The Ford Fiesta Tuareg Concept was shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 1979 – and, in many ways, it’s the grandfather of the modern small SUV. The current car market is sagging under the weight of jacked-up hatchbacks, sporting cladding under the pretense of being an SUV. Cars such as the new Kia Stonic and the Renault Captur are aimed at young adventurous individuals who want to be seen as active types – you might think this a new phenomena, but Ford had a crack at it back in 1979.
The Fiesta Tuareg was first shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 1979 and was a joint design exercise between Ghia in Turin and the Ford Design Centre in Dearborn. It was conceived as a practical, off-road, desert Fiesta and was built on an entire Ford Fiesta floorpan.
In terms of engineering, little was changed over the car it was based upon – so it retained the original car’s 1117cc Kent engine and, despite its rugged styling, front-wheel drive. The suspension was raised and stiffened while the track was widened – the look was completed by the fitment of Goodyear Terra 26in off-road tires mounted on 7J steel rims.
This is where Ghia made the difference. The Tuareg’s roofline was extended, which gave the car more of an estate-car vibe. Its wheelbase remained unchanged over the standard Fiesta, but it was 6.7 inches longer, 3.7 inches wider, and 7.3 inches higher.
The interior was finished in an appealing-looking tweed fabric – it was liberally used from the seat facings to the door cards. Any other surface was treated to a thick brown cord matting. The Tuareg also had a Range Rover-style split tailgate, increasing loading practicality.
The bonnet received louvers and, instead of bumpers, the Tuareg received black tubular steel nudge bars. On top, a heavy-duty roof rack and roof-mounted halogen spotlights gave this a Matra-Simca Rancho feel, while the huge front spoiler and wide arches and skirts were more than a nod to motorsport. So, in a way, a slightly confused-looking car. Sadly, it disappeared without a trace. It’s a cool-looking thing and is surely the grandfather of the generation of small ‘SUVs’ that litter the car market.
Source: Ford Fiesta Tuareg concept – the grandfather of the modern .... https://www.aronline.co.uk/concepts/ford-concepts/ghia/ford-fiesta-tuareg/
Images: oldconceptcars
