As some of you likely know, I am helping to clear out a large collection of salvage and project vehicles from a private owner. You can read more about the collection here. As we move ahead with the process, I’ll be listing some of the more interesting cars individually, which will also help readers see more info about specific vehicles they may be interested in. Here’s the next project up for grabs, which was teased in the original post about the collection: a 1979 Ford Fiesta.
What Makes it Special? If we’re being completely honest, Fiestas aren’t necessarily exceptional cars. They were basic econoboxes, but they did provide more European flair than other entry-level rides at the time, and handling has always been a strong suit. They’ve grown increasingly hard to find, especially in northern states where I live and they’ve all but disappeared from the roads.
Body Condition: The upper portions of the Fiesta’s body are in fine shape, with white paint that appears to be original. However, the doors do show rust in the edges as do the sills. There is evidence of rot-through on the driver’s side. Rust repair will be needed, but this is the type of restoration project you can drive while the bodywork is completed. Wheels are original, and the large “park bench” safety bumpers are still attached. It is missing a tail lamp lens on the driver’s side, too.
Mechanical Condition: The 1.5L Crossflow 4-cylinder still resides under the hood, and is said to have been running well when parked. However, the Fiesta has since developed the need for a new starter, which will be required to hear it fire again. The previous owner apparently purchased the wrong starter model and then parked the car – leading to the current owner snatching it up. The interior is mostly sound, but the driver’s seat will need some upholstery work.
For an affordable project that you don’t often see on American roads, the Fiesta offers a good starting point that won’t break the bank. This one was still running around the roads of northern Georgia before the starter issues led to it being parked, and as a highly original car, there’s not much else to do other than to repair the sills and replace the starter if you’re looking for a classic you can simply drive.
- rice: $1,300 OBO
- Location: Northwest Georgia
- Mileage: TMU
- Title Status: Bill of sale only
Do you have a low mileage survivor parked in your garage, shed or barn? Does it need a new home? Please consider listing it here on Barn Finds!
Festers are light and quite quick. Won’t be a 1.5, though; 1.0, 1.1, 1.3 or 1.6. D.
All US versions had the 1.6 Kent engine.
I always liked Fiestas, but… About 15 years ago I drove past an AAMCO shop not far from my house and there was a Fiesta cut in half, with the front half in the shop dumpster and the back half sitting on the ground next to it…
Junk.
Agreed. When my high school cut one up into little pieces, and threw it away little by little, I wasn’t disappointed. When we tossed a larger piece of it onto another pile of junk, turning it upside down at the same time (at the insistence of the shop teacher), spilling gas onto my work boots, and the school had to pay for a new pair of work boots for me, I was even happier. The principal, however, felt differently. Screw them!!!
I think it’s more of a $500.00 car. Something that might be found on an ice racing track.
I remember these being the cheapest econoboxes save for a Yugo. Not much flair, European or otherwise. With that said my best friend and I thrashed the hell out of his in high school (early 90’s)
The comments made me laugh how many actually owned one before saying …junk … these where great handling cars, all US spec came with a with a 1596cc ford Kent “crossflow” engine …performance slightly choked due to the catalytic converter and air pump for California spec, all US versions had the round sealed beam headlights which only came on top Euro spec cars
I owned 3 of them and i agree with everything that has been said here. one of those cars was an XR2, which was slightly less sucky
I agree. I owned two of these back in the day. They were great little cars. They handled fairly well, were pretty peppy (until the AC was turned on), economical, and quite reliable.
Having sung it’s praises, would I want one….no….especially this one. If I could find one in great / complete shape for a reasonable price, I’d be tempted.
my buddy had one of these back in ’83, it was quite fun to drive. Of course any car is fun when you’re 15 and 16. it was agile and had a 5 speed and a sunroof, that was all i knew. im not sure if we ever looked under the hood.
Is today garbage pickup? This is nothing to remember and needs to be shredded to become a new Kia or Honda car.
Sorry I can think of most any car made better than this and this includes ugly station wagons and converted red neck four by fours under Impalas too…and hearses people think are cool after smoking crack 😮
Maybe I am wrong and someone wants to take this to car shows and park by Ford Shelbie’s, woodies, Torino’s , A or T fords and Lotus cars.
Bought one from a co-worker in the 80s before he went overseas. Paid $50 for it. Good runner and fairly peppy for the size but had some serious torque-steer when you nailed the go pedal. Sold it about a year later for $200. They do seem to love to rust.
