Every now and then we come across some interesting barn finds and for this week we have a well preserved 1st generation Ford Fiesta Mk1. With just 140 miles it would be a safe bet to say this is the lowest mileage Fiesta out there. So if you would like to rejuvenate your childhood memories of being at the Ford dealership in the 70s this is your chance!
Interesting as the bids have been going up and there is still a couple of days left. What do you think? Comments below.
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Description
I am selling my Ford Fiesta Mk 1 1978 957cc, the car is unregistered and only has 140 miles (NOT thousand) on the clock! Only a handful of these still on the road, and I wouldn't mind betting that none are like this!! This is the Fiesta which featured in Practical Classics February 2018 Edition article, 'Tight at the museum'. The car came from a London Museum were it had been for 37 years!! The car is absolutely mint condition, and runs and drive really well. Everything is stock and any new parts have been sourced to match original spec. I have had the car MOT'd (expires 18/04/19), and I have had the car inspected by a DVLA approved Ford Club and validated for its age and authenticity (letter available). Everything is in place ready for a V55 to be filled with the DVLA and for whomever purchases to be the first owner of a 40 year old car with delivery mileage!!! Note in July the car will turn 40 years old and therefore will be tax exempt. The reason for sale is we have had some good news my wife is expecting our second child and there is no way I will find the time to enjoy this car so have reluctantly decided to sell. The car is not registered so must be collected either with trailer/transporter or driven on trade plates. Now for more details on car history and getting the car out of the museum as described in PC article: I acquired the vehicle in the Spring of 2017 from a London museum where the car had previously formed part of one of their displays. The VIN details for this vehicle show that the car was built in July 1978 at Dagenham Ford plant. The car was acquired by the museum in 1980 from Ford Personal Import / Export Ltd, Consignment Sales, 8 Balderton Street, London, W1. The car was used as part of a museum display from 1980 to 2015. The display was closed in 2015 awaiting refurbishment works. The area in which the car was situated in the museum was finally stripped out ready for refurbishment in Spring 2017. At which time the Fiesta was marked for disposal and was due to be dismantled and disposed of. In an effort to save a small piece of history I undertook the challenge to remove the car in one piece and return to the road. In order to do so the engine and gearbox were removed, the doors and seats where removed and a custom jig was made to turn the car onto its side and get it out of the building via 2 goods lifts in the middle of the night. The car was then transported to a garage in Kent. In late Summer 2017 I started re-assembling the car. During the works the following parts were either replaced as had failed, due replacement or were missing: 1. Radiator 2. Radiator Fan and Housing 3. Heater matrix 4. Stainless steel coolant pipe made for front of the block 5. Water pump 6. Fan belt 7. Thermostat 8. Battery 9. HT leads & Plugs 10. Oil filter 11. In line fuel filter added 12. New front brake pads 13. New rear brake shoes and cylinders The only part that has still got to be fitted is the two part ratchets/adjusters for the rear brake shoes. I have been hunting for these for some time and have only in the last week sourced these. There was at the time of discovering the car a crack in the gear housing of the gear box (no idea how this happened maybe when car was put into the museum). A new original stock gear housing was sourced from Cornwall and the gear box was checked over by gear box specialist Road and Race Transmissions in Shoreham Kent just to be sure prior to refitting, the cover was fitted new seals provided - everything was fine. The engine was in good condition and given its low mileage history was just given an oil service. As you would expect moving parts (CV joints, bearing etc) were oiled and greased, however, bushes etc were in good condition so retained. As the original keys had been lost during is time at the museum new keys were cut to suit the original locks for ignition and doors. As part of the sale I will hand over all the history and paperwork I have on the car including some information the museum were able to give me, deed of transfer paperwork, letter of authenticity etc. Good luck bidding. I am also going to advertise the car elsewhere so reserve the right to remove from the auction is sold through other method.