Uploaded October 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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If it hadn’t been for Ford’s CEO, Henry Ford II and his right-hand man, Lee Iacocca pushing to build the Fiesta, Ford of Europe may well not have built it. It was big gamble to create a new front wheel drive platform that wasn’t needed for any of their other cars, and with Fords selling like hot cakes, and little profit in superminis, why take the risk? But take it they did, and it’s become the third highest selling Ford vehicle of all time. Why was the Fiesta so popular for so long, and why did it all end with the seven generation?

More about the "Secret Fords" books by Steve Saxty: stevesaxty.com

Ford's own "Farewell Fiesta" video: youtube.com/watch?v=MDGfwYM_wgM

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Sources:
Steve Saxty – Secret Fords vol 1 & 2
ateupwithmotor.com/model-histories/ford-fiesta-mk1-mk2
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Fiesta
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Fiesta_(first_generation)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Fiesta_(second_generation)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Fiesta_(third_generation)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Fiesta_(fourth_generation)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Fiesta_(fifth_generation)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Fiesta_(sixth_generation)
motorbiscuit.com/the-best-selling-ford-vehicles-of-all-time
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Escort_(North_America)
amv-prod-aut.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/s3fs-public/AW_TBT_20161201_Corrida.pdf
testdrivejunkie.com/1978-fiesta-fantasy
projectbobcat.com/history
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Escort_(Europe)
classiccars.fandom.com/wiki/Ford_Fiesta_Urba
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Focus_(first_generation)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Global_B-car_Platform
topgear.com/car-reviews/ford/fiesta/13-lx-3dr/road-test
topgear.com/car-news/ford-verve-news-frankfurt-show-ford-verve-concept-2007
topgear.com/car-news/ford-fiesta-news-keeping-verve-2008
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Festiva
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Rally_Championship
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Figo
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vignale
thedrive.com/news/12773/the-ford-fiesta-is-dead-in-america
thecarexpert.co.uk/ford-fiesta-whats-gone-wrong
express.co.uk/life-style/cars/1615731/ford-fiesta-retire-british-roads-announcement-electric-driver-warning-electric-vehicles
nbcnews.com/business/autos/ford-stop-making-all-passenger-cars-except-mustang-n869256
en.escuderia.com/ford-fiesta-45-years-among-us
thetimes.co.uk/article/ford-fiesta-britains-most-popular-car-reaches-end-of-the-road-03h8qk7kr

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