The Ford Fiesta Mk1 and Mk2 are nowadays rare classics, because they disappeared after intensive use in bushes on the scrapyard. In 1991 they were still interesting from a price point of view as a cheap second-hand. That is why we investigated at the time whether it was indeed a good choice.
The first Ford Fiesta was ‘only’ 15 years old in 1991, but at the time a car of that age was actually not very interesting as a second-hand, or you really had to look with a small budget. In terms of sustainability, a lot has improved in the years to come. Ford itself also provided the necessary improvement to get the Fiesta Mk2, essentially a thoroughly facelifted Fiesta Mk1, ready for a slightly longer life. Searching for a used Fiesta in 1991 was therefore an interesting affair. You bought a late first generation copy for relatively cheap. A Mk1 from 1983 could just be 4,000 guilders cheaper than one three years later.
There was another good reason for this besides age. Ford improved the use of materials and steel treatment for the Mk2 to prevent rusting. In 1991, we picked up a 1983 Mk1 to see how much you could still take the gamble to go for a Mk1 and keep money in your pocket. In terms of handling, you did not have to leave the Fiesta and the practical deployability was fine for each other. With this special colored specimen, the rust formation turned out to be relatively not too bad, although the corrosion on the bottom was starting to show up here as well. In addition, a Fiesta of that age was soon a victim of not too skilled garages who had to keep the Ford on the road for next to nothing.
This was also evident in the tested car, among other things due to poor welding at the exhaust and untreated rust formation on the brake lines. Another thing to pay attention to was whether the carburettor (injection was not there yet) was still good. A petrol-smelling Fiesta, something that was no exception at that age, betrayed that the carburettor needed to be replaced. Another point of attention was the gearbox. After some time, he wanted to get cranky. Crushing and rattling when shifting gears were major alarms, as broken bins were not uncommon. Difficult shifting into third gear heralded bigger problems in the long run.
All in all, the conclusion was that you could really buy a nice Fiesta Mk1 for an attractive amount in 1991, but that caution was advised. Those who still had some room in their budget would do well to look at an early Mk2. It looked fresher and was better constructed. Especially in the field of rust prevention, Ford made a significant step forward just before the arrival of the Fiesta Mk2, enough to give a six-year warranty against corrosion from the inside. Today that wouldn’t be convincing, but it was a signal then that things were better for each other. Incidentally, that warranty already applied to Fiestas built from 1982, so another reason to consider the last batch of the Mk1 as well.
