Saw this in my neighborhood:

[grabbergreen84]

I've maybe seen two or three of these in the last 10 years...

I remember when they were new. The word, back when they were new, was that if you got one made in Germany, it was a decent car. But if it was made in France(IIRC), it would be a POS.

[ZephyrEFI]

I've always thought they were way better looking than Rabbits.

[Ray Dog]

I think they stopped importing Fiestas when the Escort/ Lynx came on the scene.
My best friend's wife had one when they got married.

[gsims]

My buddy and I made one into an ice racer up in Massachusetts back in 88/89. It kicked ass.

[84GT350CONV]

I thought some Fiestas were made by Kia? Maybe I'm wrong, but I think I read it somewhere.

[ZephyrEFI]

I thought some Fiestas were made by Kia? Maybe I'm wrong, but I think I read it somewhere.

Festivas. Also Aspires.

[Travis T]

Friend of mine found one of those old Fiestas in almost perfect condition stuck in someone's building. Paid $150 for it, red paint shined right back up and the black interior was perfect minus the front seats which he had recovered for $100. He drove it like that for a while before swapping an Escort 1.9L in it along with a small turbo. That was one quick little sleeper that caught a lot of Mustangs by surprise.

[85GT-79FJ40]

My uncle had one of these in the early 80's. Neat little car. One of my coworkers had one as his first car too. Orange one that said fiesta down the door in huge letters apparently. I can't remember the last time I saw one on the road. Although I do occasionally see an absolutely mint early escort on my commute.

[JayStang]

My Mom and Dad had one the same color in 79 bought it new, was a great little car, my Aunt also had a new red one in 1980, never see any around my part east coast anymore.

[roush235]

Brings back a pleasant memory......

I was coming home for the weekend from college. College wasn't far away so I often made the trek on Friday afternoon in my 73 Pinto. As was often the case, before I went home I would check out our small town Ford dealer to see if anything interesting had showed up during the week. Out front was a snazzy orange Fiesta. I dropped in to take a look, and the owner (who was also the main salesman, plus another dozen jobs befitting a mom-and-pop operation) threw me the keys and said "take it for a spin, let me know what you think." Those trips to the dealership starting when I was a kid must have paid off------ they knew me---- how often do you see a dealer offering an unaccompanied test drive to a 20 year old? So I went and got my girlfriend and we cruised around town for ten minutes or so. I remember it being nimble and fun to drive, based on my brief encounter.

I too haven't seen one in years.

[84GT350CONV]

Festivas. Also Aspires.

Thanks. I was wondering about that. Sure don't see Festivas and Aspires on the road much anymore either. Throw away cars of the day when you were done with it. Even a mint one is not worth much now I would imagine.

[Gemini1999]

I like the original Fiesta. When I was stationed in Texas during the mid 1980s, a friend of mine who spent a lot of time overseas bought one used. It wasn't an S model and I remember it being tan in color. I rode in it once or twice and rather liked it. A bit sparse on the creature comforts, it still a good car.

[gr79]

Fiesta name has a fairly long history.
Was a simple design, light weight, clean boxy body lines.
Did not attract attention. Now it would. Good for all age drivers.
Ford states the 2014 car has head turning good looks...

Ghia had a hand in early development.
Ghia-Fiesta; Kia-Festiva

If a Fiesta has a modified high output engine, would this 'sleeper' be called a Siesta?

[ZephyrEFI]

Thanks. I was wondering about that. Sure don't see Festivas and Aspires on the road much anymore either. Throw away cars of the day when you were done with it. Even a mint one is not worth much now I would imagine.

Yeah, they were garbage. I'm sure the same year Fiestas were FAR superior, but those were cheaper to produce. Way to put your best foot forward, Ford.

I like the current Fiesta. I want an ST or a 1.3 EcoBoost.

[dburdyshaw]

If a Fiesta has a modified high output engine, would this 'sleeper' be called a Siesta?

You've officially achieved greatness.

[84GT350CONV]

Yeah, they were garbage. I'm sure the same year Fiestas were FAR superior, but those were cheaper to produce. Way to put your best foot forward, Ford.

I like the current Fiesta. I want an ST or a 1.3 EcoBoost.

Until they work out he problems with direct injection causing excessive carbon buildup in the motors there will be no EcoBoost for me.

[Bryan Knebworth]

Thanks. I was wondering about that. Sure don't see Festivas and Aspires on the road much anymore either. Throw away cars of the day when you were done with it. Even a mint one is not worth much now I would imagine.

On a typical weekday here in the northeast, nobody drives old cars, no matter what brand. Its not a 'throwaway car' thing, its that people don't want to be caught driving something 'outdated', its more of an image thing. The only old cars out there on the regular would late '80s early '90s Honda's/Acura's and Toyota's(YAWN).

[ZephyrEFI]

Until they work out he problems with direct injection causing excessive carbon buildup in the motors there will be no EcoBoost for me.

A lease and a warranty, my friend.

I don't see many old car here either. Although, I do see the occasional Hondas and Toyotas, like mentioned above. Here though, they're usually driven by people who don't speak English. And then there are hoards of them at the junkyards on weekends looking for parts.

[4eyedgirlsdoitbetter]

My track coach had one of these, we used to pick it up and move it to a new parking spot. Just thinking about doing that hurts my back today!! I guess I'm officially old!

[84GT350CONV]

A lease and a warranty, my friend.

I don't see many old car here either. Although, I do see the occasional Hondas and Toyotas, like mentioned above. Here though, they're usually driven by people who don't speak English. And then there are hoards of them at the junkyards on weekends looking for parts.

That is one way of dealing with it for sure. Had a friends wife that loved the new Mini Coopers. Always got a new one when the lease/warranty got close to running out. They knew better that way about those cars.
Living in the south where cars don't rust out you do see more old cars running around. Around here they wear them out rather than rust them out. When I lived up north I had a car for the summer and a beater for the winter.

[Dean_T]

I have to admit, the migrant field workers drive newer, nicer cars than I do here in Southern Cal. My '78 Fairmont instantly devalues any property it parks in front of...

[Bryan Knebworth]

I have to admit, the migrant field workers drive newer, nicer cars than I do here in Southern Cal. My '78 Fairmont instantly devalues any property it parks in front of...

When I was there, the migrant workers had a penchant for the '88-'89 Toyota/Nissan/Mazda pickup. They were 'communal' vehicles, had about 400K-500K mi, and when one group was finished, another group would find the screwdriver/keys under the visor and use it for another few weeks. They were a very resourceful bunch.

[Travis T]

I have to admit, the migrant field workers drive newer, nicer cars than I do here in Southern Cal. My '78 Fairmont instantly devalues any property it parks in front of...

You sound like me. When people ask me if I want to lock my LSC when we park it, I say no, it's its own anti-theft system!