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| Ford Fiesta fans on why they love their cars | Ford Fiesta fans on why they love their cars |
| (3 days later) | |
| Plumber Andrew Scott was given an old 1980 Fiesta in return for fixing a toilet | Plumber Andrew Scott was given an old 1980 Fiesta in return for fixing a toilet |
| Production of the popular Ford Fiesta is expected to cease next year after 45 years. What does this mean to those who love and cherish their Fiestas? | Production of the popular Ford Fiesta is expected to cease next year after 45 years. What does this mean to those who love and cherish their Fiestas? |
| Plumber Andrew Scott was both delighted and surprised to be gifted a 1980 model of his favourite car. | Plumber Andrew Scott was both delighted and surprised to be gifted a 1980 model of his favourite car. |
| It came from a grateful woman whose toilet he had just fixed. | It came from a grateful woman whose toilet he had just fixed. |
| A lifelong Ford Fiesta fan, Mr Scott, 56, from Cambridge, is proud to show off the blue Fiesta 1.1L. | A lifelong Ford Fiesta fan, Mr Scott, 56, from Cambridge, is proud to show off the blue Fiesta 1.1L. |
| "I've always had a soft spot for a Fiesta," he says. | "I've always had a soft spot for a Fiesta," he says. |
| "The person whose house I was working at, I did a job for them - I repaired their toilet and she gave me the car. | "The person whose house I was working at, I did a job for them - I repaired their toilet and she gave me the car. |
| "She just wanted to get rid of it." | "She just wanted to get rid of it." |
| Mr Scott's 1980 model, given to him in 2006, was built before the days of padded steering wheels and electric windows, but it does still have a working push-button radio. | Mr Scott's 1980 model, given to him in 2006, was built before the days of padded steering wheels and electric windows, but it does still have a working push-button radio. |
| The interior of the 1980 Fiesta is fairly basic | The interior of the 1980 Fiesta is fairly basic |
| The plumber thinks he got a good deal on the free Fiesta | The plumber thinks he got a good deal on the free Fiesta |
| The blue Fiesta 1.1L is one of four models he owns, including an XR2. | The blue Fiesta 1.1L is one of four models he owns, including an XR2. |
| "It's just reliving a bit of my youth," he says. | "It's just reliving a bit of my youth," he says. |
| And that is especially the case about his sporty XR2, bought in 2007 for £2,000 and likely now to be worth significantly more. | And that is especially the case about his sporty XR2, bought in 2007 for £2,000 and likely now to be worth significantly more. |
| Getting an XR2 was like "having a bit of my youth back", says Fiesta fan Mr Scott | Getting an XR2 was like "having a bit of my youth back", says Fiesta fan Mr Scott |
| The first car he drove after passing his test was his mum's Fiesta, but he says: "I grew up with the excitement of thinking about having a hot hatch, especially the XR2. | The first car he drove after passing his test was his mum's Fiesta, but he says: "I grew up with the excitement of thinking about having a hot hatch, especially the XR2. |
| "I hankered after one." | "I hankered after one." |
| Mr Scott plays his old tapes while driving the XR2 | Mr Scott plays his old tapes while driving the XR2 |
| His white F-reg model is in its "totally original condition". | His white F-reg model is in its "totally original condition". |
| Although he has no intention of selling, he says: "I've seen a couple go through auction pushing £20,000 or just over - and they weren't as original as this. | Although he has no intention of selling, he says: "I've seen a couple go through auction pushing £20,000 or just over - and they weren't as original as this. |
| "It's demand, isn't it? If someone wants one they're going to pay the money, I suppose." | "It's demand, isn't it? If someone wants one they're going to pay the money, I suppose." |
| He still keeps cassettes in his XR2, including music by Earth, Wind and Fire, and ABC. | He still keeps cassettes in his XR2, including music by Earth, Wind and Fire, and ABC. |
| There is an old copy of a Now That's What I call Music cassette as well. | There is an old copy of a Now That's What I call Music cassette as well. |
| "How sad am I?" he jokes. | "How sad am I?" he jokes. |
| The F-reg Fiesta XR2 still sports its original paint job | The F-reg Fiesta XR2 still sports its original paint job |
| Announcing the end of the Fiesta in a video posted on Ford's Twitter account, the company said "its job was done". | Announcing the end of the Fiesta in a video posted on Ford's Twitter account, the company said "its job was done". |
| It’s time to say goodbye to the little car that has touched us all. The big moments, the little moments, and all the ‘firsts’ – thanks for the memories. #FarewellFiesta 💙 As one era ends, another is just getting started – we can’t wait to show you what we’ve got coming🔌⚡️ pic.twitter.com/VDhh7d0uxA | It’s time to say goodbye to the little car that has touched us all. The big moments, the little moments, and all the ‘firsts’ – thanks for the memories. #FarewellFiesta 💙 As one era ends, another is just getting started – we can’t wait to show you what we’ve got coming🔌⚡️ pic.twitter.com/VDhh7d0uxA |
