Latest news with #DukeOfBedford
The Sun
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Treasure trove of 17 legendary Fords on sale for staggering £1.2m – but can YOU guess which will go for biggest price?
A REMARKABLE collection of classic Fast Fords have hit auction for an estimated £1.2 million – with several models fetching jaw-dropping prices. The collection of 17 cars went under the hammer at an auction this weekend, drawing big interest from collectors and Ford fanatics alike. 7 7 7 Held at Sywell Aerodrome in Northamptonshire on Saturday, the sale was run by Iconic Auctioneers as part of their Supercar Fest event. It was billed as one of the most impressive line-ups of classic Fords from the '70s, '80s and '90s seen in one place for years. Topping the lot was a 1987 Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth, a motorsport -bred machine that is estimated to fetch £120,000. Only 500 were ever built, and this particular one was in prime condition with just over 43,000 miles on the clock. Also in the spotlight was a rare 1986 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth in Rosso Red – the only one ever made in that colour. Originally commissioned by the 14th Duke of Bedford and loaned to him by Ford, it ended up going for £90,000. Another big hitter was a 1993 Escort RS Cosworth Lux in Pacifica Blue, which sold for £100,000. This model was one of the 2,500 early 'big turbo' versions built for homologation, making it highly collectable. A 1985 Escort RS Turbo Series 1, unmodified and with just one owner from new, also made headlines. With 64,000 miles on the clock and kept in near-original condition, it sold for £50,000. There were three Sierra Cosworths in more standard spec that still pulled in serious cash. A black 1986 RS Cosworth with only 10,800 miles sold for £60,000. Meanwhile, a low-mileage 1990 Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth 2WD with just 31,000 miles fetched £40,000. The most unusual backstory belonged to the red Sierra Cosworth. Back in 1986, the Duke of Bedford asked Ford for one in a different colour – Rosso Red. Though initially refused, he managed to have one specially finished through Ford's Special Vehicle Engineering team. It's since been part of the Ford press fleet, changed hands a few times, and was recently restored to its original colour at a cost of over £4,000. An Escort RS Cosworth in Radiant Red with only 12,354 miles was another standout, praised for being in 'time warp' condition. It still had the original stereo, interior trim and even displayed the reg number on the radio display. Several cars were linked to long-term private collections. One RS500 Cosworth had just one owner from new – a former executive from the ad agency handling Ford's marketing back in the '80s. He bought the car from Ogilvy and Mather after clocking 41,000 miles in it as a company car. 7 7 The cars weren't all six-figure sellers, though. Some went for more accessible prices, if you've got a few tens of thousands to spare. A Moonstone Blue 1991 Sierra Sapphire Cosworth 4WD with 64,000 miles went for around £26,000. Even a few non-Cosworth classics were up for grabs, including a Ford Capri, an early Fiesta, and a 2023 Ford RS200. While they didn't steal the headlines, they still drew interest from the Ford faithful. The auction showed just how much love there still is for these iconic Blue Oval machines. Whether it was for nostalgia, rarity, or pure driving fun, bidders clearly weren't shy about putting their money where their hearts were. Rob Hubbard, Managing Director of Iconic Auctioneers, said: 'This selection of Fast Fords captures the spirit and passion that make these cars so legendary among enthusiasts. From the exclusivity of the Rosso Red Sierra Cosworth to the pristine quality of the Escort RS Cosworth Lux, these vehicles epitomise what Iconic Auctioneers strives to offer – truly exceptional cars at every level.'
