HOUSE SPECIALS
75TH ANNIVERSARY/ SOLITAIRE
ENGINE CAPACITY: 1117cc
YEARS PRODUCED:1978
PRICEWHEN NEW: £2816
Ford’s first special-edition Mk1 Fiesta arrived on June 16, 1978, celebrating 75 years of the great Blue Oval selling cars in the UK (the Model A of 1903). Known by a variety of names — including Solitaire, 75th Anniversary or simply Anniversary — the history-making Fiesta was a well-specced middle-of-the-range machine based on the 52 bhp 1100 L. It gained a package of welcome luxuries, including reclining front seats in tan or blue Ghia-type Verona/Crushed Velour upholstery, four-spoke steering wheel, twin vanity mirrors, centre console with push-button radio and clock. Outside there were chrome mirrors on both doors, and wheel-rim embellishers around the stock 12 inch steels. A choice of paint colours — Black or Diamond White — gave the Solitaire its nickname, and each wore contrasting decals down the sides. It’s reckoned there were 1000 produced in each colour, but survivors today are rare.
KINGFISHER
ENGINE CAPACITY: 1117cc
YEARS PRODUCED:1978
PRICEWHEN NEW: £2882
Dipping deep into the accessories bin, Ford adorned the 1100L-based Kingfisher with upmarket extras: bodyside mouldings, 4.5x12 inch wheels with rim embellishers (alloys could be added for £100), tinted-gradient windscreen, halogen headlamps, tailgate turn-lock, electric screen washers and
