Back to the Future in a 1976 Ford Fiesta

Karel Willaert was a Test Engineer at Lommel Proving Ground in Belgium. Forty Years ago his team tested the prototype Mark 1 Fiesta. They drove the Fiesta 24-hours a day on all surfaces and conditions before it went on the market. 40 years later he gets back into the first generation Fiesta and takes us along on the drive.

[@KURDinEXILE]

My best friend was a 1999 ford fiesta Mark 4 1.25 Zetec panther black. Not even once I was let down by that car. When it was 14 years old, I drove 165 km/h on a German autobahn. The car was made in the UK. I gave it as a gift to a good Russian Dutch friend when I had to leave the Netherlands to the US. A magnificent piece of engineering and honestly one of the best road handling I've ever seen.

[@XenderHD]

The fiesta mk7 was my first car, I had it for 4 years and this car never failed me. I drive it like I stole it, everyday, by any weather, this car holds the road like it was on rails. And in two weeks I'll finaly separate myself from it... To get the new fiesta ST-line ! Seriously, why would one buy a road boat when you can get those awesome little beasts ? I'll never understand :] Oh and remember, you can get it in any color you want as long as it's black. Happy anniversary !

[@konigschumacher117]

Fiesta...simply the Best

[@watershed44]

@Nutaarsiassat Not by a long shot. The original was simple, durable, cheap to maintain and repair, got amazing gas mileage, and was light weight so it was super fun to drive and had excellent driving dynamics. Nothing since the early 1990s can compare to those cars.

[@watershed44]

@Ford Europe *I'm in the USA, but was lucky enough to get at least a chance to drive an MKI Fiesta S from 1981 in US spec (manual transmission), as a co-worker owned one in 1984. They were great cars but I was only a teenager and couldn't afford to buy one at the time. I was really impressed! The people I knew that owned these here loved them, and while very basic by today's standards they were extremely well built, durable, and trouble free with great handling for the time! It's too bad that Dearborn refused to continue to sell them here after 1981. Nothing we had that arrived from Ford to domestically to replace it was ever as good.*

[@z-h-d]

Happy anniversary Fiesta!

[@tedschmitt178]

My parents were purchasing a 78 Country Squire at a local dealer when the dealer invited me (a 17 year old at the time) to test drive a new 78 Fiesta. It cornered like a large go-kart, and I know that from having owned a go-kart a few years prior. I owned a 75 VW Rabbit at the time and wanted so badly to trade it for the Fiesta.Happy birthday Fiesta!

[@AlexEssex8]

The Mark 1 Fiesta was so well proportioned; definitely the best looking small hatchback at the time…

[@GillesThavot]

I have myself a blue Ford Fiesta MK1. It is awesome, and it makes people smile when I drive it through my city :). This video makes me proud to own one of them !

[@marcomayafotografo8279]

Precioso reportaje ❤️❤️❤️❤️💕💕

[@memsybabe]

My first car was a 15 year old mk1 ford fiesta. Best car I've ever had. Loved it...

[@lesleeharrington1068]

I'm the original ford fiesta girl modelling the car in a London shoot in 76 was a proud moment for me . So 42vyears later in still going strong just like fords baby . Maybe I will be considered for another campaign ! Fingers crossed 🙏🚘🚘🚘

[@edmartindale8433]

I owned a fiesta Supersport 1.3, in its day was classed as a quick car, it handled the roads very well and it looked good to

[@FirstOnRaceDayCapri2904]

We had a 1979 Mk1 1300 Ghia, it was always reliable and strong and mechanically extremely simple.

[@pseudosmith4979]

Most reliable cars I have ever owned. I had four!

[@epicwolf2880]

Happy birthday fiesta

[@markarrowsmith6928]

Great little cars, I have had 5 Mk1's best 1 was a white xr2

[@jordideulofeu7530]

gracias a este hombre tengo el coche de mi abuelo en marcha. que gran tarea

[@johnmorrison27]

Brilliant 👍

[@wdcegtjdh]

participer a la conception d'une voiture, de la page blanche a sa commercialisation doit être une sacré aventure humaine

[@zetametallic]

Born the same year as me. I feel that the Fiesta is my car 😉

[@alexishamer6427]

Ford Fiesta MK1 is always a 3 door small car 🚙 hatchback 🚗 has been made from 1976 to 1983/84. Probably few on the roads today. Good 👍 cars. Of course they could be around in the year 2033. Over 50 years old in 2033/34. 😃

[@Dieselolli1970]

Mein erster Wagen war ebenfalls ein wunderschöner 4/83er MK1 Fiesta, mit dem ich in England, Südfrankreich und der Ukraine war.

[@duniber]

I have a VV carburetor, how many turns to set the needle correctly?

[@eduardofreitas3137]

Tenho um Ford fiesta sedan 1.0 2004 / 2005, excelente carro.

[@z-h-d]

wish I could test drive the original mk1...

[@fordmodelcars3258]

Egor Zhdanov same

[@floribertoservin3318]

o OK oil oh well it 9i lo OK o OK k lo o oil oi9 opp of pop ioi

[@WesleyCSJ]

Please,What's name of song at final?

[@englishrob8245]

The Fiesta on the umbilical cord must have had something heavy in the boot, the rear wheels were almost touching the wheel arch.

[@watershed44]

@englishrob They had testing equipment, sensors, and some early computer equipment back there.

[@kanggoo57]

i have a 1978 model :D

[@stevevanhorn4170]

The Fiesta is a tough little car. We found one in the woods that had been setting since 2002 and she easily started and drove after 17 years. I'm hoping to do a restoration on it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpbbdICNaZufoM0

[@jonathanluizdeandrade9198]

QUE VERDE E ESSE ????

[@paullacey2999]

Still a great looking car.Time for a EV copy Ford... after all Hyundai have the Ionic from the Pony...might just work..

[@seanp7253]

My name is Jeff.

[@shanedownham1806]

Sean P no it's Sean