Ford Fiesta Tuareg: The Desert Warrior That Never Was

Oct 03, 2024

#Featured #Ford

Ah, 1979. A time when Ford was making bold moves, pushing boundaries, and taking its pint-sized Fiesta where no one had dared to before. Enter the Ford Fiesta Tuareg, the concept car that would have made Mad Max envious—if Mad Max had been filmed in the Sahara rather than a dystopian future. The Tuareg was Ford’s answer to a question nobody had asked: “What happens when you take the humble Fiesta and turn it into a desert-storming off-road beast?”

Well, apparently, you get a mini off-roader ready to take on the African dunes with all the pluck and charm of a European city car.

From City Streets to Desert Sands

The Ford Fiesta, that beloved little car designed to zip through tight European streets and deliver great fuel economy, seems an odd choice for a rugged off-road machine. But Ford wasn’t playing it safe in 1979. Teaming up with Ghia, the Italian design powerhouse, and its own Dearborn Design Center, Ford transformed the Fiesta into something of a mutant dune buggy with estate car ambitions. The name “Tuareg,” borrowed from the nomadic tribes of the Sahara, was more than just a badge—it was a bold declaration that this was no ordinary Fiesta.

First off, let’s talk about the look. Finished in a rather fitting desert beige, with bold orange-and-brown racing stripes slashing across the bodywork, the Tuareg looked like it was ready for adventure. With a raised suspension and chunky sand tires, it wasn’t just for show—this thing was meant to take on the rough stuff. Wheel-arch extensions, an aerodynamic front spoiler, and reinforced tubular bumpers gave it an edge that screamed, “Try me!”

Functionality Meets Fiesta

While the Fiesta Tuareg might have looked like it had strayed from a desert rally, its design was rooted in practicality. Ford didn’t mess with the car’s underlying architecture; the Tuareg kept the same front-wheel-drive setup and compact footprint of the Fiesta Sport. They simply stretched the roofline a bit and morphed it into a three-door estate—a rare sight in a world that usually sees Fiesta as the small hatchback hero. The overall length? A stubby 147.1 inches—making it shorter than a modern Ford Focus. But every inch of it was engineered for utility.

Take, for instance, the added engine louvers to keep things cool under the desert sun or the heavy-duty roof rack designed to haul essential desert survival gear (think extra fuel and water, not shopping bags from the local supermarket). Rollover protection came courtesy of a robust steel hoop built into the roof structure—a safety measure that was as sensible as it was stylish. After all, if you're off-roading in the Sahara, you want something sturdier than your typical city car roof.

Rough and Ready Interior

Inside, the Tuareg kept things simple yet durable. Ford decked the cabin out in a tweed fabric that seemed practically indestructible. You could imagine hopping into this car covered in sand, sweat, and sunburns, and the interior wouldn’t blink. Practicality oozed from every corner—the rear seat folded down to create a surprisingly spacious cargo area, and the whole rear end had a split tailgate, just in case you needed to load up your surfboard or, more likely, a spare tire or two.

The floor and load space were lined with thick brown cord matting that could take a beating, while the seats, headlining, and door panels were trimmed in a hard-wearing fabric that would stand up to the rigors of the wild. This wasn’t the plush leather of a typical concept car. It was functional, robust, and entirely in keeping with the Tuareg’s off-road credentials.

Modest Power, But Big Ambitions

Under the bonnet, the Tuareg might not have had the sort of firepower you’d expect from something with such aggressive styling. A 1.1-liter engine paired with a four-speed manual transmission isn’t going to win you any drag races. But this wasn’t about speed—it was about endurance and reliability, qualities you need when you’re hundreds of miles from the nearest town. Power went to the front wheels only—no fancy all-wheel-drive systems here—but with a lightweight body and all that ground clearance, the Tuareg was more than capable of getting its tires dirty.

A Concept Lost to the Sands of Time

As with many concept cars, the Fiesta Tuareg was destined never to see the production line. It made its rounds at auto shows, wowing audiences with its mix of practicality and rugged good looks, but Ford knew it was never meant for mass consumption. Still, it showcased the company’s forward-thinking approach—taking a successful European city car and imagining what it could become in a completely different context.

Perhaps the most surprising thing about the Tuareg is just how much it prefigured a later trend—crossover SUVs that blend off-road capability with compact dimensions. In that sense, you could argue the Tuareg was ahead of its time, paving the way for cars like the Ford Puma or the modern Fiesta Active.

Closing Thoughts

The 1979 Ford Fiesta Tuareg wasn’t just a quirky concept—it was a statement of intent from Ford. They weren’t content with playing it safe, and the Tuareg embodied that spirit of adventure. Sure, it might not have been the most powerful or the most practical off-roader ever conceived, but as an exploration of what the humble Fiesta could be, it was pure genius.

So here’s to the Fiesta Tuareg, the little desert warrior that could (and should have). A concept that blended Ghia’s Italian design flair with Ford’s ambition, leaving us wondering just how much fun it would have been to take this plucky Fiesta off the beaten path and into the wilderness.