I wrote to these people several times via the webform. they never even bothered about replying. I guess arrogance is a big factor here. Keep that attitude up guys and you’ll do a ton of sales. NOT
Come on Mikey lighten up…it’s a salvage Fiesta with a BOS only.
Good luck on the sale but it’s only
a econo box 📦👀 posted here in primer.
Still have one. US versions have equal length drive shafts like the Euro XR2 and 1300s. Not really any torque steer.
Now that looks like a nice Car taken care of and in pristine condition .
I had two of them. Both 1980 yellow 1.6L “funboxes” – one for the wife and one for me.
Fit and finish? What’s that?
Interior accessories? What it’s got a horn, what more do ya want ya wanker?
But fun to drive? Yup, absolutely a blast. 1.6L of decently torquey motor in a car that weighed just a touch more than a Radio Flyer wagon and very little concern for denting up a rather bland body equals flying over road bumps and doing handbrake turns in the parking lot. Totally enjoyed them, especially when we realized we could fit an entire washing machine under the hatch and actually close it, albeit with my nose on the steering wheel.
Would love another for nostalgia’s sake.
I had two back in the day (one “S” version) and loved, and beat the hell out of them. They were peppy little runners and I had no complaints.
I’m glad to hear there are some on this site that don’t hate EVERYTHING but maybe their own car!
…you’d actually have to own a car that could do something other than go in a straight line to understand the appeal. Guess I’m the only one that likes a car that can handle.
I feel sorry for Jeff having to clear up all this overpriced junk…
If someone offered my $100 for that beater it’d be on his trailer so fast it would make your head spin!
A delightful story (that I may have posted here before; apologies) involves two US spec Ford Fiestas, owned by a dear friend, responsible for establishing (as a Peace Corps Volunteer) the museums on Nevis, West Indies, birth place of Alexander Hamilton. Having left Peace Corps, but continuing to live/work on Nevis, car ownership was then allowed. The Fiesta on tiny Nevis was his island runabout, while a second Fiesta kept at Sheldrake, NY, (his U S home) provided the spares to keep the Nevis one going !
This went on for years during the 1990s.
My neighbor had one of these and he drove the he double toothpicks out of it. I recall the seats being very comfortable, it rode great and handled pretty darn well for a box.
These cars were a ton of fun back in the 1980 time frame. The only thing better at the time was the Scirocco. Light, easy to repair, great in snow, economical, peppy, and handled well in the mountains of New England. They’re very hard to find in decent condition…since it was a throwaway car prone to rust…and there are quite a few people looking for the few that exist.
Had an “S”. Great fun but the A/C compressor was driven off of the water pump. Tension on the water pump would cause it to fail at ~20k miles. Instant overheat. Instant cracked head…. Replace head, waterpump, belts and carry on for another 20k.
One of the best handling FWD cars at the time, in autocrosses, regularly beat Sciroccos and Golfs. Put your foot to the floor and steer
I’ve bore witness to this phenomenon in my autocrossing days….
Back in the early 1980’s I drove one of these from OKC to Denver a few times. I was racing speedway motorcycles and could remove the wheels and fenders and tuck everything in the back of that Fiesta.
I would stow my boots, leathers, and helmet in the passenger seat.
I could make the trip both directions on $30.00 of gas.
My swim coach had a 79 S bright yellow full KONI suspension Weber carb aftermarket wheels exhaust. What a fun car. That car is what got me into auto X. We used to go to Swimming meets out of town he had a blauhplunct head unit couple amps and a ton of speakers and for back in the day WOW. Lots of good memories.
Bought one of these new in 79. Great fun to drive – quick and nimble. Parts availability was abysmal – while still under warranty, mine sat apart in the dealership for three weeks waiting for a wheel bearing to be shipped from Germany . After that, drove it several years with no problems. Remember it fondly.
Yep, a much-underrated car. Fun, fun, fun to drive. The Ford Kent engine has been the basis of Formula Ford Racing since the late 60s, and is still going strong. Too bad that they are such Tinworm targets.
A lifelong friend had an earlier version while working through his MS & PhD programs. It was a blast to drive. No a/c, so no problem there & light & great handling & some “scoot” ! His one complaint…since we both worked on our cars, and he much more on his, was that he had to buy a set of metric sockets and wrenches as the car had BOTH metric and standard US sizes. Weird. As mentioned by several writers, that car swallowed huge volumes of stuff with the back seat flopped down…