Chris Harris Drives 'The Fast Fords & Friends Collection'

Chris Harris takes us behind the scenes with our latest collection to be listed on Collecting Cars.
Rewinding to the mid-1980s and the golden years of ‘the blue oval’, the Fast Fords and Friends Collection brings together some of the marque’s most iconic modern classic performance cars - and a few kindred spirits.
The cars have been consigned directly from a single private collector, and they are all offered at No Reserve.
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[@francescoruggeri518]

Each one of these "collection" videos with Chris Harris is a gem.

[@aussie2uGA]

Loved my three Merkur XR4Ti's I owned in the 80's

[@Blupa.]

👍

[@garyo4135]

That video is why Harris is one of the greatest motoring “journo’s” we’ve had. Reviews every car on how it makes you feel, the nostalgia it brings back. Just another PROPER petrolhead, not a KZbinr with too much money after clicks. Let’s not forget he can pedal as well 🙌

[@tau-ceti]

Agreed, it's not difficult to like him.

[@assininecomment1630]

That's really well said. 👏 Most of us realise, to some degree, that cars are large objects, created by massive companies, to sell and generate as much profit as possible. We buy them to do practical tasks. These mobility objects are incredibly complex and hugely compromised. Obviously, Chris understands this big, obvious stuff, that you'd hope every car journo/reviewer understands. What makes him one of the very best, is that he clearly understands all the rest. The subtle, background, incidental, and contextual stuff around all these cars: What car companies are doing. What their designers are intending. What buyers are attracted to. What a huge range of drivers and passengers think and desire and do. All of that extra understanding informs his vids, so it all makes more sense to us viewers. We hoomans are such weird, emotional, needy, hopeful, sensory organisms - and all of that is woven into our experiences with cars. Cripes - no more coffee for me... 😬

[@Surestick88]

​@@assininecomment1630Well said. Funny you mention coffee as I was thinking, while reading your comment, of espresso machines. Like cars, they are, to most people, an appliance. You can buy an expensive super-automatic that will do everything for you at the press of a button and sit on your countertop and blend in with all your other appliances. You can also buy ones that will require more input and understanding from you to operate properly but will look gorgeous and make you happy each time you look at them.

[@assininecomment1630]

That's a very good example,@@Surestick88. There's a bit of ceremony, an extra layer of meaning, in some objects, moments or processes we go through.

[@Surestick88]

@@assininecomment1630 Yeah, though the ceremony of making a nice cup of coffee falls flat sometimes when you need the coffee to be able to make the coffee! That does carry over into cars with character though, when you're stuck in traffic or trying to find a spot in a crowded parking lot a slushbox and overly boosted power steering are easier to deal with.

[@YachtReport]

Chris captured perfectly what people ‘of our generation’ thought of these cars. I actually owned a white RS1600i in the early nineties. Brought back some memories.

[@Nord_Mann]

Fond memories this brings back for me Chris❤ At the age of 19, after having worked my ass off every summer in the fishing industry, I bought my self a Mk1 RSTurbo as my first car. Jesus Christ how I loved that car. Exactly like the one in the video and every bit as shiny and pristine. I took it with me on a road trip all over Norway, Finland and Sweden with my girlfriend the first summer I owned it. Then took it that autumn of -93 to Bergen when I started at the university. Without having a place to stay I slept the first 2 nights in the back seat of the RS with all my belongings in the car. The car was practically me. And I was the car. I swapped those RS wheels for a winter set in the street during a snowstorm going home the next day from a party at my friend’s place. 3 mates and me took the car skiing in the mountains during winter, and when my best friends dad became sick of cancer, he borrowed the car to drive home and say goodbye to his father. Of course he could have the RS for a week! We all 4 mates still meet several times a year and everyone loved the time we had and things we did with the RSTurbo. Unfortunately I sold it when going for my military service as a conscript. The only car ever since meaning as much to me, having owned 40-50 cars of which 14-15 Porsches since then, is my first Porsche, a -90 C4 which I still own to this day. Yet, I regularly go to the classifieds looking for a mint 1st gen RSTurbo. Sadly this car you drove Chris is a RHD and that won’t work for me. Your first love is impossible to forget. And as far as I’m concerned, I’d take a mint RSTurbo over any Ferrari or Lamborghini as it’s got a lot more soul and charisma.

