Ford

After the launch of the Fiat 127 in 1971 and the Renault 5 in 1972, Ford set out to develop its own “supermini.” The final design was created in 1973 by Tom Tjaarda at Ghia. Ford anticipated high demand, projecting annual production of 500,000 units. To support this, the company built an all-new factory in Valencia, a transaxle plant near Bordeaux, and expanded its existing assembly facilities in Dagenham. Pilot production got underway in Cologne in April 1976, with full-scale production commencing in Valencia and Dagenham that October. The Fiesta would go on to become a major success for Ford, spanning seven generations between 1976 and 2023. With over 22 million units sold, it ranks among the brand’s most successful nameplates, trailing only the Escort and the F-Series.