The Sun
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Iconic Ford Sierra Cosworth set to sell for £90,000 – over five times what it was worth back in 1980s
AN ICONC Ford Sierra Cosworth is set to sell for £90,000 - over five times its value when it first hit the road in the 80s. The red RS edition - which hit speeds of 149mph - cost £16,000 brand new 39 years ago. 8 8 The car was dubbed a bargain supercar when it debuted thanks to its relatively low cost and high performance. Ford deployed a modest family saloon shape boosted by n a souped-up two-litre, 204-bhp engine. This specimen is believed to be the only RS Cosworth factory-finished in rosso red. It was custom 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. How he persuaded Ford's special vehicle engineering department to finish one in rosso red remains a mystery. But the distinctive car was given to the Duke on long-term loan. 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. This red Cosworth could regularly be spotted in the club car park at Silverstone race track. Ford urgently recalls 273,000 cars over dangerous brake issue that could 'cause total failure' – two models are affected The car - which would be worth £47,000 brand new accounting got inflation - was bought 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. 8 8 8 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. Meanwhile, an iconic Ferrari with a 201mph top speed looks set to sell for a record £2.3 million at auction next week. The red F40 is known as the fastest road car of its era thanks to its twin-turbocharged 3L, V8 engine. Brand new in 1989 the 478bhp supercar - famed for its angular shape - was as worth about £163,000. In today's money, when taking into account inflation, it would be priced at a hefty £424,000. But the six-figure sum is nothing compared to its expected auction sale price, where its tipped to go for over 14 times its original cost. If it goes for the guide price, the stunning car will smash the £1.7m recouped at auction for an F40 two years ago. 8 8
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Haul of £1.2m Fast Fords for sale with Sierra Cosworths, Escort hot hatches and rapid Capris up at huge auction
This might be one of the greatest auctions of iconic Fast Fords from the 70s, 80 and 90s eras ever. Seventeen cars from the Blue Oval brand's most sought-after period of performance motors will go to the block under one roof in Northamptonshire this month, with their combined value estimated to be £1.2million. The exceptional haul of legendary Fords will be offered to bidders by Iconic Auctioneers at its Supercar Fest event hosted at Sywell Aerodrome on Saturday 17 May. The selection of cars is headlined by a one-of-a-kind red 1986 Sierra Cosworth - the only version to leave the factory in this colour. It is joined by a 'collector-quality' 1993 Escort RS Cosworth Lux and a host of Fast Fords predicted to sell for six-figure guide prices. Rob Hubbard, managing director at Iconic Auctioneers, says the 17 Fast Fords are each 'truly exceptional at every level'. It takes a certain someone to have the status to uniquely commission a one-off colourway Fast Ford. In this case it was the Duke of Bedford who ordered the singular Rosso Red example, and was retained in the marque's press fleet. For anyone Ford Sierra Cosworth fans, the red colourway will be quite something because it's well known that they were only available in three colours; Diamond White, Black and Moonstone Blue. Unless you were the 14th Duke of Bedford, walking into a Ford dealer in 1986 and requesting a different colour was met with a polite 'no'. Even how a duke convinced Ford to instruct their Special Vehicle Engineering Department to finish one in Rosso Red is not clear, but he did. The D506 RVW was added to the Ford Press Fleet and offered to the Duke on long-term loan. When that arrangement came to an end, the right-hand drive car remained registered to the Ford Motor Company until 13 December 1988 when it was sold to Vince Woodman. The car was then purchased by the current seller around five years ago to join his Performance Ford Collection and was treated to a refresh and a repaint in its original Rosso at a cost of over £4,000 in 2022. Aside from its rare colour, this model is a standard RS Cosworth - a homologation of the fifth generation European Ford Escort - and has 97,994 miles on the clock. Estimated to reach between £70,000 - £90,000, Cosworths have previously fetched hundreds of thousands of pounds. Rare red variants aside, there are five other Cosworths in this one sale for deep-pocket bidders to fight over. Three of these are also Sierra Cosworths - all of which stand out for having impressively low mileage and being in excellent condition. A 1990 Ford Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth two-wheel drive is the lowest mileage pick, having been driven just 31,000 miles. The Sapphire brought in a new age for the legendary Sierra, with a more restrained profile and demeanour. While refinement and comfort took a step forward, performance was the most important improvement. As one of the early rear-wheel drive cars to have an effervescent YYB engine (205 block), Recaro seats and front and rear spoilers, it was both good looking and performance capable. A top speed of 150mph and 0 to 60mph in 6.1 seconds makes the Sapphire a far more exciting purchase than the average Blue Oval four-door saloon. While this particular Sapphire has had a thorough maintenance and overhaul of its moving parts including brakes and fuel