The Ford Fiesta and Volvo 343 were both launched in the UK in February 1977
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- Опубліковано 28 сер 2024
- Both these cars were big firsts for their respective manufacturers, and as they both happened to be launched in February 1977 (which is terrifyingly 47 years ago), I thought I'd take a look and compare how these two stack up. What do they have in common, and how do their qualities differ?
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At the end of the 90s, somebody I knew had a 5 door 340 1.7 . I have driven it on the motorway with 3 people and a boot full of luggage and it was very nice and comfy. Felt very solid too.
I had a 360 GLE intending to keep it for 6 Months - I kept it for 6 Years. I remember parking next to another identical car at a Motorway Service Area, being driven by Chris Rea! It was thoroughly enjoyable, and something of a 'Sleeper!'
Woah! That's so cool, and yes I did know that Chris Rea had one.
In 1977 I learnt to drive in an R-plate Fiesta, one of the first that BSM had, and the only one in the fleet of my local BSM (remaining cars were Escorts). Took me until 2016 until I bought a Fiesta of my own.....
Loving the period car magazines.
Hey! Great news! The Dacia Sandero... I mean, seeing TUJ on the channel in ages, and also knowing the fate of every R and S plate 343 in the country, made me look up one of your previous fleet. BHX190T is still taxed and tested, so by now that *must* be the oldest RHD 343 still in existence, unless there's another T from 1978 I don't know about.
I have owned 2 Mk1 Fiestas. An 1100L which was a great ittle workhorse, followed by a 958 (hc) L. Which was, due to its' high compression engine, faster than the 1100. The first one was written off after a head on crash with a Mk2 Fiesta! The 958 I only let go due to the lack of replacement parts, otherwise I'd probably still own it today. I'm glad to say that somebody else now owns it and has decided to give it a light makeover (it's now an 'S' clone) and keep it on the road.
Volvo wanted access to the Common Market. Having a base in The Netherlands was a way into his market. Sweden was not a member of the Common Market at the time.
In 1977 I purchased a Triumph Dolomite 1500. A basic Dolly with only a larger engine. Something you should look for to add to your collection, maybe.
Great cars the 340 worked at a Volvo dealer 83-97 and have a brand new front valence in my loft for early 343s
I'll know who to ask when I need one 😅
Great video as ever, my parents had new a 343, 3 door in a really cool and unusual pinky red metallic colour, never seen another one, I can only think it was a limited edition, as it came with a rear window blind on the outside and big 343 decals on the sides, this was a 1980 on a V plate. This was followed by a black 360 GLS on a Y plate and many other Volvo’s, good times 😊
Ooh that sounds fun. I think it was probably a dealer special, with all of the accessories thrown at it! The rear window louvre is hugely sought after these days...
@@MorselsAndMotors looked very cool back in the day 😊
Hi Sion a very interesting review and a comparison which makes sense as both were new models in new markets for both manufacturers
Love that early 343 i remember them and the 66 which also got Volvo badges it’s ironic really my brand new Peugeot 308 could also only be bought with auto so in some ways things have gone full circle haven’t they
I can see why Volvo made so many changes to the car but at the time the interior seemed very modern if not especially ‘Volvo’ and well specified
The fiesta is a legend and i remember my school secretary and auntie having one but always with fords they felt built to a price highlighted by what you said re optional brake servo where i bet Volvo included one but fords always had a good reputation for driving and the Volvo became sadly underrated by the press despite being a good car
A great video hope you are keeping well love the clothes! Daniel
My next door neighbour, growing up in rural Pennsylvania,bought a brand new red 1978 Ford Fiesta S,with black stripes,alloys & wide stripes seats,with integral head restraints,as North American spec mandated front head restraints in the very late 60s,around the same time as the front seatbelt requirement,& side marker/position lights & reflectors,front & rear. The 1st gen American Fiestas were German built models,& were only sold from 1978 until 1980,and I believe the 1600cc engine was the only one available there. Were the British XR2s 1600cc? Then when the first gen front wheel drive North American Escort was launched there for '81,the Fiesta was cancelled there,& not sold again until the penultimate gen,but cancelled again for the last gen. Strangely,the North American penultimate gen had a sedan/saloon option,as well as a hatchback...i think the North American ones were built by Ford Mexico. Oh,also a friend of mine's Mom had an orange base model Fiesta in my rural area in Pennsylvania in the late 70s.
Americans like the UK like their cars with a boot (or trunk), as both like to feel they are in something posh even when it is a fiesta 🙂
@@anticat900 🤣🤣
I had an 83 A reg 340GL variomatic (having had 2 MK1 Fiestas) with 5 doors, it was quirky alright! Fun one evening when the belts snapped too! Still loved it and upgraded to a 360 GLE!
Thankfully I’ve never had a belt snap, but I’ll bet it’s very dramatic given how strong they are!!
I always thought that the first Fiesta, like the one that is shown in this video, was the best looking.
Very thorough made video, Sion! 👍🏻
I really do like the cars you are showing, not the typical classics, but the daily runabouts of the 70's and 80's. Like your 343, they are a really rare site, nowadays.
Very low mileage, as well😯
I’ll let you in on a secret: that’s a second hand MPH speedo that RJ found for me; the original only showed KPH, and I think was on about 120,000 km.