[@74aamer]

Just being able to watch what Chris shows us is an honour

[@neilmilner7074]

Series 1 RS Turbo, I used to own C100 TAB. Sold it to a friend back in the day called Adrian Eastbury, who took it apart and concoursed it and that car won National and regional day concourse shows quite regularly. I'd love to know where that cat is now. I sold it to buy my 1st 3 door Cosworth, not had any involvement with RS owners club shows for years. If anybody out there knows anything about C100 TAB I'd be delighted to here about it. Great piece of film @harrismonkey🤙

[@noimspartacus9290]

The white RS1600i was also a show winner and had several trophies, my friend owned it for a few years, he sold it with all the cups/ trophies etc, i re-plated all the metalwork parts,nuts/bolts brackets back to factory finish on the car, good to see it again.

[@Josio13]

As a ford fan I may be biased but the way Chris puts his feelings about the cars into words is just astonishing, it gives me goosebumps.

[@ep1981]

Are we just going to ignore the random legs at 4:52?

[@LueXiong10]

Was thinking the same thing…. 😅

[@BeardedHam]

Threw me off also, had to stop the video to check if anyone else saw them.

[@markastor6740]

This is a gem of a video. As a child of the 80's growing up in the UK, these were the cars of dreams.

[@darrenbutler9261]

I swear watching that I could feel my perm growing back. I was lucky enough to own a few of these motors back in the day and looking back now we never realised that this was as good as it gets.

[@jamesrobert4106]

YOU were responsible for much envy 😂😂😂😂

[@395PRS]

Never had a perm, though younger brother 4yrs younger in a rock band did. He also had parachute pants🤣...I'm sure you can guess the yrs... Dad bought white Fiesta Sport in 1980. It became my car yrs later. I bought parts through BAT British American transfer n Wayne PA and parts from friend that collected and auto crossed. I want this all back!!!

[@boydiedj3718]

😂😂😂😂

[@davidruddick3346]

Chris really gets it,these cars are /were our dream cars and should be held in some regard👍

[@rebelranter]

You are dead right about Ford in the 80s making these models feel aspirational ordinary cars.

[@jamesisaphotographer]

I've still never seen a Testarossa or a Countach in the metal, but a family friend had an Escort RS Cosworth. Guess which one I'd choose to own and drive...?

[@VersionOneUK]

Watching chris want over these cars really hits home... Fast fords were super special to me as a kid growing up and a lover of cars still makes me want one ever more. I've always said if i came into money, my garage would be full of old bangers 😂

[@timallsopp8656]

Have followed Chris Harris on KZbin for many years. In my view, he’s probably the greatest all round motoring journalist we’ve had in the UK

[@Adam151082]

I want to see Chris Harris slide that Cossie about!! 🚀

[@SL1PSTAR]

Owned the Mark 1 XR2 when I was 18 years old, the memories will stay with me FOREVER!

[@IanRossDavies]

The proportions of the XR3i are perfect.

[@richslaney]

I love them all. I’m from 71 so all of these were dream cars

[@andygarcia6619]

Best journalist….. tells the story like no other 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@whos-your-mate]

That SuperSport 🤤👌

[@ElvisKremmen]

Oh man, back in 1989 I owned a Mk1 Xr2 in white and I loved that car. Watching you drive it brought back so many memories Chris, what a flippin collection and thanks for showing them.

[@davecosford6658]

My youth right there

[@jontymo]

That Fiesta Supersport 👌 My all time favourite Fiesta

[@jjswoodhallspa]

My Father had an Escort XR3i - I Sold Ford for 6 years. Loved it. Best day selling 4 RS2000's In one day. I had RS2000 as a Company Car - Most Comfortable Seats Ever! This brings back so many Great Memories!

[@davidbillberg2203]

Love old Fords. This takes me back.

