Winter Weekend Edition – 1987 Ford Fiesta C

Antti Kautonen

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Comments

snowed_29

This 1987 Ford Fiesta is a true entry-level car. The “C” notation meant it pretty much had steerable front wheels and nothing else; even if the 1.1-litre pushrod Valencia four wasn’t the smallest engine on offer.

It’s been pretty much abandoned next to a gas station just a stone’s throw from the Prelude. At first, it sat on the other side of the bushes on the station’s side, then it was pushed between them and now it’s slowly made it on the other side. It’s sat there for pretty much a year now, and remains surprisingly unmolested for a clearly abandoned car.

snowed_30

The 1983-on Mk2 Fiesta was a development of the older Mk1 model, with a different front section. From the A-pillars back, it was still clearly the same ol’ Fiesta as the 1976 car. The same basic body survived until 1989, and the 1989 car was pretty much the same thing until 2002. It’s clear that Ford milks the last drop out of every Fiesta at a time.

snowed_27

The L plates on the Fiesta denote it as a Lapland car originally. It probably isn’t too rusty anywhere, but it’s possible the drivetrain has crapped out. Or then someone ran out of fuel and couldn’t afford any more at the tanks. There’s a length of tow rope still attached on the front.

[Images: Copyright 2013 Hooniverse/Antti Kautonen]

About

Antti Kautonen

Antti Kautonen

The resident Finn of Hooniverse. Owns old Peugeots and whatnot, writes long thinkpieces on unloved cars. These two facts might be related.

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13 responses to “Winter Weekend Edition – 1987 Ford Fiesta C”

  1. wunno sev Avatar
    wunno sev

    that stub of tow rope up front suggests a deep, sad story behind this car
    being half-buried in snow adds to the impression. someday there will be a pixar movie that depicts the whole thing in a brief but heart-wrenching vignette.

    Reply
  2. lilpoindexter Avatar
    lilpoindexter

    I always liked the looks of this car. The updated front end doesn't look like a tacky nose job. You can always replace an engine or trans…somebody save it!

    Reply
    1. BlackIce_GTS Avatar
      BlackIce_GTS

      "How to rescue a hopeless dead car that reasonable, sane people have abandoned" sounds like a great topic for a Hooniverse educational special.
      I mean, legally. Mechanically speaking every case is going to be it's own unique road to hell.
      Project Car Hell.

      Reply
      1. FrankTheCat Avatar
        FrankTheCat

        Best case:
        You could get the VIN and license plate (if applicable,) and do an owner search through the local DMV. Get contact info for owner, ask them if they'll sign over the title.
        Second best case:
        You can't find/contact the owner (dead, in jail, moved away), BUT you're in a municipality that allows you to claim 'abandoned' property after a set of time ( let's say 6 months.) You file some paperwork at the local courthouse, and if the vehicle isn't claimed within 6 months by the actual owner, it's yours. Then it's a matter of acquiring the title, which is a whole 'nother can of worms.
        Worst case:
        You steal the car, get it retitled in another state (Tenessee,) then transfer it to you, under your name in your state. Then you hope it doesn't get reported as stolen. Swapping VIN plates with a junked car may not be a bad idea.

        Reply
        1. clunkerlove Avatar
          clunkerlove

          Yes, I absolutely agree that he should try to get a title on this car in Finland by taking it to Tennessee. What could go wrong?

          Reply
          1. julkinen Avatar
            julkinen

            We have a saying, maybe it's Tennessee… Anyway, freely translated: "As much I am concerned, you can go to freaking Nevada". Maybe that would work for the Fiesta, too.

          2. FrankTheCat Avatar
            FrankTheCat

            I just used that just as an example, much like the 6 month abandoned property claim wait time, mostly because it's ridiculously easy to get a car retitled in Tennessee. It wasn't meant to be literally taken as "no matter where you live in the world, if you steal a car (abandoned or otherwise) you should get it retitled in Tennessee, and Tennessee only."

  3. spokenoise Avatar
    spokenoise

    I had one of these when I lived in London with the 990 cc engine to get cheap tax. Could park it in Brixton (real dodgy) in a backstreet and it was always there intact post clubbing! Didn't have a glove box, radio, nothin. Was awesome! Got passed on a motorway by a sports Jag. I was flat chat and he changed up a gear on the way past lol. Best congested city car I ever had! Started in the snow, sleet etc and just kept on truckin' I even spun it through an intersection on ice and never hit anything!

    Reply
    1. quijoteMike Avatar
      quijoteMike

      Pretty much my experience with a base model Mk1. Brilliant car, as you say tough as old boots. And compared to its contemporaries when it first came out, it was streets ahead.
      If you can get hold of a copy a book Let's Call it Fiesta tell the story of its creation. Brilliantly concise http://openlibrary.org/books/OL9429718M/Let'…

      Reply
  4. Rust-MyEnemy Avatar
    Rust-MyEnemy

    These are indeed awesome. Our base spec model (sans radio, clock, heated rear screen) was dubbed Popular. I still occasionally chance upon then, it helps that the 950 and 1100 have among the most distinctive exhaust notes of any '80s cars. Tuned for flatulence.

    Reply
  5. Roberto G. Avatar
    Roberto G.

    <img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4079/4894483343_c743161993_b.jpg&quot; width="600">
    <img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2622/4172260072_9f805b3887_b.jpg&quot; width="600">
    A 1979 cherry red Ford Fiesta 950L was my first real car, after the Fiat 500. I kept it for 8 years, than I got my first job with a company car so I gave it to my little sister, who kept it for several more years. Never had troubles, if not for the camshaft bolt that once broke at a highway toll booth (lucky me!). I remember that I replaced all those bolts with some 8M superstrong, black steel ones just to be safe… but a cute, good car if ever was one!

    Reply
    1. ptschett Avatar
      ptschett

      Wow those are skinny bumpers.
      …speaking of bumpers, why is there a doll being hanged on the red one's bumper?

      Reply
      1. Roberto G. Avatar
        Roberto G.

        Euro-bumpers of the 80s… quite normal in those times. And don't forget that they were made of chromed steel and therefore quite resistant to the small bumps. Not like those of today, that will require the body shop everytime you should just touch your son's bike in the garage… as to the doll, dunno… it's a pic from flickr.

        Reply