Yes, like everyone it seems, I have memories of the Fiesta growing up in the '80s. Though mostly the Mk2. My best mate in the early years of primary school had an 1986 C plate Fiesta Mk2, I think it was a Popular Plus. Then that went to one of my neighbours. And my college tutor had an early 1985 B plate Fiesta Mk2 which by 1996, was a bit old hat. However, a college friend had a cool Mk1 XR2.
Alas, no memories of the 343 but my science teacher at high school had a really early A reg Citroen BX then traded it in for a 1991 H reg Volvo 340 but while it was nice, it was a bit dull (especially next to the BX) and she quickly replaced it with a brand new face-lifted Volvo 440 in 1995. I have to say, the Volvo 343 is a very good looking car. The single unit headlamp/indicator design was much prettier than Volvo's facelifted one. It also reminds me of another car that was launched in 1977 - the Mk4 Mazda 323 (FA4) but I initially thought that they were near identical at the front and had shared a similar headlamp design though I think this is me misremembering as I can only find images with the old style circular or square inset headlamps. However, it's shape is similar just minus the bustle back. I wonder if there are any FA4s in the UK now...
Great video Sion! Love to see part of your little stash of Voldafs making it onto the channel again!
(I think the extra RRP money was worth it in the end - it's much more car!)
Yes I suppose I never really concluded on that point! The price was the biggest criticism levelled at the early 343s, so yeah I agree that the premium nature of it does justify the price tag
My father bought a 1985 360 GLS in 1988. The engine had a carburetor (the GLT had injection) and loads of low down torque - it could drive at 30 in 5th gear without struggling.
That's very impressive. I've actually never driven a 2-litre Volvo 300, despite having had 6 of them over the years!
Great video. I love these cars!
Looking at the date of that issue of Motor it was published on the week I was born. I was born on Feb 2nd - the day the Mk1 Fiesta officially launched in the UK
Looking very dapper Siôn! Great work as usual. Remember your original videos on the 343. Love the geekiness and enthusiasm to look for the exact one you wanted 🫡.
I’m annoyed at the sound, so maybe one day I’ll do another drive in the 343 with the mics set up so you can hear the experience
Great vid! I remember as a child in the 80s and 90s thinking that 340s were the absolute dorkiest cars, but my dad instilled in me that RWD = bad. Now with my wee BMW 125i, I thoroughly appreciate the charm of a small, rear-driven hatchback :D Plus it annoys my dad, so double win
Fiesta came out in 1976!
I always preferred the the Volvo 300 series, more space than the Fiesta and slightly more practical too.
iv been watching all your Volvo 300 videos, iv just bought some later 300s, a 1.7 340 saloon and a 2.0 360 GLE hatchback. Much later your 300s but its interesting seeing where my models originated from.
It's one of the main reasons I love the 300: they changed SO much from the original launch to the cars we generally remember
yeah! TUJ ("Tuj") - shout out to Shrewsbury/Shropshire!
Great seeing a vintage magazine too
Oh I have a big collection of them, I tend to buy ones with tests of any cars I have
I really enjoyed that video and I have to compliment you on your outfit!
Thank you so much!
Lovely video
No ciggy lighter but a heated rear window? Come on Ford get your priorities right!
Not really a Ford fan but I love the Volvo ❤
Thank you!
BIG kudos to you for saving this really unique example of the 343. Still very much unloved cars, in Sweden these are still very very cheap, even nice examples (but will take lots of patience to find one). I guess if there's 2 things that set the 343 apart it's the very solid feeling body and yes, the CVT. It was a time when automatic cars were driven by disabled and those that never were able to learn to drive a manual (like my mother), add the quirkiness of the CVT with its howling sound, it made the reputation for the 343 tarnished from the beginning. I still can't get over the sheer stupidity of designing an entirely new car that was otherwise very modern and quite advanced, and then NOT to offer it with a manual. My impression is also that Volvo just let get Daf get on with it, who were keen to keep the start of production, releasing a car with many faults in it's first year, giving the 343 the last kick of death. Sales success would only come years later when the prices were adjusted, but it also means the car was never seen as the modern car that it really was at its launch.
You are quite right, I think Volvo should have taken greater control from day 1. You can tell that they hastily tried to improve things as every single model year for the first 5 years or so have pretty major changes
Brilliant!
Ford fiesta mk1 you commented on the the air vents and you could,nt answer why the middle air vent when you close it it gives you more air to the windscreen for demisting when they steam up ?👍
The Volvo 343 was quite an expensive car in it's class. Too expensive for most customers. The Fiesta was very competitive in it's class. Cheaper than most cars. My mother had a 1987 as new.
I always liked the 343 in the day as a smart looking car. I was surprised to learn that theg weren't too well liked (by car critics).
No, they were generally rather dismissed, but actually became a big seller by the mid 1980s
Browness of jacket and trousers plus "flowery" shirt are in period but the tie needs to be of the kipper variety to be full on message. "kipper tie? Oh thanks - milk 2 sugars " a Noddy Holder story there
Have you ever physically worked on either of these cars ? ....... Have you ever driven either one of them in anger ? Plz Answer A S A P ......
Yes I restored the mk1 Fiesta myself last year, going through every system. And I've done a lot of work on my 343 in the 11 years I owned it, including re-trimming the interior. The Fiesta I have definitely driven quite hard recently; the 343 I've tended to be a little more gentle with as parts are rare and scarce