[@Adriantiachi]

I used to own a black RS1600i back in 1990,kept it for 5 years then eventually had to sell it when my daughter was born because it was expensive to keep, so gutted I ever sold it, it was truly my first love in car terms 💗

[@rossturnbull8632]

I agree...I owned a white A plate rs16i then a red Y plate ..great handling and head turning.

[@Dylanbforthree]

These cars are art pieces, thank you for sharing this kind of content for free on youtube. Generations like mine that didn't get a chance to experience these cars first hand can imagine what it would have been like to get one of these new.

[@bsport131]

Ford certainly knew their clients back in the 70s and 80s

[@greigsanderson]

My favourite video yet. I was born in 81, love everyone of these amazing cars.

[@tomranum6]

Fantastic! My dad had a black XR3i 1984 with sunroof, Pioneer KEX73 headunit +++ It was awesome ! My mom got a Fiesta 1.1 Anniv verison with sunroof at the same day! I was in heaven!

[@mattylf1]

This is the stuff I lusted over in the 80s and even now I get more excited to see a Fast Ford or a Hot Hatch from that era than I do a modern supercar. Whoever gets one of these cars is a very lucky person.

[@cdg3818]

Exactly, i think there are many many of us feeling the same. That's why they are starting to make supercar prices in auctions. Fantastic stuff.

[@Tokey_The_Bear]

This really was the golden era. Useable, driver-centric, reasonable, yet tons of fun. There is a certain quality to this generation of cars that punches far, far above their weight. I'm in the USA and own an Xr4ti, 89 Mirage GT, etc... Love this era!

[@flacjacket]

I have a 3dr Sierra Cosworth, a very rare bird in the US where I am. I have never owned or ridden in a car that gets as much attention as it in my life. One of my all time favorites, it is a permanent part of my collection, I will never sell it.

[@kevmackintosh7953]

I could watch this video forever. I love these types of Fords, and I love them because unlike every other car I was in love with. Someone I knew owned one, and I could touch it, sit in it, or if I was lucky get a ride in it. I grew up loving cars and just going for a run to the shops in my uncles XR4i was enough to put a smile on my face for weeks. No one else understood that, now I’m into my 40’s and a run to the shops in an XR4i would still give me something to smile about for weeks. I love cars and these cars in particular will always be so special for me. I’ll probably never own one but just seeing one pass on the road is enough to put a smile on my face.

[@klowenstein483]

These were in a few spots of Jamaica back in the 80s/90s growing up. Loved em! We had Cortinas and Granadas taking us back and forth to school on the island, too!

[@davidh2022]

All awesome, makes me glad I grew up in Essex in the 80's and 90's - 50ys old now!

[@MrGarycoww]

"they were the bollocks!"😂😂😂😂 Totally true though!.my favorite clip so far,I can hear the passion you have for them.just brilliant.

[@trevdean540]

The dogs bollocks! Lol

[@davidbrain]

Loved this. Had a Fiesta XR2i in grey. Company car. First new car I ever owned. I felt exactly as Chris describes.

[@markscenic8331]

The bit he drives the RS Turbo is the best few minutes of KZbin i've seen in a while

[@garyconlon3107]

Am 27 and i love all of these absolute gems for me id have the sierra just the look of it alone is something else

[@bondy284]

Chris is brilliant along with those awesome Fords 👍🇦🇺

[@dannysimpsonart]

I used to own the Fiesta Ghia!!! Loved that car - known to all around our village as the Tangerine Dream!!! Great video.

[@paulmiles3750]

Amazing cars presented by an amazingly passionate and great journalist. Mr Harris, you sir are a very lucky chap

[@ransomedavis2208]

My Older brother had an S1 on a c plate that was only 2 yrs old at the time, and every now and then hed take me out in it for a ride and i remember at the time i was so impressed with the performance it just felt like i was in the fastest car on the road i was so proud to be in it, and to think now as a 50 yr old man ive no doubt driven every day basic cars that would no doubt piss all over it, but as mentioned here its the nostalgia it brings too cos they still look fabulous. and you would still stop and stare if you saw one driving on the road. my brother said he wished he kept it cos yes they are worth a fortune now.

