Ford Orion – Four-Door Hits 40

The Ford Orion is forty years old. Again, the Ford Orion is forty. Years. Old. Yes, we know, that seems a bit bonkers. But, time marches on and we have to come to terms with such things. Okay, so it’s perhaps not quite the existential crisis-inducing news we’re making it out to be, but there is still an undertone of disbelief. It seems the Orion was everywhere not that long ago. But the reality is, it’s a rare car in 2023. And that’s despite the fact some 3,534,239 were built. Yes, once upon a time, buyers were banging on their local Ford dealership’s glass in the hope of getting their hands on a long Ford Escort.

Attitudes have changed with buyers of new cars today. They want SUVs (for reasons we’re still unable to fathom), they want big, they want presence. They also want practicality, and practicality is not something the traditional ‘three box’ saloon has ever offered. The reality, as over three million people proved, was that a saloon was fine. It only became an issue if you needed to move something big, like a washing machine, or a baby elephant. People ignored the fact that 90% of the time, cars are full of small things like shopping and so on, and big things only need occasional transport. But as the years rolled on, it was enough to kill off the saloon-based-on-a-hatch. This worked for car makers though, as saloons are expensive to make. Buying a hatch was better for them, and for washing machine removal specialists. But we digress.

The point is, the Ford Orion should be celebrated because it was the king during a time when the saloon was cool. It was also a cheat code on wheels for a generation. Insuring a Ford Escort XR3i when your age started with a 2 was impossible. But an Orion 1.6i Ghia? Same engine, same power, more junk in the trunk, and insurable. I’d know, I had one when I was 20. H89 DFR, forever in my heart. So popular was the 1.6i Ghia, it became even more desirable and respected than the XR3i, and is regarded as a bona fide classic today. And rightly so.

The Ford Orion was launched in 1983, and it was a giddy time for saloons. The saloon car was still seen as the ultimate in executive style and road presence, and with the thought of SUVs completely non-existent, manufacturers thought that by making their hatchbacks into saloons, people would buy them. They’d get to look like an exec, but for less money. In the vehicular landscape of 2023, that seems daft. But in the ’80s, it worked. There was the Jetta, a booted Golf. The Belmont, a booted Astra. And at the top of the pile, there was the Orion. The earliest Orions were only available in GL or Ghia trim, but as the years rolled on, more models were added to suit the car’s increasing popularity.

In 1986, the Orion got a facelift. It was largely the same car, but with new bumpers, rear lights, a new bonnet on which the leading edge dropped between the headlights, while the headlights themselves were more rounded. It was all in keeping with the Escort on which it was based. Buyers could also have optional ABS and even a heated front screen – such luxury. The CVH engines were upgraded to ‘lean burn’ and many could run on then new unleaded fuel. Very modern. The 1.6i Ghia remained the model to have, of course, but if buyers wanted serious luxury, they could opt for the leather and wood-filled 1600E. Built by Ford from 1988, final assembly was handled by Tickford. Leather seats, leather steering wheel, electric everything – it was very posh indeed.

In 1990, the third-generation landed, but it wasn’t nearly as good. Based on the objectively awful Mk5 Ford Escort, it was a poor substitute for the early models, which seemed to be screwed together a bit better. It should have been a magnificent swan song, given attitudes towards saloons were changing. But it was just rubbish. Even the addition of then cutting-edge Zetec engines with a larger displacement of 1,800cc, double overhead cams, fuel injection and 16 valves couldn’t make it good. A shame, but c’est la vie.

In 1993, the Orion name was killed off. It lived on in spirit through the Escort saloon, but the magic was gone. Ford tried to keep the saloon alive with the Focus, but ultimately the hatch always won out. A sign of the times, no doubt. Plus, as a global model, it was worth Ford offering saloons here in the UK for a small market, as rest of world sales were much stronger. Take places like Brazil, where you’ll fine Clio and Corsa saloons – they love it.

We like the Orion, or should we say, the early ones. There was something about them that was captivating. Something that, without being saccharine or cheap, managed to hold onto the charm of the cars before it. The Cortinas, the Anglias, the Escorts. It just felt right. The insurance-cheating 1.6i Ghia was fun, too. A fast, wild, event of a car that for many young drivers, satiated a thirst for performance. And to top it all, the design worked. It managed to look like its own thing, not just an Escort with a boot. It was a good car, and we’re happy to see it recognised as a classic. Happy Birthday, Orion.