Concept Car Of The Day: 1978 Ford Fiesta Fantasy - AllCarIndex
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During Ford Motor Company's 75th Anniversary year, the Fiesta Fantasy was a standout attraction at Ford Division auto-show displays across the United States. The functional show vehicle was able to easily convert from a pickup truck into four different types of cars, making it a versatile and unique concept for the future of small cars.
Conceived by Ford's Advanced Vehicles Development group in Dearborn, Mich., the Fantasy was built from a standard Ford Fiesta as a diamond-jubilee show car. By exchanging easy-to-install modules on the rear section of the vehicle, it could be transformed into a two-seat pickup truck, a two-seat sports coupe, a 2+2 hardtop, a 2+2 soft-top convertible, or a four-passenger station wagon.
The Vice President of Advanced Vehicles Development, Lewis C. Veraldi, expressed that the Fantasy had design features that made it a viable option for meeting the demand for economical, versatile, and fuel-efficient small cars in the future. Unlike previous concept vehicles like the Prima, the Fantasy was fully functional and roadworthy, with comparable performance and passenger comfort to a production Fiesta.
The lightweight fiberglass tops of the Fantasy easily clamped onto the pickup's cargo box to create its different models. The vehicle's dimensions, engine, front-wheel-drive system, suspension, and appearance were all based on the German-built Fiesta introduced at Ford dealerships the previous year.
In addition to the Fantasy, Ford Division planned to exhibit two other futuristic vehicles - the Corrida and the Megastar - at major auto shows in the upcoming year. The Corrida was a 2+2 sports car based on the Fiesta with an aluminum body and unique design features, while the Megastar was a family car concept designed by Ghia in Italy with a wedge-shaped aluminum body and room for up to five adults.
Overall, the Fiesta Fantasy was a stunning showcase of Ford's innovative vision for the future of small cars, combining practicality with futuristic design elements for a truly remarkable concept vehicle.