[@raymck2115]

Most Excellent Video Mr Harris, I was 22, I had a two-year-old Ford Orion and got it from Bristol Street Motor in Birm, and I feel like a rock star, wish I had it now, the head casket went at it cost 35 quid to repair they were the days

[@ryansleftboot]

My parents owned a Ford Capri 280 Brooklands VRM E580 KHG. Spectacular motor and still going somewhere.

[@philmaddock4889]

I had a Mk1 XR2 (white, Y reg, sunroof!) in the late 80s - until it was stolen. Chris, you’ve nailed the feelings, passion and love I had for that car

[@AdzTheRat]

Thank you for bringing back the podcast!!! I enjoy listening every Friday

[@MrDOZA28]

Chris hits the nail on the head again. Every single one of these cars has more character and charm than anything that rolls off a production line now. In chasing TOP TRUMPS numbers, we`ve lost something from modern day cars. Most stuff now is too fast for the road and just numb to drive. My dads old S1 Rs felt so fast to 10 year old me and i have so many happy memories of being sat in the passenger seat with him.

[@Whatshisname346]

I did so many forceful ‘ooh!!s’ watching this video that Paul Whitehouse has asked me to be a stand in on the fast show! Beautiful cars. Classy, cool. There’s something punk rock about a fast ford. But you gotta love that granny fiesta ghia. Thanks a bunch Chris.

[@LewisRhymes]

Is audio off for anyone else!?

[@burnzy3210]

Fine for me mate

[@leonshackleford9585]

I ❤ All the Classic Fords including the 70’s / 80’s / 90’s Ford’s

[@markprecious3025]

Absolutely agree with Harris. These cars give you a smile just seeing them and bring back memories for me.

[@imahorse4960]

The random pair of legs at 4:51 freaked me out lol. Another excellent one by Chris Harris and Collecting Cars btw

[@Lecksfitness]

Bringing me back to the good ‘ol days when I would pull up at my mates house in my ‘91 Fiesta RS Turbo, he would jump into his Renault 5 Gt Turbo.. and we go cause havoc with our 4” exhausts & dump valves echoing the streets!

[@markellison4875]

Love watching Chris chuntering on, that boy knows his onions.

[@MattyC_96]

I love how there was 3 performance variants of one model of car , XR3, RS1600i, RS Turbo . I was only born in 96 but cars in the 80’s were so cool

[@2wheels6strings8]

Love it. My Dad was a senior manager at Ford in the 80's and 90's and I feel very privileged to have driven every one of those fast Fords.

[@flacjacket]

As the owner of a 3dr Sierra cosworth thank your dad for me for whatever his role was in producing what may be one of the coolest cars of all time.

[@andybanks3042]

The Supersport 😭😍💪🏻🤩🙌🏻

[@Penguin_of_Death]

10:46 So pleased Chris chose the MKI XR2 to drive - he describes perfectly how I felt about mine back then. Just superb fun little cars to drive - nippy and light, great looks too. Put a smile on my face every time I drove them. Biggest problem for me was the driveshafts kept tearing up the splines, but they were so cheap to buy and easy to change that it didn't matter to me. Loads of room around the engine to work on it, which itself was easy enough with a trusty Haynes manual to follow. Loved it!

[@andyclacey2980]

had a few fast fords over the years, great cars, wish i still had them now, worth a fortune.!!

[@themrmarkprior]

Fantastic content. What i wouldn't give now for a mk2 Ford XR2i or a Peugeot 205 GTi in Miami Blue. They were unaffordable and my dream cars as a youth in the 90's. And still are.

[@DaveForster-l5x]

Fabulous video which brought back all the feelings i had as a young lad in the early 80s hankering after a fast Ford. After a lot of hard work i was lucky enough to be able to buy a RS1600i in 1985 which i still own today. Chris hit the nail on the head with the seats. I have owned many a sporty car but nothing has ever come close to having seats like the RSi. They hold you so well you feel like you could tip upside down and not fall out.

