SAPPHIRE V8

[ZA Perana]

Maverick had a Novel 5.0 I'll get pics

I thought the one he had was Grovenor?

[Can-Am ZN]

That is a very cool car, I actually prefer them to the Sierra XR8.

There were a few garages/dealers that did V8 conversions on Sierra's and Sapphire's during their heyday.
The Novel Ford (Paarl) conversions were the most numerous in the Cape provinces.

I'm still not certain of assumption that marine spec engines were bought to do these conversions with, there might be a possibility that with decoding engine and block casting numbers, one could more clearly define the origins of the engines used by the dealerships to do these conversions.

I saw your thread requesting a Cosworth bumper. I'm not so sure the Novel cars were fitted with them, I think perhaps only the Geoff Mortimer/Basil Green Ford 2.0L Turbo Cosworth converted cars, used those bumpers, but not sure.
A while ago I posted about a burgundy Novel Ford Sapphire that was for sale in Namibia, compare the bumper on that car, as I think that one might have been a very original example.
https://www.africanmusclecars.com/forum ... 43&t=23471
If there is a member here that have a collection of CAR magazines and want to share, they road tested a Novel Ford Sapphire in the September 1991 issue.

You should also contact member "Gavin RS", I think he is quite a good source of info on these dealer converted V8 Sapphires.

The Novel road test car:

[jlebenon]

Maverick had a Novel 5.0 I'll get pics

I thought the one he had was Grovenor?

Yes you're correct I always get confused

[Maverick]

Hi guys,

i owned a Grosvernor Ford V8 Sapphire back in 2000-2001. sadly dont have any pics left.

I typed up a long post yesterday and when I hit the post button, it bombed.

so let me try again with a shorter version.

1) The V8 Sapphire was only built by Grosvernor and Novel Ford, in Pinetown and Paarl respectively. I had a Grosvernor one.
2) All cars were fitted with Ford V8 302 Windsor crate motors from the US.
3) No automatic versions were made, if it's auto, then its a conversion. All cars were fitted with the Borg Warner T5 gearboxes.
4) All legitimate cars were fitted with a 3.08 final drive in the diff, thats the one telling point to ascertain whether the car is legit or a conversion. if it has the standard 3,0L final drive (i think it's 3.23 IIRC?) then it's a backyard job.
5) Clutch was a big achilles heel on these cars. Some were fitted with proper V8 clutches, others were fitted with 3.0 V6 clutches, the latter doesnt last.
6) There are quite a few replicas/conversions/backyard jobbies punted as originals around.
7) Almost all the legitimate ones were fitted with Cosworth wheels, but no bodykit or cosworth front bumper. The body was standard 3.0.

[marnus]

std 3L is 3.36

[ZA Perana]

Hi guys,

i owned a Grosvernor Ford V8 Sapphire back in 2000-2001. sadly dont have any pics left.

I typed up a long post yesterday and when I hit the post button, it bombed.

so let me try again with a shorter version.

1) The V8 Sapphire was only built by Grosvernor and Novel Ford, in Pinetown and Paarl respectively. I had a Grosvernor one.
2) All cars were fitted with Ford V8 302 Windsor crate motors from the US.
3) No automatic versions were made, if it's auto, then its a conversion. All cars were fitted with the Borg Warner T5 gearboxes.
4) All legitimate cars were fitted with a 3.08 final drive in the diff, thats the one telling point to ascertain whether the car is legit or a conversion. if it has the standard 3,0L final drive (i think it's 3.23 IIRC?) then it's a backyard job.
5) Clutch was a big achilles heel on these cars. Some were fitted with proper V8 clutches, others were fitted with 3.0 V6 clutches, the latter doesnt last.
6) There are quite a few replicas/conversions/backyard jobbies punted as originals around.
7) Almost all the legitimate ones were fitted with Cosworth wheels, but no bodykit or cosworth front bumper. The body was standard 3.0.

The one in the pic above has the bod kit...

[Shauns]

A few years back I called Novel Ford and they confirmed the cars were fitted with a local bumper . They were extremely helpful and even sent me the part number. 91BB17762EA .This bumper is no longer available from Ford S.A.
Also confirmed the 35 Novel cars had the engine pushed slightly back and had a full size water pump. This meant some massaging of the firewall as well.

[ZA Perana]

A few years back I called Novel Ford and they confirmed the cars were fitted with a local bumper . They were extremely helpful and even sent me the part number. 91BB17762EA .This bumper is no longer available from Ford S.A.
Also confirmed the 35 Novel cars had the engine pushed slightly back and had a full size water pump. This meant some massaging of the firewall as well.

Yes that was another one of the main differences, Novel used the 302W water pump, the other adapted the Essex V6 pump.

[jmvv]

To the best of my knowledge, the RS500 Sapphires were built by JT Developments in Pretoria and sold through Steyn's Ford branches in the city.
(They were also the guys that did the initial development of the 3.4 liter Essex V6 for Ford)

The cars were Ghia spec with all the bells and whistles.
They had genuine Ford Cosworth side skirts and (little Ford RS badge on the panel to the front) and Cosworth wheels.

I remember looking at one is a Steyn's showroom in about 1992/1992.
The price was R85000 brand new

[jlebenon]

dodnt the JT also have the wheels and kit ?