I had a MK III 1300 originally I think but it had a 2L pinto engine in it, big silly tyres on the back jacked up to suit & a shirt button for a steering wheel, had it about a week before punting it on before it killed me

A lad down the road has a lovely orange MK III and an Escort in a similar colour, ....... lucky basket !

 

[andyBeaker]

There was a firm called Savage Engineering who specialised in dropping 3.0 V6s into Mk 2 & 3 Cortinas..

I vaguely knew a chap in the seventies who had one of the Mk 2s, a converted emerald green metallic 1600E. He sold it and bought a Triumph Tiger that was a Sunbeam Alpine with a 4.7 Ford (America) V8 dropped in it. That was as slow as a slow thing compared to modern standards; about 8 seconds to 60 if I recall correctly. Still as cool as a cool thing then as indeed it is now. Although overheating was a big problem.