[@johncamplin3557]

Those were the times when we drove real everyday fun cars. I’m proud to know that I was brought up in this era and was an out and out Ford fan. Wouldn’t even consider anything other than a Ford. My very first car was a MK2 1600E Cortina and then went through many escorts and fiestas. What I would give to have all of them again. Truely a magical time for the fast Ford fan and now all there is left is the Focus and that is pretty much dead. Now you can see why classic old school cool Fords rule and are worth there weight in gold. Cracking video Chris you are the dogs b@llocks,

[@himaro101]

Born in 1990, and thanks to my dad, I've always had a thing for older cars (grew up with 2CV's). For me, it's the Capri's. If I had some money & a garage, it'd be a capri everytime. Got damn I love them.

[@Penguin_of_Death]

2:55 MkI XR2 - I had three of these back in the 80s and early 90s. A425KUB (black), A61XJM (silver) and finally my favourite CLL931Y (also black). I spent a lot of time and money on the silver one - 1700cc stage 2 engine, fully lightened and balanced, bigger radiator, gearbox reconditioned, Janspeed exhaust and manifold, up-jetted carburettor, 40% uprated 1" lowered springs and Bilstein heavy duty dampers all round. Had it set up on a rolling road when the carb was done, ended up at 113bhp, up from 82bhp standard, an increase of ~40% When I crashed it and it was written off due to a twist in the bodyshell I bought CLL931Y and bought the wreck back from the insurance company, transferring all the good stuff over to the new car. Had the wheels refurbished, sprayed gloss black in the pepperpots with diamond cut rims, all shod with 185/60 R13 Yokohama A008s. Car was mint, a pocket rocket that handled like it was on rails. If ever I can afford it I want to buy another one and restore it...the most fun cars I ever owned, I had the best times of my life in those...

[@andysmyth6782]

So many memories

[@kenquattro6562]

Fantastic video. Takes me back to a glorious era. Love the Rosso Red XR3i.

[@adamski5977]

I got the emotional watching this😢. I had an RS TURBO.

[@miked.6958]

WOW , I´m 48 and boy did I enjoy that.

[@johnnymossville]

Absolutely love those older fords. brings back memories of tooling around in my cousin's Fiesta, driving it like he stole it.

[@nickbarnes7109]

love the XR2!! i had one back in the day A799 WWG. Loved that little car, great memories!!

[@robm719]

Being a few years older than you Chris and growing up with family Ford dealerships back in the day, you nailed the enthusiasm and passion I remember for these icons back in the day. Good times, and a fantastic video! 👍

[@richardfirth6173]

Can't beat old fords love them there was a old ford on every street corner as a kid hense why there loved so much

[@fivecylinderperfection5060]

Somehow, as a young man in his early twenties I owned both a Escort MK2 Mexico and an RS2000 at the same time. My mates were very jealous but I worked hard and spent every penny I earned on buying and running them. My friends had XR2's /XR3i's and a guy I worked with bought himself a Cosworth Sapphire which lasted about 3 months before it was stolen and completely stripped. The Escort Cosworth was also another wonderful fast ford. None of my cars ever remained as stock, they all ended up being modified with gas flowed big valve heads, 4 branch high flow manifolds, kent cams, weber carbs, Koni suspension, close ratio gearbox etc etc. Great days.

[@khsmith6242]

Never fails to amaze just how many of these mint fords and Vauxhalls for that matter are Aberdeen registered cars. The money in Aberdeen in the 1980’s was amazing these cars were everywhere up here and nice to see that series one turbo is an Aberdeen supplied car most likely Cordiners Ford dealer

[@rsjamie9423]

This is exactly why I love Ford's and collect them 👍💙

[@bavariancarenthusiast2722]

I totally get it - they look so mint and fragile in the same time...simpler times....yes, great review!!!!

[@jelhinks3381]

Black 1983 XR3i . bought early 90s post divorce .. most enjoyable time of my life

[@ryanmitchell8640]

What a line up..I have a MK1 Focus rs as many of my friends one RS'S That line up there means alot to a hell of alot of people

[@jamiemiller7752]

Love it! The black XR3i has a reg close to my dads Cortina Crusader, LGD312Y!

