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/
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Sierra XR4i - Classic Tamiya Out of Box
Mechworker
Ontario, Canada
Joined: September 20, 2013
KitMaker: 352 posts
Auto Modeler: 135 posts
Joined: September 20, 2013
KitMaker: 352 posts
Auto Modeler: 135 posts
Posted: Wednesday, June 17, 2020 - 01:31 PM UTC
Posted: Thursday, June 18, 2020 - 05:20 AM UTC
My brother in the UK had one of these.
He converted it to a 4x4 and installed a Ford Cosworth motor.
He converted it to a 4x4 and installed a Ford Cosworth motor.
LonCray
Virginia, United States
Joined: August 24, 2005
KitMaker: 348 posts
Auto Modeler: 19 posts
Joined: August 24, 2005
KitMaker: 348 posts
Auto Modeler: 19 posts
Posted: Friday, June 19, 2020 - 12:14 AM UTC
I almost bought one of these (the 1:1, not the model). But the idea of getting Merkur parts in the USA was daunting, plus it had body issues. Still, it was darned exotic at the time and I was sorely tempted.
Joel_W
Associate Editor
New York, United States
Joined: December 04, 2010
KitMaker: 11,666 posts
Auto Modeler: 2,974 posts
Joined: December 04, 2010
KitMaker: 11,666 posts
Auto Modeler: 2,974 posts
Posted: Friday, June 19, 2020 - 02:01 AM UTC
I kind of had a secret love affair with the Roush Racing Merkur XR4Ti driven by Scott Pruett in the GTO class. I sure would love to locate a model of it.
Joel
Joel
Posted: Friday, June 19, 2020 - 02:17 AM UTC
Nice looking kit, and a great review as always Adam!
How about a couple of laps of Bathurst with Dick Johnson in a Cosworth Sierra?
DJR Bathurst
Cheers, D
How about a couple of laps of Bathurst with Dick Johnson in a Cosworth Sierra?
DJR Bathurst
Cheers, D