| Ford Fiesta (first generation) | |
|---|---|
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Ford Europe |
| Production | June 1976 – August 1983 |
| Model years | 1977–1980 (North America) |
| Assembly |
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| Designer | Tom Tjaarda Uwe Bahnsen |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Supermini (B) |
| Body style | 3-doorhatchback 3-doorpanel van |
| Platform | Ford B platform |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Transmission | 4-speedBC4manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,286 mm (90.0 in) |
| Length | 3,565 mm (140.4 in) |
| Width | 1,567 mm (61.7 in) |
| Height | 1,360 mm (54 in) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Ford Fiesta (second generation) Ford Escort (North America) Ford Festiva (North America) |
TheFord Fiesta Mk1 is the first generation of theFord Fiestasupermini. It was introduced in 1976 asFord Europe's first multi-nationalfront-wheel-driveautomobile, and was available in both 3-doorhatchback andpanel van derivatives. In 1983, the Fiesta was updated, and theFiesta Mk2 was introduced.
The Fiesta was developed under the project name "Bobcat" (not to be confused with the subsequentrebadgedMercury variant of theFord Pinto) and approved byHenry Ford II in September 1972.[1] Development targets indicated a production cost US$100 less than theEscort.[2] The car was to have a wheelbase longer than theFiat 127 (although shorter than some other rivals, like thePeugeot 104,Renault 5 andVolkswagen Polo),[3] but with an overall length shorter than the Escort. The final proposal was developed byTom Tjaarda atGhia.[3] The project was approved for production in December 1973, with Ford's engineering centres in Cologne andDunton (Essex) collaborating.[3]
Ford estimated that 500,000 Fiestas a year would be produced, and built in all-newfactory inAlmussafes,Valencia,Spain; a trans-axle factory nearBordeaux, France, and factory extensions to the assembly plants in Dagenham, UK. Final assembly took place in both Valencia and Dagenham.[4] Ford's plants inDagenham, England, andSaarlouis andCologne (from 1979) in Germany, also manufactured Fiestas.
The motoring press had begun speculating about the existence of the Bobcat project since 1973, but it was not until December 1975 that Ford officially announced it as the Fiesta.[3] A Fiesta was on display at the24 Hours of Le Mans inJune 1976, and a few rallys.
The nameFiesta belonged toGeneral Motors when the car was designed, as they had used the name for theOldsmobile Fiesta in the 1950s; however, it was freely given for Ford to use on their new supermini.[3] Ford's marketing team had preferred the nameBravo, but Henry Ford II vetoed it in favour of the Fiesta name.[3]
Mechanically, the Fiesta adopted the now industry-standard mechanical layout pioneered by Fiat with a transverse mounted engine coupled to an end-on four-speedmanual transmission of theFord BC-Series with unequal length driveshafts. The power unit would be a new "short block" version of the venerableFord KentOHV engine, dubbed "Valencia" after the new factory's location. To cut costs and speed up the research and development, the new powertrain package destined for the Fiesta was tested inFiat 127 development "mules".[3]
Unlike several rivals, which usedtorsion bars in their suspension, the Fiesta usedcoil springs.[3] The front suspension was of Ford's typical "track control arm" arrangement, whereMacPherson struts were combined with lower control arms and longitudinal compression links.[3] The standard rear suspension used abeam axle, trailing links and aPanhard rod, whilst ananti-roll bar was included in the sports package.[3] All Mk1 Fiestas featured 12-inch wheels as standard, withdisc brakes at the front anddrum brakes at the rear.[3] Ford paid particular attention ease of service, and published the times required to replace various common parts.[5]
Although not the first Ford vehicle to featurefront-wheel drive (the 1960sTaunus 12M produced byFord of Germany laid claim to that title), the Fiesta is widely credited as being Ford's first globally successful front-wheel-drive model, and was the first front-wheel drive Ford car to feature a transverse engine layout. Pilot production began at Cologne in April 1976, with production starting in Valencia and Dagenham in October of that year. The Fiesta was officially launched in the UK on February 2, 1977, where it was available from £1,856 for the basic 950 cc-engined model.[6]
It was only the second hatchback supermini to have been built in the UK at this stage, being launched a year after theVauxhall Chevette, but nearly a year before the launch of theChrysler Sunbeam and four years before theAustin Metro. The millionth Fiesta was produced in 1979.[1]
The car was initially available in Europe with the Valencia 957 cc (58.4 cu in)I4 (high compression and low compression options), and 1,117 cc (68.2 cu in) engines and in Base, Popular, L, GL (1978 onward), Ghia and S trim, as well as avan. The U.S. Mark I Fiesta was built inSaarlouis and Cologne, Germany but to slightly different specifications; U.S. models were Base, Decor, Sport, and Ghia, the Ghia having the highest level of trim.[7] These trim levels changed very little in the Fiesta's three-year run in the US, from 1977 to 1980. All U.S. models featured the more powerful 1,596 cc (97.4 cu in) engine, which was the older "Crossflow" version of the Kent engine. Among the other changes required for the US market, the Fiesta was fitted with a catalytic converter and air pump to satisfy strict Californian and Federal emission regulations, energy-absorbing bumpers, side-marker lamps, round sealed-beam headlamps, improved crash dynamics and fuel system integrity as well as optional air conditioning (a/c was not available in Europe). In the U.S. market, theFord Escort replaced both the Fiesta and the compactPinto in 1981.
