Faust Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 Let’s face it. Most of the cars in the early 1980s were pretty sad. Hey were either little econobeaters or gutless throwbacks to a better time, simply shambling sadly to their graves and awaiting replacement by smaller, less interesting cars. This is what I was surrounded with when I was growing up; the last messy bit of the Automotive Dark Ages. However, there are a few cars from the mid-‘80s that were pretty cool, and some that were actually innovative in terms of both styling and execution. So many cars wanted to pretend to be European, but most just assumed being small and ugly was enough. There was an interesting exception, though, and that was Ford’s Sierra XR4i. In North America, we got it with a Ford Turbo 4, as the Merkur XR4Ti. However, in Europe, it was just an XR4i, but it got a 6 cylinder. This was a two-door, rear drive sports sedan, and it ACTUALLY was European. With aero styling and a double wing at the back, it was pretty futuristic looking, and I’ve always loved them. Trying to find a kit of one, though… that’s another matter altogether! Thanks to my brother, though, I finally managed to get my mitts on one of the rarer Tamiya kits – the XR4i Sierra in it’s non-racing guise! Check it out at the link below – this is one I can’t wait to get to! https://adamrehorn.wordpress.com/model-kits/out-of-box-reviews/tamiya-1-24-ford-sierra-xr4i-out-of-box/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89AKurt Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 I saw one in my town, had different wheels, lowered a little, black, think the wing was higher than that for some reason. Definitely the transition era. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RancheroSteve Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 Great review as usual, Adam. I built the racing version some years back; it's a curbside: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beeRS Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 The Xr4i is a really nice kit from Tamiya. Unusual that Tamiya did this, but I'm glad they did. Prices for these kits have gone crazy now. Looking forward to seeing this one come together. BTW the racing version is a Cosworth 500 - not a XR4i IIRC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stitchdup Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 1 hour ago, 89AKurt said: I saw one in my town, had different wheels, lowered a little, black, think the wing was higher than that for some reason. Definitely the transition era. If the wing was higher it might have been a cossie. They weren't officially imported to north america as far as i know but there are a few on your side of the pond Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spottedlaurel Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 I look forward to seeing this one progress, and the review made for excellent breakfast reading. I'd love to build one someday. As Sonny says, they're not cheap here - anything Ford UK/Europe related seems to command a premium. I was a teenager in the '80s so cars like this were my formative influence. The SIerra was of course absolutely everywhere and the XR models were reasonably common - I had an uncle who worked for Ford in Essex, he had an XR4i for a while. The 3-door XR didn't last for long, just 1983-85, and it mutated into the 5-door XR4x4. My mum and stepdad had one of them, I used to enjoy the odd drive around the block in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randyc Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 Yes, please for sure, post up when you build it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afx Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 (edited) 9 hours ago, beeRS said: The Xr4i is a really nice kit from Tamiya. Unusual that Tamiya did this, but I'm glad they did. Prices for these kits have gone crazy now. Looking forward to seeing this one come together. BTW the racing version is a Cosworth 500 - not a XR4i IIRC. The RS500. https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/classic-cars/a20152295/first-ford-sierra-cosworth-rs500-for-sale/ Edited June 18, 2020 by afx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 (edited) I always loved this car! Back in the day it was an interesting shape that stood out. My bro-in-law was a mechanic and had a client who had a silver Merkur. He asked me to take it out for a quick run to warm it up and man! Even with the four it was fun to drive. I wanted one ever since! The car was not marketed well by Ford in the US, and although Car if the Year in Europe, Americans just didn’t get it. I do have the kit, which was my very first Tamiya kit. In the era when US kits were just parts slammed into the box, I was very impressed with the divisions and presentation inside the Tamiya box. In fact so impressed I wrote an article about this for my club newsletter and that US manufacturers should take notice! Edited June 18, 2020 by Tom Geiger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faust Posted June 18, 2020 Author Share Posted June 18, 2020 I didn't know Ford UK stuff was so hotly sought after! Of course, here in Canada, we don't get much from in Europe that's unique, but I loved the XR4 body style since I first saw it while shopping for my mom's Grand Marquis in 1985. I think Wikipedia mentioned that one of the Ford guys wanted to put the 5.0 in it, the other wanted the turbo 4. When the Turbo 4 was axed, that was the end of the Merkur. Shame - that with a 5.0 would be a monster. I think there are a handful of South African XR8s, actually... I'm impressed with the packaging too, Tom. To be honest, though, I'm generall not impressed with a lot about Tamiya's car kits. They're very poorly detailed in the interior, and at least this has an engine, but curbsiders with poor "offices" bother me. I love both of those parts of building cars, and the Japanese kits (not just Tamiyas) just don't seem to care about that. I have wanted this for a long time, though, and it was awesome that my brother got me one. He did have to reach out to Japan to do it, mind you... That guy can get anything, it seems! This is on the bench now, so you'll be seeing more of it soon, I guarantee it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stitchdup Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 When i first got back into building again, one of my first purchases was 6x esci ford transit for £40. I kept one and stuck the rest on ebay and got an average of £100 each which i used to build up my stash. I've got a case of the italeri escorts stashed away so i can do the same thing again. I'd love one of these sierra kits. If your interested in the euro sierras look up topp boss tuning, they stuck a twin turbo cossie v6 in one about 25 years ago and it still looks sweet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afx Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dann Tier Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 This is gonna be COOL!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funkychiken Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 Definately looking forward to this one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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