HERITAGE: Fiesta vans
One classic Fiesta van is a rare sight these days – but Lee Paddock rolls into the shows with three of the little-seen load carriers.
Stunning Mk1 to Mk3 commercials.
Hard work never hurt anyone — but a tradesman’s wheels live a hard life. Laden with tools, covered in grime and asked to go anywhere at any time, commercial vehicles face an uphill struggle to keep rolling. Those that do remain won’t find recognition: few classic car fans dream of loadbays or windows welded shut. Lee Paddock is a striking exception. His collection contains first, second and third-generation Fiesta vans that, thanks to careful restoration, haven’t just survived. They’ve thrived.
“It wasn’t intentional at first,” Lee says, “I started off with a Sierra-based P100 pick-up truck, which led to the Mk1 Fiesta van. Knowing how rare they are, I couldn’t turn it down. Then people kept offering me vans, so I ended up with a Mk2 and a Mk3 as well.” It might not have been his aim but now he’s got a collection that other Ford fans would struggle to replicate — and the perfect car show foil to row upon row of XR2s and RS Turbos.
The Mk1
Lee’s first Fiesta eschews its practical background to turn heads, thanks to a range of genuine Ford Series X accessories. Echoing the Fiesta Custom package which could be added to all 1100 and 1300 cars — vans included — the Mk1 wears a wraparound front splitter, bluff boot spoiler and four polyurethane wheelarch extensions. A set of 6x13 inch RS alloy wheels feature too, another example of Lee’s partsfinding talents. “I got lucky,” he smiles, “the alloys arrived in perfect condition and I was able to find the bodykit pretty much straight away.”
Further searching also uncovered a set of Series X engine upgrades, featuring a packagespecific airbox and DCNF carburettors which will soon be added to the van, but some period components escaped even Lee’s grasp. The firmer springs, uprated dampers and front brake
discs which Ford offered in period have all proved impossibly scarce, so the Fiesta wears later XR2 brakes and suspension in their place. “Pretty much every part of the car has been gone through,” Lee continues, “though that wasn’t my original intention! One thing just lead to another.” The interior has been updated too, gaining new carpets, headlining and doorcards and a pair of what might be Escort XR3i seats.
The Fiesta hasn’t always looked this good. Before a single modification could slot into space, Lee treated the cut-size commercial vehicle to a full restoration. “It was blue when I first got it and supposedly had an MoT,” he remembers, “but that was a bit dubious.” Corrosion had claimed the front wings, sills and much of the front end, prompting Lee to source new-old stock Ford parts before dispatching the Mk1 to nearby Castleport Classic Restoration. “They’ve done quite a few cars for me before and they’re brilliant.” Lee adds, “I wouldn’t go anywhere else.”
Promptly primed and powdercoated, the Fiesta only awaited a decision on paint colour. “I went completely around the houses,” says Lee, “I wanted a Ford colour and I was going to be red. Then, at the last minute, I decided to just keep it simple…” Inspired by historic Series X images and eager to make the bodykit stand out, he settled on the solid white the car still wears today.
The Mk2
A Castleport respray also completes Lee’s second generation Fiesta, a 1.1L van with just one previous owner. The first keeper clearly cared for his commercial vehicle — the odometer boasts just 30,000 miles and the spotless interior is original — but the 1983 machine has suffered with age and use. An initial inspection uncovered dents, scratches and rotten front wings,
prompting a trip to the paint booth, and Lee soon decided to update the tired running gear.
Suspension and brake upgrades came first, Lee fitting the components from a contemporary Fiesta XR2, before a Quantum 2+2 arrived as a driveline donor. The ’90s kit car had sat under a tarpaulin for years but its Fiesta XR2 engine and gearbox were still in usable condition. Now they sit in the van, providing more performance than Dagenham ever planned. “It’s a deceptively quick little thing and really fun to drive,” he says. Though the lowered suspension, 14 inch latticework alloys and stainless steel-tipped XR2 exhaust all provide subtle telltales, the result is more sleeper than sports car.
The Mk3
Spy the deep front valence or the 14 inch alloys and an impression begins to form: like its older siblings, Lee’s third van seems to benefit from some tasteful customisation. The reality isn’t quite so clear cut. This is a Fiesta XRV, a little known special edition which raided the RS Accessory pack to give otherwise standard Mk3 panel vans some visual bite. Available in red or white with an optional decal kit, XRV machines benefited from a front bumper, sideskirts and rear assembly straight from Ford’s official aftermarket parts catalogue. An XRV boot badge, modest rear spoiler and turquoise pinstripes complete the conversion.
“People don’t realise that Ford made them,” Lee laughs, “once people realise it’s an official vehicle they’re a lot more interested!” The XRV’s owner couldn’t resist one aftermarket addition, fitting the Fiesta with a set of seven-spoke alloys from his parts collection. Like the bodywork, the 14 inch wheels are straight from the RS Accessory catalogue and underline the car’s nineties credentials.
“THE MK2 VAN IS DECEPTIVELY QUICK AND REALLY FUN TO DRIVE”
Further work has been carried out under the skin, focusing on renewal and preservation. The suspension and braking system have been refreshed with new, standard components, while the bodywork benefits from extensive repairs to both front wings, the rear wheelarches and the rear quarter panels. “It’s quite a rare thing, so it just seemed a good idea to restore it,” says Lee, “it had passed its MoT before I got it but it was rotten in all the non-MoT places.” Previously owned by a longterm keeper who covered barely 500 miles a year, the XRV is a survivor that Lee couldn’t turn down.
Full exposure
Work complete, now it’s time for Lee to enjoy his finished triptych. “We go to all these shows and I’ve never seen another van — ever,” he smiles. “That’s what really appeals.” Getting the trio to events together takes commitment but the rewards are worth it. Sat alongside its stablemates, the XRV even won an award at this summer’s Battlesbridge Classic Car Show.
The vans will never be Lee’s only love, he’s got a Granada Scorpio, a pair of Fiesta XR2is and an Mk2 Escort Mexico too, but their rarity factor means they won’t be leaving anytime soon. “It’s hard to be different at car shows these days,” he explains, “and the vans are novel. That’s why I’ve spent so much time and effort on them.”
From lugging loads when new to now turning heads at the shows, the three Fiestas are true multi-purpose vehicles.