Highlights

Superbly original boasting a genuine 42,520 mileage
Very solid and unmolested
Incredibly rare with only 10 Fiestas of this year still registered, many of which will not be the 1300S

The Appeal

The Ford Fiesta today needs no introduction, but in 1980 it was one of the most advanced cars of the time, setting the standard in quality, ride comfort and specifications for smaller, affordable cars.

Released a year after the very successful 1100cc variant, the 1300S came very well equipped and was widely regarded for its power and handling ability for the time with a 66bhp engine, Weber carburettor, bigger clutch and tweaked final drive for better motorway cruising and if you had one of these at the time you had something rather special.

Funnily enough, though, today you still have something very special, this being probably the last of this model in such an original, unrestored condition available on the market and ready for a new and enthusiastic owner to show off this truly incredible and very now desirable piece of Ford’s history.

The History and Paperwork

Tax discs retained back to 1981
The first owner kept the car until 2014 with the second owning it until 2021
A collection of some 30 vintage MOT documents
An original bill of sale including the £10 deposit to Gates group dated 25-3-1980
A full set of original booklets and the handbook
The vendor has owned the car for around a year as a fun daily driver ensuring full reliability
Many receipts dating back some 20+ years that backs up mileage and servicing
Two original keys with vintage dealer key tags
FMC 403V Registration number is the original and may appeal to some due to ‘FMC’ standing for ‘Ford Motor Co’

The Interior

Totally original and untouched showing minimal wear
Nice clear dials show just 42,520 miles
The dashboard appears in fantastic condition with very minor deforming around the windscreen vents but no damage otherwise and still retains a good dark brown colour that is even all over
The standard steering wheel and switchgear are in excellent condition and nothing shows excessive use or abuse
The very period correct coloured seats are a true delight with the only evidence of wear on the driver's seat base
The original FM stereo remains
Wonderfully intact brown corduroy carpets show very little wear and the driver’s heel pad is in good order
The door card panels are in excellent order with no evidence of wear
The parcel shelf is untouched and in fantastic condition
Neat and tidy boot area with removable floor panels and original matching spare likely wearing the original Michelin tyre
Original Gates dealer window sticker in the rear

The Exterior

All original silver paintwork with original 1300S decals and good clean badges
Original pressed metal registration plates with dealer name
Most of the car has accrued minor rust spots and patina from a full life, none of which is structural that we could tell and is likely just skin deep and could easily just be left as is
The original painted metal bumpers appear undamaged and retain the original paint with some surface corrosion
All the light are genuine and show no moisture ingress
Nice and tidy silver painted 12 inch wheels suit the car beautifully and match the spare
The bodywork all round is straight and practically dent free with lovely straight lines and even panel gaps
All the glass appears original with Ford etchings

The Mechanics

Reported to run and drive well and has been reliable
Bought to be used as a daily classic and has been thoroughly checked and attended to as needed
New old stock radiator fitted
New ignition coil
New starter motor
New battery
New weber carburettor
The tyres are in good order but are beyond 10 years old and would benefit from replacement in that aspect
The underside appears solid with surface corrosion all over components but nothing seemingly excessive with some historic MOT reports of welding done in 2016 and nothing reported since
The engine bay is a delight being simple to work on and generally tidy with evidence of new components and maintenance having been done

Summary

Could this be the last 1300S in such an original and unmodified condition? Likely! And what a gem it is, with a stunning interior so synonymous with the era, wonderful exterior decals pointing at sporty performance and an excellent maintenance record, this car is a real nostalgic throwback for many and is ready to be enjoyed as it is or as a light restoration project.

Examples like this are Unicorns, deserving of enthusiastic attention and a loving home to preserve not just an iconic and very early (dare we say) hot hatch but also an example of huge originality with a wonderful array of historic documentation to boot.

Notice to bidders

This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*

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