These 4 race cars for sale prove variety is the spice of life

Last week, we pointed out how you can’t go wrong with these four rally cars coming up for sale at Silverstone Auctions’ Race Retro Classic & Competition Car Sale. And while it’s nearly impossible to imagine somebody didn’t find the perfect racing car among those four, we now follow up with a Ford Sierra RS500 development prototype, a Renault 5 Turbo 2, a Ferrari 348 GT Competizione, and a single-owner Ford RS2000 Custom. They’re all coming up at the same auction, too, so we’ve got you covered.

The headliner here has to be Ford’s Sierra RS500 development prototype. Originally owned by the factory, chassis #003 was used for turbo and intercooler testing. It later got the Eggenberger Motorsport-tuned engine from Steve Soper’s road-going RS500 #010, which was given to him by Ford. Once he returned this block, this engine was transferred to chassis #003. Recently overhauled by expert Graham Goode, this verified RS500 prototype has 69,000 miles now, along with its original build sheets to prove the engine transfer was done by Ford.

Silverstone Auctions estimates RS500 #003 somewhere between $78,000–$90,500, which is a hefty sum for a Ford Sierra—yet a fair deal for a Cosworth-engined racing prototype for something as successful as the RS500.

Two liters of four-cylinder fury for a top speed of 108 mph, estimated by Silverstone’s experts to be worth $39,000–$52,000. With so many of these race-ready Escorts gone, RS2000 Customs are highly collectible these days, and this black one is a recently overhauled original example, ready for more fun both on asphalt and dirt.

Well, what could feel smaller on the road than a classic Escort? Perhaps 1980’s insane turbocharged hatchback, the extremely short-wheelbase Renault 5 Turbo. Yet while the original may have won the Monte Carlo rally on its first outing thanks to the talent of Jean Ragnotti, the somewhat-milder Turbo 2 introduced in 1982 was a friendlier proposition created for those weekend drives. The 1985 example offered here comes with the 185-horsepower factory engine option, a Pearl White exterior, polished Gotti wheels, and 37,572 miles on the clock.

Thanks to its wild looks and rarity, Silverstone Auctions estimates this French rocket to fetch slightly more than the RS500 prototype. We shall see soon enough.

Last but not least, the 348 GT Competizione. If you’re more into rare Ferraris on track, this model should be right up your alley. Homologated for the GT Championship, only 50 348 GT Competiziones were built, eight of which were right-hand-drive. Ferrari’s GT special got the brakes off the F40 Evoluzione plus dual 54mm throttle bodies and a racing exhaust to wring 316 horsepower from the 3.4-liter V-8—and, frankly, didn’t get much else to arrive at a dry weight of 2601 pounds.

This particular example is #11 of the 50, a left-hand-drive version past a three-year restoration program. It’s only 14,500 miles from new and carries an estimated value of $155,000–$195,000. Keep in mind that these don’t come up for sale very often and do drive pretty much like go-karts, only way faster.

Either one you fancy, Silverstone’s sale on February 21 still coincides with my birthday, and when it comes to this lot list, I won’t be picky.