The Ford Fiesta Mk1 is the first generation of the Ford Fiesta supermini. Originally introduced in 1976, it was Ford's first multi-national car-front-wheel-drive, and available in both 3-door hatchback and van body style panels. In 1983, the Fiesta was updated, and Fiesta Mk2 was introduced.
Video Ford Fiesta (first generation)
History
The Fiesta was originally developed under the name of the "Bobcat" project (not to be confused with the subsequent Mercury variant of Ford Pinto) and approved for development by Henry Ford II in September 1972. Development targets indicated a production cost of US $ 100 less than Escort currently. The car has a longer wheelbase than the Fiat 127 (though shorter than some other rivals, such as the Peugeot 104, Renault 5 and Volkswagen Polo), but with an overall length shorter than the Escort. The last proposal was developed by Tom Tjaarda in Ghia. The project was approved for production in December 1973, with Ford engineering centers at Koln and Dunton (Essex) collaborating.
Ford estimates 500,000 Fiestas per year to be produced, and builds a new plant near Valencia, Spain; a trans-shaft factory near Bordeaux, France; factory extension for the assembly plant in Dagenham, England. The final assembly also took place in Valencia.
The name Fiesta was owned by General Motors when the car was designed, because they had used the name for Fiesta Oldsmobile in the 1950s; However, it was freely given to Ford to be used on their new supermini. Ford's marketing team prefers the name Bravo , but Henry Ford II vets it in the name of the Fiesta. The automotive press began 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. A Fiesta was exhibited at 24 Hours of Le Mans in June 1976, and the car went on sale in France and Germany in September 1976; for the frustration of UK dealers, the right-hand drive version only started to appear in the UK in January 1977.
Technically, the Fiesta follows tradition, with a four-speed manual transmission from the Ford BC-Series fitted to a new version of the Ford Kent OHV engine, dubbed "Valencia" after the new Spanish plant in Almussafes, Valencia, developed primarily to produce a new car. The Ford plant in Dagenham, England, and Saarlouis and Cologne (from 1979) in Germany, also produced Fiestas. To cut costs and accelerate research and development, the new powertrain package destined for the Fiesta is tested in the "donkey" development of Fiat 127. Unlike some rivals, which use torque rods in their suspension, the Fiesta uses coil springs. The front suspension is a typical Ford track control arm arrangement, in which MacPherson struts is combined with a lower control arm and a longitudinal compression junction. Standard rear suspension uses axles, trailing links and Panhard rods, while an anti-roll bar is included in the sports package. All Fiestas Mk1 displays 12-inch wheels as standard, with disc brakes on the front and drum brakes on the back. Ford paid special attention to the ease of service, and published the time it took to replace the various common components.
Maps Ford Fiesta (first generation)
Model history
Although not the first Ford vehicle to feature a front-wheel drive feature (the Taunus of the 1960s produced by Ford Germany claimed it as the title), the Fiesta is widely recognized as Ford's first globally successful front-wheel-drive model. British sales started in January 1977, where it was available from Ã, Â £ 1,856 for a 950 cc engined model.
It's just the second mini hatchback car that has been built in the UK at this stage, launched a year after the Vauxhall Chevette, but a year before Chrysler Sunbeam and four years before Metro Austin. Fiesta million produced in 1979.
This car was originally available in Europe with Valencia 957Ã, cc (58,4Ã, C) I4 (high compression and low compression options), and 1.117Ã, cc (68,2Ã, cuÃ, in) engines and in Base , Popular, L, GL (1978). so on), Ghia and S trim, as well as van. Fiesta AS I Mark was built in Saarlouis and Cologne, Germany but with slightly different specifications; The US model is Base, Decor, Sport, and Ghia, Ghia which has the highest trim level. This trim level changed very little over the three years Fiesta in the US, from 1978 to 1980. All US models featured a 1.596 cc (97.4 cu in) engine, (which is a version of "Crossflow" older than Kent, not Valencia) is equipped with a catalytic converter and air pump to meet strict California emissions regulations), energy-absorbing bumpers, side-marking lights, sealed headlamps, improved collision dynamics and fuel system integrity as well as optional air conditioning (AC not available in Europe ). In the US market, Ford Escort replaced the Fiesta and Pinto concise in 1981.
At the beginning of the UK Government's motility scheme for disabled riders in 1978, the Fiesta was one of the main cars to be available in the scheme.
A sports derivative (1.3 L Supersport) was offered in Europe for the 1980 model, using 1,300 liters (79 Â ° c) Crossflow engine, effectively testing the market for the similar XR2 introduced a year later, featuring 1.6 L versions of the same machine. Black plastic trims are added to the exterior and interior. Small rectangular headlamps are replaced with larger round bulbs so that the front indicators are moved to the bumper to accommodate the changes. With a 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) calibrated performance in 9.3 seconds and a top speed of 105 mph (169 km/h), the XR2 hot hatch became a cult car beloved by male racers throughout the 1980s.
For the 1979 automotive exhibition season, Ford along with Operation Ghia in Turin, Italy, produced off-road Ford Fiesta Tuareg cars. It was touted in press material as "a concept vehicle designed and equipped for practical, off-road recreational use."
Small revisions appeared throughout the range at the end of 1981, with larger bumpers to meet accidental eligibility rules and other minor improvements in an effort to maintain the showroom's appeal ahead of the upcoming second generation.
In 1978, the Fiesta took over Vauxhall Chevette as Britain's best-selling supermini, but in 1981 it fell from the top spot by Metro Austin UK Leyland and was still in second place in late 1982.
Specifications
Conversion conversion
Crayford
In 1981, Crayford coachbuilders developed a convertible version of the Fiesta, dubbed the Fiesta Fly. Designed by David McMullan, Fiesta Fly has a permanently welded boot, with a plastic coating mounted to prevent the car from re-painting. The history of the Fiesta Fly production is not clear; but the general claim that only 20 or more cars built may not be true; it is believed that this figure refers to the amount constructed by Crayford, not the total number built. What is known is that the company based in Dorset F. English Coachwork Division purchased the right to produce Fiesta Fly around 1982, and Autocar reported in September 1983 that about 100 Fiesta Fly conversions have been produced. It is believed that F English built about 200 Fiesta Flys, with 83 known to survive. Crayford also reportedly built two Fiesta Flys based on Fiesta Mk2. It is also possible to purchase Fiesta Fly models of production in the form of Fiesta Fly, not just the 1300 and XR2 models that are often reported.
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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