Ford Fiesta (first generation)

Lore & Background

The Fiesta was developed under the project name "Bobcat" and approved by Henry Ford II in September 1972. Development targets aimed for a production cost US$100 less than the Escort, with a wheelbase longer than the Fiat 127 but shorter overall than the Escort. The final proposal was developed by Tom Tjaarda at Ghia, and the project was approved for production in December 1973, with Ford's engineering centres in Cologne and Dunton collaborating. Ford estimated annual production of 500,000 Fiestas, building a new factory in Almussafes, Valencia, Spain, a trans-axle factory near Bordeaux, France, and extending assembly plants in Dagenham, UK. Final assembly took place in Valencia and Dagenham, with additional production in Saarlouis and Cologne from 1979.

Mechanically, the Fiesta used a transverse-mounted engine with a four-speed manual transmission and unequal-length driveshafts. The power unit was a new "short block" version of the Ford Kent OHV engine, dubbed "Valencia." The suspension used coil springs, with MacPherson struts at the front and a beam axle at the rear. All Mk1 Fiestas featured 12-inch wheels, front disc brakes, and rear drum brakes. The name "Fiesta" was given by General Motors, which had used it for the Oldsmobile Fiesta in the 1950s; Henry Ford II vetoed the marketing team's preferred name "Bravo."

A sporting derivative, the 1.3 L Supersport, was offered for the 1980 model year, followed by the XR2 with a 1.6 L engine. The XR2 achieved 0-60 mph in 9.3 seconds and a top speed of 105 mph. For the 1979 auto show season, Ford and Ghia produced the Ford Fiesta Tuareg off-road concept vehicle. Minor revisions appeared in late 1981, including larger bumpers.

Reader's Guide

The Ford Fiesta Mk1 is widely credited as Ford's first globally successful front-wheel-drive model and the first Ford front-wheel-drive car with a transverse engine layout. It was only the second hatchback supermini built in the UK, launching a year after the Vauxhall Chevette but nearly a year before the Chrysler Sunbeam and four years before the Austin Metro. The Fiesta was well-received in most European markets, becoming the ninth best-selling car in the UK in its first year and rising to third by 1981. However, by 1982 it was outsold by BL's Austin Metro, and with new superminis from multiple manufacturers entering the market, Ford began revitalising the Fiesta to keep it competitive. The millionth Fiesta was produced in 1979. In the US market, the Fiesta was sold from 1977 to 1980 with a 1.6 L engine and various emission-control equipment, and was replaced by the Ford Escort in 1981. The XR2 hot hatch became a cult car throughout the 1980s. The Fiesta also featured in the British government's Motability scheme for disabled motorists from 1978.

Did You Know?

• The Fiesta was developed under the project name 'Bobcat', not to be confused with the Mercury variant of the Ford Pinto.
• The name 'Fiesta' belonged to General Motors, which freely gave it to Ford for use on the new supermini.
• The powertrain was tested in Fiat 127 development mules to cut costs and speed up research.
• Coachbuilder Crayford developed a convertible version called the Fiesta Fly, with around 100 conversions reported by Autocar in September 1983.