Ford Fiesta 1978

[KSIS]

https://clunkbucket.com/ford-fiesta-the-elder/

So my son was looking through pictures of VW GTI's and this popped up. He said he likes the style. So then I had to explain what it was and how I use to have one. Got me thinking...what a neat little project to run on the track. Not as common any more. Any one seen one..

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Haven't seen one of those in quite a while. But I remember 'em, and thought they were nice cars, for what they were. Wasn't interested in econoboxes at the time, but the Fiesta would be fun to tweak.

I also remember that their color schemes were perfectly '70's. Lots of burnt orange ones.

 

[swift6]

The 1.6l Kent is a gem of an engine too with lots of tuning potential.

 

[aeronca65t]

Yes, have seen a few at track day events and saw a nice one at Lime Rock a few weeks ago.

In the mid-80s, I helped build an SCCA ITC Fiesta with my neighbour, Bob. In fact, after it got destroyed at Lime Rock in '87, I helped build a second race-Fiesta from all the parts.

The car is super light and handled well.

The Kent engine is an excellent 8-valve pushrod design. But that's the rub.... Even Hyundais come with more raw horsepower due to 16-valve, OHC, injected engines.

You could probably make it run with mid-pack Civics, if you spend a fortune on the engine. I have heard that some of these are allowed in vintage racing, but haven't seen that myself.

Eventually Bob got tired of running at the back of the pack in ITC races and switched the car to the SCCA GT class. This allowed him to fit two gigantic Webers, big cam, etc. But the car was even less competative in GT.

Always a nice car and fun to drive, but limited by engine power.

It's the second car from the left below. (#33, taken at Pocono).

By the way, the first car (the red and yellow Dodge Colt) was driven by our old pal, Joe DeLuca. At the time, I had a similar racing-Colt. Joe and his girlfriend died in Flight 93. There is a flagpole at Lime Rock in their honour.

 

[KSIS]

Ok, its official! I wasted the whole day at work looking at these things and now I want to get one! If any one has a lead on one let me know. I would be up for a road trip and a tow.

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Man! You're EASY!!

Hope you find one.

 

[tony barnhill]

Every now & then I see one running around here.

 

[roofman]

I bought one of these new in 1978. Orange exterior with an orange interior. Good solid car when new. I got rearended while at a light at 35-40 mph and it threw the whole car up on the grass median. Car was fixed and sold. If I remember it was $4000 new.

 

[William]

I haven't seen one in the wild since I was in grade school in the early to mid 80's. I've seen one or two running around the infield at Road America in the intervening years.

If I had space and income I'd consider getting one just to fool around with, maybe take in a few autocrosses. I bet one of those would be dead fun on an autocross course.

-Wm.

 

[bugimike]

When I was rallying my old Fiat back in the '70s, my navigator bought a nice yellow Fiesta ('78) that we took out and ran in a couple of rallys...that thing was fun (and worked really well too!). I remember thinking that was a good "bargain hot rod" at the time!! Good Luck, hope you find that new toy!!

 

[AngliaGT]

I bought a '79 Sport model,raced it in SCCA
Showroom Stock "C",autocrosses,& hillclimbs.I got
more trophys with that car than any other car I've
owned.I set a hillclimb record with it,& was even
accused of cheating.
If you want to send me a PM with your phone
number,I'll call you,& can tell you about a couple
that are for sale.I'm also in touch with many Fiesta
owners.

- Doug

 

[Sarastro]

I had a 78 Fiesta I bought new in 1978, shortly after coming to California. We had a young child, not much money, and, for the first time, really needed a second car. The Fiesta was perfect.

Reliability was the typical Ford experience: I had to replace the ignition module and the oil pump while it was still new, since the dealer refused to. The problem was intermittent and therefore not easy to verify, so the easiest and cheapest option was, of course, to stonewall me. Somewhat later, getting the carb rebuilt competently was a complete nightmare. Never bought another US car afterward. I replaced it with a Toyota Tercel some years later.

In spite of the early problems, though, I still think back on it with some admiration.

 

[rlwhitetr3b]

Never bought another US car afterward.

I do not believe this car could be called a US car. They were not built on this side of the pond. Mine had its computer replaced trying to find an intermittent problem. Years later I decided my problem was carburetor icing.

 

[AngliaGT]

The U.S. cars were all built in Germany.
Very few lemons.Most people had positive
experiences with these cars.

- Doug

 

[Sarastro]

Well, that's what you'd expect, right? If, say, 20% have bad experiences with them, that's totally unacceptable, but still "most people" will have had positive experiences. The issue isn't whether they're OK for most people; the issue is whether they meet reasonable standards for reliability. I don't know if they did, overall, or not, but my experience was not acceptable. Especially when I took it to the dealer and, instead of fixing the problem, they just blew me off.

And, regardless of where it was made, it said FORD on it. They have to take responsibility for it, and, as a result, I chose to avoid Fords (which, at the time, had a higher reputation for reliability than, say, GM, so they were off the list, too), and I think the reasoning for doing so was valid.

Meanwhile, my Toyotas (some of which were made in the US) have been uniformly wonderful.

 

[AngliaGT]

But at least the Fiesta had a personality.
Most Toyotas were appliances - the thing that
most owners brag about is the reliability.How
boring is that?At least the Fiesta had a person-
ality.
I would take a decent Fiesta anyday over a
Toyota.Again - MOST people who owned a Fiesta have
fond memories of it.
Our Daughter has a '96 Corolla 4 door,White -
about the most generic car I've ever come across.I
felt like there should be a bar code on both front
doors - just transportation.
German cars are just below British cars,as
far as having a personality.Most Japanese cars are
mere appliances.

- Doug

 

[DrEntropy]

:lol:

To all the non-mechanically adept folks who ask my advice regarding a car purchase I usually say: "One word: Toyota."

All ya gotta know is how to turn th' key.

As for a Fiesta, I'd have one. Then try to find a way to stuff a T/C Lotus engine in it. :wink:

 

[DNK]

Isn't the Fiesta motor justa version of the Kent motor?

 

[Roger]

Isn't the Fiesta motor justa version of the Kent motor?

Earlier models, yes.
One of the most delightful small cars I ever came across was my wife's 1996 Fiesta Ghia. 1.4 litre Zetec, super handling, and pretty quick for its size. That Fiesta chassis, which didn't change much for years, was a very competent yet simple bit of engineering.

 

[swift6]

I saw a more modern Fiesta like this one when I was at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2004. I'd have it in a heartbeat.