Hatch Heaven

The 1996 Ford Laser hatchback was sold in much of Asia in the late nineties. We didn’t get this in North America because they think we won’t buy hatchback cars. We got the Escort ZX2 instead because it had a trunk.

(text and image source: John Lloyd)

The 1982 1.5s (sport) Ford Laser Hatchback was Ford’s Sports Star that captured the magic of Ford’s performance, value and competition heritage.

Some of the featured equipment included 175/70 low profile radial ply tires, 5″ J steel wheels, sports handling suspension that included a front stabilizer bar and upgraded shock absorbers, 5-speed manual transmission, halogen headlamps, unique black accent treatment and body-side moulding, Super graphic body-side stripe, Right and left remote control exterior mirrors, front mudflaps, stone guard, locking petrol cap, sport fell steering wheel and gear shift, 3-point armrest, driver’s foot rest, unique sports interior with black cloth trim and red accent stripping, deeply contoured separate fold-forward rear seats with recline and adjustable head restraints, automatic return memory on front passenger seat, tachometer, full center console, cut pile carpet, heated rear window and heater with side window demister.

The Ford Laser Hatchback 1500 DOCH sold in much of Asia in the late nineties. It did not come to North America because of the false belief that hatchback don’t sell here. We got the Escort ZX2 instead because it had a trunk. Also available as the Mazda 323 three door (with a different front), but Mazda didn’t sell them here, either. (source: Hugo90)

Ford is doing a great job lately and is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year with the Fiesta Sport Special Edition variant, which is not coming to the US. More on Cartype.

1975 Ford Pinto sold for $2769. It got 34 mpg on the highway and came with all-vinyl bucket seats. The 3-door Runabout’s rear door flips up and the rear seat flips down to give you a five-foot-long carpeted load floor. Optional features included Exterior Decor Group, Deluxe Bumper GRoup and WSW tires.

The 1980 Ford Fiesta Sport was advertised as the little front wheel drive car that came from Germany and was voted the most significant import of the year in 1978 by readers of Car & Driver magazine. Rolling of Michelin steel belted radials, it reached 26 mpg in the city and 38 on the highway. The Fiesta was assemble by Ford in Germany.

The 1978 Ford Fiesta-S Euro Spec. Complete with orange striped seats.

in 1981, Ford introduced the Escort as “The New World Car”. It had an EPA of 30 MPG city and 40 MPG on the highway. It had the new-design compound valve hemispherical head (CVH) engine and came with front-wheel drive, four-wheel fully independent suspension, rack-and-pinion steering, stabilizer bar, new all season steel-belted radials and other road-control features.

In 1974 Ford began the “Mustang II” generation and in 1975 the hatchback, which sold for $3,818 generated 30,038 units for the brand. In my view, this was a very sad period for the Mustang badge, creating one of the ugliest vehicles to see the pavement.

Somehow, the way this 1976 Ford Fiesta hatchback has aged makes it desirable with it’s boxy, seventies look.

The first generation of the Ford Fiesta Mark I was produced from 1976–1983 and was the first Ford with front-wheel drive, had an inline-4 and had up to 84hp. Read the rest of this story on Cartype.

The Stallion was a major sports options package for the Ford Pinto available in 1976. It included:

Exterior.
• Black grille
• Black cowl top
• Black hood treatment
• Black windshield moldings
• Black wiper arms
• Black window frames
• Black drip rails
• Black lower body side tape stripes
• Stallion decal on front fenders (Pinto nameplate on front fender and Runabout nameplate on “C” pillar deleted)
• Dual black right and left hand remote-control mirrors
• Styled steel wheels
• Black third door treatment
• Black lower back panel

Functional.
• A70x13 RWL bias ply tires
• Handling suspension

The Stallion Option was not available with the Luxury Decor Group, Squire Option or Protection Group.

This 1978 Ford Pinto 3-door Runabout has a great look to it, particularly in the rear, where the glass lift gate gives it such a wide stance.

Who wouldn’t love to have this 3-door hatchback (called the “Crusing Wagon”) today. It’s especially groovy with these optional graphics.

India’s role as an important player in the future of Ford Motor Company’s international strategy was underscored today when the company’s President and CEO, Alan Mulally, unveiled an all-new car targeting the heart of the Indian car market – the new Ford Figo.

The Ford Figo, a new nameplate and a fresh face on the Indian market, signals Ford’s intention to compete in India’s largest and most important small car market segment. Read the rest of this story on Cartype.