INTERIOR

A Cossie with a tatty cabin tells you it’s led a hard life. It also says you’ll be spending cash to get it back up to scratch – so it pays to find a Sapphire with a mint interior.

Check is the driver’s seat, which will show wear on wear on the bolsters, collapsed foam, a broken base or floppy recliner mechanism. A typical trick is to replace it with a better seat from the passenger side. Leather trim is more common than cloth, but don’t pay a premium for either. Early Sapphire 4x4s had the same dark grey upholstery as late RWDs; from August 1991 it was swapped for so-called Rainbow cloth, which is rare if not exactly desirable.

Cars of this age also had a curvier dashboard. Thankfully, a Sapphire dash doesn’t crack like that of a three-door Cosworth, but check it isn’t damaged or distorted. Rattling and creaking is all part of the old-school-Ford charm. Leather on the gearknob and steering wheel may be worn; late cars had a horrible four-spoke plastic wheel.

Door cards tend to have vinyl lifting from the backing where it meets the glass; good replacements are hard to find. It’s normal to see a headlining dirty or drooping, especially in the rear passenger compartment, or stained around the sunroof if it’s been leaking. Reconditioned headlinings are readily available.

Talking of sunroofs, check it for rot. A postAugust 1991 Sapphire should have an electric version, so ensure it works. Central locking and electric window motors also have a habit of seizing, but they’re the same as ordinary Sierra parts, so can still be sourced for sensible money.