Other times
The time has come: Ford is today pulling the plug on the production of the Ford Fiesta. After about 47 years, it ends for the compact success number, which here in the Netherlands alone managed to lure more than 300,000 people to the showroom. Time to look back at how we first came to know the Fiesta.
The Ford Fiesta; for some just another car intended for the masses, for others a memory on wheels. A loyal companion, a first purchase together, a holiday buddy, a car in which the children were once strapped in their booster seats, your teaching car or the car you bought with the money you earned at a summer job. With a career spanning almost 50 years, the compact Ford cannot but evoke the necessary associations.
Who could have imagined in 1976 that the Fiesta would be a household name for so long? Yes, it could have gone on for much longer if Ford had brought the Fiesta into the electric age, but it was not allowed to come to that. Perhaps even better, because the Fiesta was from the start a car that had to make people pleasantly mobile for a modest price. Something that would be a different story with an electric powertrain and therefore a hefty price tag.
Economy first
We were introduced to the Fiesta in the late 1970s as an unpretentious car that mainly had to prove itself in the wallet. That’s how Ford emphatically put it on the market, it turns out when we look at the brochure from the time. “Each Ford Fiesta, from the lowest-priced model to the elegant Ghia, is designed to combine the highest level of reliability and safety with exceptional economy. Whichever model you are considering (Fiesta Custom, Fiesta L, S or Ghia), you you are assured of the highest level of safety and reliability.In addition, every Fiesta has many technical features that result in exceptional fuel economy.The front-wheel drive and wedge-shaped combustion chambers of the Fiesta engine have been specially designed to provide optimum fuel economy in every situation. To ensure that you use a minimum amount of fuel in city driving, the Fiesta is fitted with the unique Sonic-Idle carburettor, which makes optimum use of the fuel in all conditions, meaning significant fuel savings, especially for those who do a lot of driving. the city rides.”
Yes, a technical feat, if we were to believe Ford. Take a look above at what a laundry list of technical ingenuity was put into the Fiesta. You can clearly see that the Fiesta Mk1 is many years behind us, but Ford liked to show off what was in it and on it. After all, it was a very expensive project, the first Fiesta. A selection of the ‘innovative’ things that the small Ford received: “The Fiesta is equipped with a sophisticated, smooth-operating 4-speed gearbox. The spoilers on the back of the roof of the Fiesta and under the car at the front are intended to get maximum benefit reduced drag. Less drag means less work for the engine. The result: even more fuel savings and less engine wear. And to further improve fuel efficiency and reduce tire wear, every Fiesta is fitted with steel-belted radial tires as standard. is also designed to save you money on maintenance. Self-adjusting clutch and brakes, a life-lubricated chassis and gearbox are just the beginning of Fiesta’s easy maintenance. And together they add up to significant savings over the life of your Fiesta.”
Even though it wasn’t that big, a lot of families have been on the road with it.
Ford Fiesta S
At that time, sporty driving was not as emphasized as it is now. That was simply not that important yet, it was mainly about getting from A to B and that it didn’t cost too much. Only later would the Ford Fiesta also get a name in the sporting field. Not only because of the sporty versions, but also because the chassis was already convincing as standard. Yet there was already a sporty touch to the first Fiesta; it all started with the Fiesta S.
“The suspension on the Fiesta S has also been specially designed for sporty handling. A heavier suspension and a rear anti-roll bar ensure this. The sporty appearance of the Fiesta S is underlined by the possibility to personalize your Fiesta with a choice available in 5 metallic exterior colors or 3 signal colours. Furthermore, there is a wide decorative stripe for each exterior color as well as an upholstery color combination of your choice. Finally, the bumpers, wing mirrors and window frames are all painted in sporty black. We have thought through every aspect of the Fiesta S. And all to make your everyday driving more fun and more sporty.” Ford proudly showed the engine in the brochure with the Fiesta S. A whopping 1,117 cc four-cylinder, good for 53 hp and a 0-100 time of 16 seconds.
The end
Looking back at the first Ford Fiesta, it is clear that times have changed quite a bit. The Fiesta has of course moved with the times, but now it stops. The very last Fiesta will be built in Cologne on Friday evening and the three last copies are said to go to a special collection of Ford itself.
Do you have special memories of the Ford Fiesta? Please share your story in the comments!
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl