Ford had noticed that people were growing increasing impressed with smaller cars which offered good handling, space and performance. The Fiesta was to be the first small front wheel drive car that Ford produced, and in 1972 the design team was giving the go ahead to start the new project called Bobcat.

The Mk1 Fiesta was to be launched in Autumn of 1976, as it happened the timing couldn’t have been better as the first oil crisis was happening, and there was a boom in sale of small cars.

The name ‘Bobcat’ was a project name, because at this point they had not thought of a name. There were two possible names for the new car, Fiesta or Bravo. In the end Henry Ford decided. The name Bravo was latter used on Limited addition Fiestas.

Production began in July 1976 in Germany, and the launched date of the Fiesta was brought forward to September 1976, but Britain had to wait unit February 1977.

The Fiesta range was available in 957cc and 1117cc capacities, producing 40/47bhp and 53bhp respectively using the “Kent” engine. It was a year after the Fiestas launch in 1977 that the 1300cc engine became available, it used a twin-choke Weber carburettor from the 1300 Escort sport to produce 66bhp. Other changes to the car were made to cope with the bigger engine, it had a larger cooling system, brakes and suspension were modified and the exhaust system was changed.

There were a number of special edition models produced during the production of the Mk1 clickhere to see them.

The Mk1 XR2 was introduced in 1976. Fords Special Vehicle Engineering (SVE) team had finished there work on the Capri and were free to start another project, the XR2. The XR2 is given it’s name because it was the second project to come out of ford’s SVE plant in Dunton, Essex, the first was the 2.8i V6 Capri although it was never given the XR badge. The design brief was simple; no major chances to the chassis or transmission, 100 mph+ performance and to meet all existing emission controls.

The Kent 1599cc engine was used with a Webber 32/34 carburettor to produce 84bhp, this gave the XR2 a 0-60 time of 9.4 seconds and a top speed of 105mph. The car was treated to some “Pepper Pot” alloy wheels fitted with 185×60 tyres and modified suspension but no anti roll bar was added to the front. The 4 speed gear box was mounted slightly lower and used to same ratios as the XR3 but with a higher final drive, and the brakes were changed to vented disks. On the outside they added a body kit, graphics down the sides and changed the square headlights to round ones.

The XR2s launch price was 5,500 and found may buyers, and by the time the face-lifted version was introduced 1984, over 20,000 XR2s had been sold in the UK.

Production of the Mk1 ceased in August 1983.

Transmission
Four speed synchromesh gearbox with remote shift. Self adjusting clutch. Uprated transaxle and drive shafts. Front wheel drive.

Suspension Steering
Sports suspension with uprated damper settings and spring rates. Front-Independent MacPherson struts, telescopic dampers with coil springs. Rear-Beam axle with trailing arm and coil springs. Tubular Pahard rod with stabiliser bar. Telescopic dampers

Steering
Bulkhead mounted rack and pinion steering and safety decoupling energy absorbing column. Turning circle between walls 36.5feet (11.2mtrs)

Brakes
Servo assisted diagonally split, dual line system.
Front: ventilated 9.4″ discs.
Rear: self adjusting 7.0″ drums.
Handbrake: self adjusting floor mounted mechanical linkage to rear brake drums.

Wheels & Tyres
13″ x 6″ alloy wheels with 185/60 HR 13 ultra low profile ply tyres.

Lighting & Electrical
7 fuse, 12 volt negative earth system. Dual tone horn. 7″ circular halogen headlamps. Driving lamps with overriders. Harzard warning flashers. Direction indicators incorporated into front bumper. Rear fog lamp. Heated rear window, front door operated courtesy switches for interior light , intermittent wipe and electric screen wash, tailgate was/wipe, illuminated heater controls, handbrake warning light.

Body
Three door hatchback with gas struts and concealed hinges on rear door. Front and rear towing hooks. Black louvred design radiator grill with drag reducing aerofoil section. Aerodynamic front and rear black spoilers and black wheelarch extensions. Black wide section bumpers with end caps. Twin body colour door mounted mirrors (Remote control driver’s side). Black door handles and black door locks with bright inserts. Special XR2 decal treatment on bodyside. Special rocker panel paint/decal scheme. Extended black window surround paint. XR2 decal on tailgate. Laminated windscreen. 7.5 gallon fuel tank. Luggage space effective capacity: As a 4 seater 7.1 cu. ft., as a 2 seater 35.3 cu. ft.

Interior
Front slide mounted sports relining bucket seats with anti-tip lock. Quick action single fold rear bench seat with automatic lock. ’storm’ and Crushed Velour fabric trim. Shark Grey environment colour. A-frame front head restraints. Inertia reel seat belt to driver’s and passenger’s seats. Driver’s and passenger’s door storage bins. Detachable moulded rear package tray with carpet inserts, front door three point armrests, three point armrests, three roof mounted grab handles. Full door trim incorporating soft feel cappings and ’storm’ fabric inserts, with grey mylar sidewall and rear quarter trim finisher, fully trimmed roof pillars. Soft feel instrument panel with grey finish instrument cluster applique with red surround and grey finished applique to switch panel. Front passenger glove compartment with illumination and lid, front package shelf and driver’s side stowage. Centre face level vent with two outboard fascia mounted adjustable rectangular fresh air vents. Air blending heater with 2-speed fan. Three ash trays. Soft feel two spoke sports steering wheel. Windscreen mounted dipping rear view mirror. Perforated ‘Cool Black’ head lining and sunvsor with vanity mirror on passenger’s side. Header mounted digital multi-function clock. Shark Grey loop pile carpet. Handbrake grip. Sports gearshift knob. Centre console with grey finish applique and coin rack. Rear wheelarch trim in passenger compartment. ‘Ghia type sound insulation material. Ford push button radio (MW/LW)p21. Cigar Lighter. Three level system controlling turn indicators, horn, high beam, headlamp flasher, driving lights, two speed wipers, intermittent wipe. Illuminated instrument switches. Speedometer/odometer, tachometer, trip recorder, fuel gauge, temperature gauge, warning lights for oil pressure, turn indicators, high beam and ignition. Brake fluid level warning indicator. Load compartment carpet. Storage compartment under rear-floor.