Alongside the very well balanced appearance of the saloon, Ford also offered the Granada as a vast estate and a two-door coupe. The second generation of Granada squared-off the looks for the 1980s, but the coupe was dropped for this version, and the third generation adopted a smooth wind-tunnel-shaped style.
Ford Escort RS2000 Mk2 (1976)
It might not have been as exotic under the skin as the homologation special RS1800, but the second-generation Ford Escort RS2000 looked much more special. The simple addition of a plastic nose cone with four headlights and a lower air dam instantly lifted this fast Ford to cult status, and it’s stayed there ever since.
The new front end helped with aerodynamics, so this RS2000 could touch 110mph. In 1978, Ford offered a cheaper model with steel wheels, while the Custom version came with a plusher interior. Either way, this RS2000 was a massive sales success.
Ford Fiesta (1976)
Ford had been absent from the small car market since 1967 with the demise of the Anglia, but it made a huge impact when it returned with the Fiesta in 1976. Its clean, sharp lines were just what was needed to surf the European supermini wave, and the Fiesta set about its task with glee and enormous sales.
This was Ford of Europe’s first hatchback model and they made sure the packaging made the most of the two-box exterior. Even so, Ford avoided the Fiesta looking blob-like thanks to the large glass area and front end with a slight reverse angle. Hot hatch versions followed with the XR2 and XR2i that added sporting style with simple black wheelarch extensions, front and rear spoilers, alloy wheels, and stripes.
Ford Mustang (1979)
The ‘Fox body’ Mustang was the third generation of Ford’s perennial sports car and was the longest-lived version, with a production life running from 1979 to 1994. It was the first Mustang to break away from the overall appearance of the original, preferring straight lines to curves and a pointed front end.
The earlier ‘four eyes’ front end with quad headlights gave way to an updated look in 1987 with single-piece headlights. Both have their fanbases and each was sold as a coupe, notchback, or convertible that all sold well and kept the Mustang name alive.