Classic Ford September 2022

In the automotive world, if the 1980s is remembered for one thing, it’s the meteoric rise of the hot hatch. Every car manufacturer was at it — adding a performance model to their hatchback line-up — with Ford in particular having a spectacular run of successful hatches that set the benchmark for decade. All of the cars in our special Hot Hatch Heroes feature (page 37) are now rightly lauded as classics, and we’re pleased to see that many 1990s blue ovals are now attracting the same status. Long may it continue. A fair few of these cars can be seen in the metal (and some in action) at next month’s Ford Fair (see page 16) — still the most-impressive Blue Oval event this side of the Atlantic. Yes, it’s…

ADE BRANNAN CONTRIBUTOR There were so many great cars at the Classic Ford Show, that Ade didn’t know where to point his camera. See the highlights on page 22. DANIEL BEVIS CONTRIBUTOR Danny Keane’s Mk2 JPS Capri is right up Dan’s street — classic looks but with a well-sorted drivetrain for the street. Page 54. GRAHAM BAHR CONTRIBUTOR Graham;s quest t find the perfect carb set-up continues with an in-depth test of Weber’s IDF downdraughts. See the results on page 74. How To Contact Us Telephone: 01959 541444 Email: classicford.ed@kelsey.co.uk Write to: Classic Ford, Kelsey Publishing Ltd, The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding ME18 6AL, UK…

When it comes to coveted classics, we’d all love to be the person whose name is in the logbook. To own a cool collectable that we could preen and polish through the week and then get the adrenaline flowing with a whiteknuckled B-road blast at the weekends is the stuff of dreams. Some of us, who either bought at the right time – read decades ago – or simply have deep pockets, get to enjoy this kind of ethereal experience on a weekly basis, but for the rest of us, without the finances or the foresight to buy one many moons ago, it remains a lofty fantasy. But that doesn’t mean there’s no hope on the horizon, as there remains another way to skin that particular cat, and you don’t…

Production of the Focus will end in 2025, Ford has announced.The demise of the family hatch is also likely to mean the end of Ford production in Saarlouis, Germany — though the firm has yet to confirm that the plant will be closed. “We don’t have in our planning cycle an additional model that goes into Saarlouis,” commented Stuart Rowley, Ford of Europe boss, although it is looking into “other alternative opportunities for vehicle production.” Ford’s next priority is its new-generation electric car family, which will be built in Valencia, Spain from next year. Meanwhile, the Focus has dropped out of the UK top 10 in recent months, with Ford’s strongest sellers now being its Puma and Kuga SUVs. The original Focus was introduced back in 1998 bringing new levels…

The Historic & Classic Vehicles Alliance (HCVA), the not-for-profit organisation created to support the historic vehicle sector, has joined forces with industry specialists involved in the development of synthetic fuels.The HCVA sees synthetic fuel research as essential if the sector is to achieve the government target of ‘net zero’ by 2050. The HCVA is working alongside specialist CKL Developments, which has been testing a customer’s race car at Goodwood using synthetic fuels developed by Coryton Advanced Fuels. The same car was also on display at the Palace of Westminster at the end of June, where it took part in British Motorsport Day, helping to promote the advantages of synthetic fuels to a large number of parliamentarians on the day. The test using a mix of conventional and synthetic fuels proved…

”I spotted this early Sierra in June when we stayed overnight in the town of Magny-Cours close to the famous racing circuit near Nevers in France,” reveals Andy Houghton. “It was parked alongside a vehicle restoration and tuning company and there looks to be damage to the rear passenger door, front wing and bumper. Unfortunately, they were closed at the time so I was unable to gather anymore info about it.” Spotted an unloved Ford on your travels? Email photos and details of your find to classicford.ed@kelsey.co.uk or you can write to us at the address on page 6.…