[@matthewnicholas6365]

I love that that 40 year old Fiesta had so many interior choices. Today you get the square route of **** all choice. Even on many of the premium versions of Fords

[@catxls1835]

Wicked video Chris. I knew you would love the XR2, it's a fun car and always puts a smile on your face. The Super Sport was also a cracking little car, with just enough power to make you smile. That RS Turbo is brand new and will also have the price tag to show that. Thumbs up as always!

[@simonwarman1095]

Series 1 RS Turbo was my dream car bc in the day so I'm with Chris Harris on this one

[@IndaloMan]

In my 60s now but in 1989 I got a 2wd Sapphire Cosworth (G848 DKB bought blind from Peoples Liverpool just after the massive price drop). Followed this with a 4wd Sapphire then topped out with a small turbo ex Ford management Escort Cosworth in Mallard Green with all the extras. Next car? An Olive Green Volvo V70R estate.... 😂

[@turboslag]

Only Fords I ever used on a daily basis were company cars, 2 Escort Mk2 1.3L estates, one white and one beige, they were quite fun actually, and a Fiesta 1.1L van! My dad had, in order, a '73 Consul 2.5 manual GL estate, that was a BIG car which impressed the hell out of the neighbors, I actually got my Yamaha DT125 in the back of that on it's side once! Then a '75 Granada 3.0 GL manual in funky purple with a black vinyl roof, I pulled some serious skirt in that! Then a '79 Granada 2.8L Ghia auto in I think Juniper Red metallic with a black vinyl roof, and that was also a knicker dropper! Then we went all Italian and German!

[@gavstenhouse8857]

This is outstanding what a collection of Fords my old man worked for Ford 78 to 90 and remember all of these epic

[@markpirateuk]

This brings back great memories, I owned a Mk1 XR2 & an Mk1 XR3 back in the 90's when they were £500 cars, how things change, can't believe what these fetch now!

[@mclarenformula5042]

Would love to have 1 of each , just AWESOME Chris

[@Stu047]

The bulk of my childhood right there! 😄 - Awesome examples every one. 4:42 And everytime I see a sporty mk3 Escort, I think to myself... "Dempsey & Makepeace" 😆😆

[@EdenAudio]

Fantastic times the 80's for Fords, both my grandads worked for Fords so we always had them in our family. My dads main car was a Porsche 911 but our second car was always a Ford Ghia of some kind.

[@leumas75]

So, my current work restoring my Great-Great-Aunt’s 1964 Dodge Polara 300 are completely founded in reality, right? It has a “push-button” 4-speed tranny, and it was the first car that I got to sit in the drivers lap and steer, when I was 6 or 7. One of my fondest memories from the early years.

[@ashg7014]

A friend of mine old rs1600i a191sfw. Good to see it again, I drove this around my home town and the amount of thumbs up I got was unreal 👍 top car

[@cafe405]

Pepperpot wheels are brilliant.

[@stevenfoleyuk9404]

Ive owned the Fiesta Supers port , Escort XR3 , Escort RS in mercury Grey . Loved every min of owning those Cars .

[@Andybarney555]

My brother owned a crapi. (With love) custom paint and bodykit. Was a pearl green/blue. Epic. Some prick at lights jumped em. T boned it. Bent it. Dead written off. Such a rare car that one. Never forget it. I had latter on an alfa in simular colour. Came to simular death. My only ever crash to this day

[@sjcjlc]

Absolutely amazing and a trip down memory lane!!

[@fr4gl3]

So happy I lived through the 80s...

[@sanjsharma9903]

Imagine owning all of these cars today dream come true.

[@danielbanyard6091]

Always been a ford guy myself ,owned many of the above in my youth , now the puma ST ,👌👌👌

[@StoffelDilligas]

I once had a friend who had a 2.8 injection Capri I was in the passenger seat, he was driving. Wet roads, Hampton court round about, he floors it, drifts around the roundabout, as the car snapped back into line we hear an all mighty thump in the back! The thump we heard was my wife on the back seat getting slung from one side of the car to the other and hitting the window It was one of the funniest things we had witnessed. She was not impressed, and we had to suppress our giggles