There’s something rather satisfying about bringing home a car that’s quietly slipped out of everyday life. That’s exactly what happened yesterday when we collected this 1995 Ford Fiesta Si, a model that’s becoming an increasingly uncommon sight on British roads.
Better still, this one comes with an appealing backstory. It has had just two keepers from new, is showing only 53,000 miles and hasn’t been MOT’d since 2014.
While everyone remembers the XR2i and RS Turbo, Ford’s Si models offered plenty of driver appeal without attracting quite as much attention.
Today, they’re becoming harder to spot, simply because so few survived the years when they were just cheap used cars. Many disappeared through rust, accidents or simply being worn out, making tidy, unmodified survivors much less common than they once were.
This Fiesta has spent over ten years off the road following its last MOT in 2014.
As with any long-stored car, it will need a careful recommission before it can be enjoyed again. At this stage we’re looking forward to finding out exactly what that involves, and we’ll be sharing the journey as we go.
With just two keepers and relatively modest mileage showing, it certainly looks like a worthwhile project.
The drive home also provided an unexpected reminder of why recovery trucks are built the way they are.
It wasn’t until we’d arrived back and parked up that we discovered one of the rear tyres on the Transit had suffered a blowout during the journey. Thankfully, the twin rear wheels had done exactly what they were designed to do, meaning we completed the trip without even realising there had been a problem.
Sometimes it’s the recovery that creates almost as much drama as the vehicle you’re collecting.
That’s the question.
The Mk3 Fiesta has firmly established itself as a classic, but later Mk4 models like this Si are only now beginning to receive the appreciation they deserve.
With numbers continuing to fall, it feels like enthusiasts are starting to look at these cars rather differently than they did a decade ago.
Do you think the Fiesta Si is already a classic, or is it still a future classic? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Cars like this are exactly why we love travelling the country looking for forgotten classics.
If you have a classic car that’s been tucked away in a garage, workshop or barn, or you’re thinking about selling an unfinished project, we’d love to hear from you.
We buy classic cars outright, can arrange nationwide collection and always enjoy giving interesting vehicles their next chapter.
You can find out more, with no obligation whatsoever, via our simple enquiry form here:
https://ukbarnfinds.com/selling-your-classic-car/
Whether it’s been off the road for ten years or fifty, it’s always worth having a chat.
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