At the beginning of the British government'sMotability scheme for disabled motorists in 1978, the Fiesta was one of the key cars to be available on the scheme.[8]
A sporting derivative (1.3 L Supersport) was offered in Europe for the 1980 model year, using the 1.3 L (79 cu in) Kent Crossflow engine, effectively to test the market for the similar XR2 introduced a year later, which featured a 1.6 L version of the same engine. Black plastic trim was added to the exterior and interior. The small square headlights were replaced with larger circular ones resulting in the front indicators being moved into the bumper to accommodate the change. With a quoted performance of 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) in 9.3 seconds and 105 mph (169 km/h) top speed, the XR2hot hatch became a cult car beloved ofboy racers throughout the 1980s.
For the 1979 auto show season, Ford in conjunction with its Ghia Operations in Turin, Italy, produced the Ford Fiesta Tuareg off-road car. It was touted in press materials as "a concept vehicle designed and equipped for practical, off-road recreational use."[9]
Minor revisions appeared across the range in late 1981, with larger bumpers to meet crash worthiness regulations and other small improvements in a bid to maintain showroom appeal ahead of the forthcoming second generation.
It was well-received on most European markets, particularly the United Kingdom, where it was the ninth best selling car in its first year, and by 1981 it was the third best seller. However, in 1982 it was outsold by BL's newAustin Metro, and with new superminis fromBritish Leyland,Volkswagen,Vauxhall/Opel,Nissan,Fiat andPeugeot newly launched or about to be launched, Ford set about revitalising the Fiesta in order to keep it competitive in Europe.
| Model | Displacement | Type code | Power | Top Speed | 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) (s) | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 950 low compression[10][11] | 957 cc (58.40 cu in) | Valencia | 40 hp (41 PS; 30 kW) | 81 mph (130 km/h) | 18.6 | 1976–1983 |
| 950 normal compression[12][13] | 957 cc (58.40 cu in) | Valencia | 44 hp (45 PS; 33 kW) | 85 mph (137 km/h) | 16.6 | 1976–1983 |
| 1.1[14] | 1,117 cc (68.16 cu in) | Valencia | 52 hp (53 PS; 39 kW) | 90 mph (145 km/h) | 15.2 | 1976–1981 |
| 1.1[15] | 1,117 cc (68.16 cu in) | Valencia | 54 hp (55 PS; 40 kW) | 90 mph (145 km/h) | 15.1 | 1981–1983 |
| 1.1 Economy[16] | 1,117 cc (68.16 cu in) | Valencia | 55 hp (56 PS; 41 kW) | 90 mph (145 km/h) | 15.1 | 1982–1983 |
| 1.1 X[17] | 1,117 cc (68.16 cu in) | Valencia | 69 hp (70 PS; 51 kW) | 99 mph (159 km/h) | 11.3 | 1980–1981 |
| 1.3[18][19] | 1,298 cc (79.21 cu in) | Crossflow | 65 hp (66 PS; 48 kW) | 98 mph (158 km/h) | 11.6 | 1977–1983 |
| 1.3 RS[20] | 1,298 cc (79.21 cu in) | Crossflow | 74 hp (75 PS; 55 kW) | 103 mph (166 km/h) | 11.2 | 1979–1981 |
| 1.6 RS[21] | 1,599 cc (97.58 cu in) | Crossflow | 90 hp (91 PS; 67 kW) | 103 mph (166 km/h) | 9.6 | 1980 |
| 1.6 XR2[22] | 1,599 cc (97.58 cu in) | Crossflow | 83 hp (84 PS; 62 kW) | 106 mph (171 km/h) | 9.5 | 1981–1983 |
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In 1981,coachbuildersCrayford developed a convertible version of the Fiesta, which was dubbed the Fiesta Fly.[23] Designed by David McMullan, the Fiesta Fly had a permanently welded-shut boot, with a plastic sill fitted to prevent the car from needing to be repainted.[23] The production history of the Fiesta Fly is not clear; but the common claim that only 20 or so cars were built is probably untrue; it is believed that this figure refers to the number built by Crayford, rather than the number built in total.[24] What is known is that Dorset-based firm F. English Coachwork Division bought the rights to produce the Fiesta Fly sometime in 1982, and Autocar reported in September 1983 that about 100 Fiesta Fly conversions had been produced.[25] It is believed that F. English built around 200 Fiesta Flys, with 83 known to survive.[24] Crayford also reportedly built two Fiesta Flys based on the Mk2 Fiesta.[23] It was also possible to purchase any production Fiesta model in Fiesta Fly form,[26] not just the 1300 and XR2 models as often reported.[27]
