239 Ford Healey Fiesta (Mk.1) (1978)

Ford Healey Fiesta (Mk.1) (1978) 1599cc S4
Production 1
Registration Number HMY 961 V (London SE)
FORD (UK) SET
www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623665118181...

This was the last car to carry the famous Healey wings

The story of the Healey Fiesta reads thus - this car was manufactured as a standard US spec, Ford Fiesta in 1978, and shipped to the Ford USA to compete with other small European imports, sales of the Fiesta were not great and Ford felt they needed a flagship hot hatch to compete and promote the range, especially the BMC Mini where the Mini-Cooper was performing well in both International Motorsport and in terms of sales.

The idea came from auto entrepreneur Gary Kohs of Detroit. who felt a modified Fiesta carrying an iconic British sporting name in a simular way to the Cooper name of the Mini. West Coast artist Harry Weeks was commisssioned to produce a depiction to present to Ford (Detroit) suggesting that Healey Automobile Consultants Ltd. of Warwick would be the best candidates for such an undertaking, Ford were enthusiatic and approached Donald and Geoff Healey.

This car was selected from stock and shipped back to the UK for the modifications to be carried out. Body modifications included an oversized spoiler under the front bumper, wheels were changed to 13” x 6” Minilites, and flared arches, Carello H4 headlamps and Hella spotlights the car was finished in British Racing Green with yellow pin stripes with some of the work farmed out to Broadspeed. Engine mods included removal of the emission control, an increase in compression ratio with the use of different pistons, use of a Ford Escort Mexico camshaft which in turn allowed more valve overlap, intake manifoldswere aligned to the ports and a Weber 32/36 DGV twin barrel carburettor was fitted. the cross flow head fed into a fabricated manifold and the distributor reset. Raising output to an estimated 105bhp

The car was shipped back to the States and was displayed at four 1979 International Automotive Shows and made available to Motoring journalists

However by 1979 Ford USA had decided to cease importing Fiestas, so what Healey had hoped would be the prototype of future production was to become a one of project

After a short time with Ford it was sold on along with other show cars and concepts, to a new owner in Massachusetts, then in Ohio before making its way to California.thenonto its third owner Bob Segui, founder in 1980 of the San Diego British Car Club Council who retained the car for a number years, before its return to England and owner Warren Kennedy of Bedforshire who not only owns this the last Healey but also the very first

Many thanks for a fantabulous
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Shot at the NEC Classic Car Show 13:11:2015 Ref. 112-239

Taken in: UK / England / Bickenhill (show map)

Taken on: January 10, 2020

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