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Ford Fiesta fans on why they love their cars Ford Fiesta fans on why they love their cars
(3 months later)
Plumber Andrew Scott was given an old 1980 Fiesta in return for fixing a toiletPlumber 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? After more than four decades of manufacturing, the last Ford Fiesta has rolled off the production line in Germany as the model is discontinued in favour of more electric vehicles. What does this mean to those in the UK who love and cherish their cars?
Plumber Andrew Scott was both delighted and surprised to be gifted a 1980 model of his favourite car. Dale Browning usually has about 20 Fiestas in stock at his garage in Colchester, in Essex, which specialises in selling used, low-mileage cars.
It came from a grateful woman whose toilet he had just fixed. Today he only has nine for sale, because, he says, the interest has gone "through the roof".
A lifelong Ford Fiesta fan, Mr Scott, 56, from Cambridge, is proud to show off the blue Fiesta 1.1L. He owns a 1999 T-reg 1.25 Fiesta Ghia, which had one previous driver who clocked a modest 11,000 miles when she handed over the keys.
"I've always had a soft spot for a Fiesta," he says. "It's obviously a sad day," 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. "Anyone with any heart would have continued to make them and we would have liked it to make its half century.
"She just wanted to get rid of it." "It's been around so long. Everyone has either had one, or knows someone who has had one - your nan has one, your mum has one, you've been brought home from hospital in one - it's a family name."
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. Dale Browning says he has owned thousands of Fiestas since starting business in 1986
The interior of the 1980 Fiesta is fairly basic Dale Browning has nine Fiestas for sale and says interest has "gone through the roof"
Leslee Harrington, 68, has never owned a Fiesta, but the car still occupies a special place in her heart ever since she was scouted as a model to feature in the 1976 promotional launches.
The former travel agent was picked up from her home in Southend-on-Sea and driven to landmarks in London for a photoshoot, including Tower Bridge and St Paul's Cathedral.
"That has always been my party piece," she says.
"I tell the builders who come in and they say 'wow can I get your autograph?'."
Staff from Ford in Basildon drove to Southend to collect Leslee Harrington for a photoshoot in London
Ms Harrington (pictured) says recalling the photoshoot has always been her "party piece"
Plumber Andrew Scott was both delighted and surprised to be gifted a blue Fiesta 1.1L by a woman whose toilet he had just fixed.
"I've always had a soft spot for a Fiesta," the 56-year-old from Cambridge said.
Mr Scott's 1980 model, given to him in 2006, was built before the days of padded steering wheels and electric windows, but it still has a working push-button radio.
The interior of the 1980 Fiesta is fairly basic by modern standards
The plumber thinks he got a good deal on the free FiestaThe 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.
"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.
Getting an XR2 was like "having a bit of my youth back", says Fiesta fan Mr ScottGetting 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. "It's just reliving a bit of my youth," says Mr Scott.
"I hankered after one." He owns four other Fiesta models, including the sporty XR2 he hankered for since childhood that he bought in 2007 for £2,000, which is likely to be worth significantly more now.
Mr Scott plays his old tapes while driving the XR2Mr 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 music cassettes in his XR2, including ones by Earth, Wind & Fire, and ABC and one of the Now That's What I Call Music various artists series.
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 jobThe 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".
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Production of the car is expected to cease by mid-2023.
Fiesta factsFiesta 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 Launched in 1976, the hatchback was the company's first internationally successful front-wheel drive model and was first manufactured in Valencia, Spain
Its development budget was $870m (£753m), making it the largest in Ford's history at the time The first model built in the UK rolled off the production line in Dagenham, east London, in 1977
It was created originally as a more fuel-efficient, small car in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis The Fiesta's development budget was $870m (£753m), making it the largest in Ford's history at the time
The Fiesta is currently produced in Germany, although the first model built in the UK rolled off the production line in Dagenham in 1977 It was created as a more fuel-efficient, small car in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis, which the price of oil quadruple
The Fiesta is currently produced in Germany
More than 20 million have since been built for customers worldwideMore than 20 million have since been built for customers worldwide
Source: Ford/BBCSource: 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 factoriesThe 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.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 conditionMr 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. Mr Scott, with a touch more sadness, adds: "The Fiesta still has a big following and is still a very popular car - 100% it'll be missed."
"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: "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. The Fiesta was the ninth best-selling new car in the UK over the last 12 months, with 15,359 registrations, according to the latest data from industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers.
"It will be sad to see it go because it's been such a best-seller." Ford says that although production is being discontinued at the factory in Cologne, it could still be bought as a rally car via its engineering partner M-Sport.
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. A spokesperson said: "At Ford in Europe, we are rapidly transitioning to an electric future."
This article has been updated and was originally published in October 2022.
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