tank, it's one of the rare ones that hasn't had cosmetic or performance mods. There's also a Moonstone Blue 1991 Sierra Sapphire Cosworth 4WD with 64,000 miles on the clock, powered by a 1,993cc, 16v, turbocharged, YGB four-cylinder engine. With 224bhp and a 214lb/ft of torque, a 0-60mph figure of 6.6 seconds and a top speed of 150mph, it's definitely a Fast Ford worth snapping up for an estimated £24,000 to £28,000. With even less miles on the odometer, just 10,825 to be exact, a 1986 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth is another option for a slightly higher bidder. Estimated to go for £50,000 - £60,000, the left-hand drive option is in exceptional condition, having averaged less than 280 miles per year over its 39 year lifespan. The gleaming black model, which looks almost factory new, has a grey Recaro interior, and has been part of a prestigious Ford Performance Collection since 2017 after arriving in the UK from Germany in November 2015. If those Sierra Cosworths don't tickle your fancy then two Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworths models might be the ones to bid on. The RS500 was launched as Ford's 'Evolution' model, and only 500 were ever made. Revered for its motorsport dominance and status as an icon among Ford enthusiasts, the RS500 is a rarer and more valuable Sierra Cosworth variant, thanks to it being hand-assembled. A collab between Ford and Cosworth, RS500s were built to Group A touring racing regulations and were both mechanically and cosmetically enhanced compared to a standard Sierra RS. Both of the RS500s, which represent the pinnacle of 1980s fast Ford engineering, are finished in black. The 1987 option is a UK-supplied, right-hand drive example, with just 43,176 miles indicated. Estimated to reach £100,000 - £120,000, it has always had the registration E500 APN, and five owners since new. Most recently part of a significant private collection, it's coming out of long term storage for the sale. The other 2-litre turbo engine RS500 has just one owner from new, and is estimated to go for £80,000 to £100,000. Its owner had links to the advertising agency Ogilvy and Mather, and the high flying advertising executive handling Ford's publicity in the 1980s went on to purchase the car personally from Ogilvy and Mather for £12,160 in 1991, after travelling over 41,000 miles in his company car. This 1987 Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth is a UK-supplied, right-hand drive RS500 in superb condition with just over 43,000 miles and lots of history It's going to be an expensive one, likely to sell for between £100,000 and £120,000 The estimate at the moment is between £80,000 and £100,000 The other three most notable fast Ford as impeccable Escorts, in particular a 1993 Escort RS Cosworth Lux finished in rare Pacifica Blue. The right-hand drive car is definitely a collector's item as it was registered as new in January 1993 making it one of the 2,500 'Big Turbo' homologation specials on a 'K-registration'. Fitted with the 'Lux' pack, it has Recaro seats, opening rear quarter windows, three-spoke leather steering wheel, electric windows and central double locking to name a few big features from the 90s. It's estimated to reach £85,000 - £100,000. There's also an extraordinarily preserved Escort RS Cosworth which just 12,354 miles under its belt from one-owner, in a rare combination of Radiant Red with a Polaris Grey Hexagon cloth interior. In 'time warp' condition, the original radio still shows the vehicle registration when switched on and the vehicle was the 'pride and joy' of its Blue Oval fanatic owner. 1993 Ford Escort RS Cosworth has just 12,354 miles on the clock and will fetch up to £90k it's predicted The late owner of this car was a Blue Oval fanatic and a long time motorsport devotee, acquiring the Escort as an early retirement present to himself - it was his 'pride and joy' Last but not least is a highly original and unrestored 1985 Escort RS Turbo Series 1 finished in an iconic Diamond White colour. Now extremely rare, the Escort RS Turbo 1 Series was specifically developed by Ford's Special Vehicle Engineering team to set new standards in 'Group N' and 'Group A' motorsport events and was quickly dubbed 'the car to beat'. Ford initially planned to build 5,000 examples, the minimum number required for Homologation in 'Group A', however a total of 8,604 were built due to increased demand. It was sold only through official Rallye Sport dealers. This one has had just one owner and is unmodified from new, coming with a factory-specified Custom Pack, original SRT32P stereo, RS 3-spoke steering wheel and rear parcel shelf (with factory speakers), plus original Motorcraft service items. Estimated to sell for between £40,000 to 50,000, it has just over 64k miles to its age. Not limited to just those there's notably also a 2023 Ford RS 200, a 1983 Ford Fiesta, a 1983 Ford Capri, and a 1985 Ford Escort for Fast Ford fans to keep an eye out for. Rob Hubbard, Managing Director and Principal Auctioneer, commented: 'This selection of fast Fords captures the spirit and passion that make these cars so legendary among enthusiasts. 'From the exclusivity of the Rosso Red Sierra Cosworth to the pristine quality of the Escort RS Cosworth Lux, these vehicles epitomise what Iconic Auctioneers strives to offer - truly exceptional cars at every level.' Bids at the ready.
Daily Telegraph
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
Duke Of Bedford blows rivals away to claim Grand Annual Steeplechase by 12 lengths.