| Production of the car is expected to cease by mid-2023. | Production of the car is expected to cease by mid-2023. |
| Fiesta facts | Fiesta facts |
| Launched in 1976, the hatchback was the company's first internationally successful front-wheel drive model and was first manufactured in Valencia, in Spain | |
| Its development budget was $870m (£753m), making it the largest in Ford's history at the time | Its development budget was $870m (£753m), making it the largest in Ford's history at the time |
| It was created originally as a more fuel-efficient, small car in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis | It was created originally as a more fuel-efficient, small car in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis |
| The Fiesta is currently produced in Germany, although the first model built in the UK rolled off the production line in Dagenham in 1977 | |
| More than 20 million have since been built for customers worldwide | More than 20 million have since been built for customers worldwide |
| Source: Ford/BBC | Source: Ford/BBC |
| George Watson, chairman of the Fiesta Club of Great Britain - of which Mr Scott is a member - is not surprised by the popularity of the car. | George Watson, chairman of the Fiesta Club of Great Britain - of which Mr Scott is a member - is not surprised by the popularity of the car. |
| The fan club, based in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, has about 300 members across the UK. | The fan club, based in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, has about 300 members across the UK. |
| The Ford plant at Dagenham was one of the UK's largest car factories | The Ford plant at Dagenham was one of the UK's largest car factories |
| "My dad actually got one of the first Fiestas off the production line, as a salesman," he recalls. | "My dad actually got one of the first Fiestas off the production line, as a salesman," he recalls. |
| "I've been around Fords all my life. | "I've been around Fords all my life. |
| "The car I passed my driving test in was a Fiesta. | "The car I passed my driving test in was a Fiesta. |
| "I'll never forget - it was a D-reg MK2 XR2 in rosso red. It was like the rounder version of the original Fiesta... but it was a sports model with all the alloy wheels and the body kit. | "I'll never forget - it was a D-reg MK2 XR2 in rosso red. It was like the rounder version of the original Fiesta... but it was a sports model with all the alloy wheels and the body kit. |
| "I've lost count of how many Fiestas we've had between me and my dad and we've still got two at the moment." | "I've lost count of how many Fiestas we've had between me and my dad and we've still got two at the moment." |
| His latest acquisition is a burgundy 1990 H-registration Fiesta. | |
| "It's a little 1.1LX which I picked up from a lovely young lady - well she was 95 - and just decided to give up driving and she wanted the car to go to a good home," he says. | "It's a little 1.1LX which I picked up from a lovely young lady - well she was 95 - and just decided to give up driving and she wanted the car to go to a good home," he says. |
| Mr Scott's Fiesta has had a respray but is otherwise in its original 1980 condition | Mr Scott's Fiesta has had a respray but is otherwise in its original 1980 condition |
| Both he and Mr Scott say they are sad to hear the news that there will be no more new Fiestas. | Both he and Mr Scott say they are sad to hear the news that there will be no more new Fiestas. |
| "The Fiesta still has a big following and is still a very popular car - 100% it'll be missed," Mr Scott says. | "The Fiesta still has a big following and is still a very popular car - 100% it'll be missed," Mr Scott says. |
| Mr Watson agrees: "To be honest, the Fiesta itself is still a really popular small family vehicle, if you've got a couple of kids and you don't want anything really too big, and obviously as a first vehicle it's the ideal car. | Mr Watson agrees: "To be honest, the Fiesta itself is still a really popular small family vehicle, if you've got a couple of kids and you don't want anything really too big, and obviously as a first vehicle it's the ideal car. |
| "It will be sad to see it go because it's been such a best-seller." | "It will be sad to see it go because it's been such a best-seller." |
| Last month, the Fiesta was still the sixth best-selling new car in the UK with 4,570 registrations, according to the latest data from industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers. | Last month, the Fiesta was still the sixth best-selling new car in the UK with 4,570 registrations, according to the latest data from industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers. |
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