49 Years Ago, Ford Launched the Fiesta: The Small Car That Changed Europe
This page is translated from the original post "Il y a 49 ans, Ford lançait la Fiesta : la petite qui allait changer l’Europe" in French.
- 18/10/2025 6:49
October 18, 1976 marks a key date in automotive history, the official launch of the Ford Fiesta.
Produced in the brand new factory in Valencia, Spain, the Fiesta was designed to respond to the oil crisis and the growing demand for compact, economical cars. It would become one of the most popular successes of the American manufacturer in Europe.
At the time, Ford had never offered a true city car. The brand, known for its family sedans and sporty coupes, had to adapt to a market shaken up by fuel prices and the rise of lightweight models like the Renault 5 or the Fiat 127. The project, initiated in 1972 under the codename “Bobcat,” aimed to create an affordable, practical, and agile car. The investment was colossal: over a billion dollars, a record amount for the time.
The first generation, 3.56 meters long, stood out for its simplicity and efficiency. Available in three-door, powered by a 1.0 or 1.1 engine, it was appealing for its light weight (barely 700 kg) and dynamic on-road behavior. The Fiesta embodied a new philosophy at Ford: producing a global car, but one designed for European roads.
The gamble paid off. By 1979, the one-millionth Fiesta rolled off the assembly line. Eight generations later, the model has sold over 22 million units, becoming a benchmark in the B segment. From the sporty XR2 version to diesel or electric variants, the Fiesta has managed to cross decades without ever betraying its original spirit.
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But in 2023, Ford ended its journey, with the last Fiesta leaving the Cologne factory in July. A chapter has closed, that of a time when the small popular car represented accessible freedom. Fifty years after its launch, the Fiesta remains in memory as the small Ford that conquered all of Europe — a symbol of efficiency, youth, and industrial boldness.
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