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Fatigue was the only hope for Duke Of Bedford's rivals a long way from the finish of Thursday's gruelling $350,000 Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool. The 5500m epic is one of Australia's toughest races but Duke Of Bedford made the race look like an afternoon pleasure for jockey Arron Lynch with his almost flawless jumping. While Lynch opened up a massive mid-race gap on rivals, trainer Andrew Bobbin was wondering whether the jockey had allowed Duke Of Bedford to go too quickly. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'I was just watching him go around and I thought, 'Jesus, Lynchy, what are you doing?',' Bobbin said. However, Duke Of Bedford ($3.70 fav) showed no signs of fatigue in the straight, ploughing through the worn track to score by 12 lengths over honest locals Instigator ($5.50) and Bazini ($15). 'He just kept finding and finding,' Bobbin said. 'I thought, 'we're going to stop here soon' but when he came down the hill the second time, I knew he just had to get over them and that's all he needed to do. 'Every jockey tells me that he might look like he's doing too much but he's just cruising.' Duke Of Bedford produced his amazing performance 48 hours after a fighting win in Tuesday's Brierly Steeplechase, netting connections a $50,000 bonus from TAB. Lynch spent plenty of time alone during the Grand Annual Steeplechase as Duke Of Bedford rolled along as he pleased with a lead of up to 20 lengths at various stages of the race. He said he could clearly hear the race call letting him know how far ahead he was but Lynch had no doubt Duke Of Bedford would maintain his gallop to the end of the marathon event. 'When you're that far in front you can hear the call, it's peaceful and you can hear everything,' Lynch said. Duke Of Bedford gave trainer Andrew Bobbin another big jumps win in the Grand Annual. Picture:'You're just concentrating on your jumps and getting the horse over safely. 'He's just got that rolling tempo and holds that gallop, which just breaks them down. 'He jumped brilliant and never really made a mistake at all. 'I just had a lap full of horse when we came down on to the flat track again there. He just held that good gallop all the way. 'I just knew no other horse was going to beat me.' William McCarthy rode Duke Of Bedford to his Brierly Steeplechase win but his previous commitment to the Symon Wilde-trained Bazini left Lynch free to ride Duke Of Bedford. McCarthy graciously said he was thrilled for Bobbin and Duke Of Bedford's connections. Originally published as Duke Of Bedford blows rivals away to claim Grand Annual Steeplechase
News.com.au
01-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Duke Of Bedford blows rivals away to claim Grand Annual Steeplechase
Fatigue was the only hope for Duke Of Bedford's rivals a long way from the finish of Thursday's gruelling $350,000 Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool. The 5500m epic is one of Australia's toughest races but Duke Of Bedford made the race look like an afternoon pleasure for jockey Arron Lynch with his almost flawless jumping. While Lynch opened up a massive mid-race gap on rivals, trainer Andrew Bobbin was wondering whether the jockey had allowed Duke Of Bedford to go too quickly. 'I was just watching him go around and I thought, 'Jesus, Lynchy, what are you doing?',' Bobbin said. However, Duke Of Bedford ($3.70 fav) showed no signs of fatigue in the straight, ploughing through the worn track to score by 12 lengths over honest locals Instigator ($5.50) and Bazini ($15). 'He just kept finding and finding,' Bobbin said. 'I thought, 'we're going to stop here soon' but when he came down the hill the second time, I knew he just had to get over them and that's all he needed to do. 'Every jockey tells me that he might look like he's doing too much but he's just cruising.' Duke of Bedford annihilates his opposition with an emphatic victory in the Grand Annual Steeplechase 🙌 @grampiansracing â€' (@Racing) May 1, 2025 Duke Of Bedford produced his amazing performance 48 hours after a fighting win in Tuesday's Brierly Steeplechase, netting connections a $50,000 bonus from TAB. Lynch spent plenty of time alone during the Grand Annual Steeplechase as Duke Of Bedford rolled along as he pleased with a lead of up to 20 lengths at various stages of the race. He said he could clearly hear the race call letting him know how far ahead he was but Lynch had no doubt Duke Of Bedford would maintain his gallop to the end of the marathon event. 'When you're that far in front you can hear the call, it's peaceful and you can hear everything,' Lynch said. 'You're just concentrating on your jumps and getting the horse over safely. 'He's just got that rolling tempo and holds that gallop, which just breaks them down. 'He jumped brilliant and never really made a mistake at all. 'I just had a lap full of horse when we came down on to the flat track again there. He just held that good gallop all the way. 'I just knew no other horse was going to beat me.' William McCarthy rode Duke Of Bedford to his Brierly Steeplechase win but his previous commitment to the Symon Wilde-trained Bazini left Lynch free to ride Duke Of Bedford. McCarthy graciously said he was thrilled for Bobbin and Duke Of Bedford's connections.
