THE POWER OF NOSTALGIA

Nostalgia is triggered by many things, but music is the one that does it for Andrew.

Yesterday, my favourite radio station was playing stuff from 1984, a full 40 years ago. No it doesn’t feel like yesterday, but I sure miss it – the year I started driving, left school and did stuff best not mentioned in a family publication such as this.

In late 1983, my dad had changed jobs and received a new company car. A708 HFA was an example of the recently launched Ford Sierra, one of Ford’s moments where it excelled itself. HFA was a Cardinal Red 2.0GL with two options, these being the fivespeed gearbox and a glass sunroof, essential perks for the serious executive.

I can still recall the first time I rode in it. Previous company cars had been E28 BMWS such as the 520i and 525e, and those were the days when the difference in build quality between a BMW or Mercedes and a mere Ford was a gulf, so the Sierra immediately felt tinny. The doors shut with more of a clang than a thud and the door trims appeared to be little more that vinyl heat shrunk over compressed cardboard. It looked and smelt new though, even if the 2.0 Pinto was coarse and vocal after an M20 six-pot.

HFA’S career was easily plotted. It did 125,000 miles before being handed back in mid-1986, whereupon it was sold to an employee. The last owner bought it – probably for about £200 – in 1998 and its last ever tax disc expired that very year. It was recorded as scrapped not long after, but I bet it had done near enough 200,000 miles. Like the Cortina, the Sierra could do the miles.

So, we were talking about build quality. The Sierra was never a hand-crafted chariot, but over those 125,000 miles it never failed to start or complete a journey. In fact, nothing ever went wrong with it, and I mean absolutely nothing. I did 115mph in it along the A303 once thanks to the tall gearing and skinny 165 section radials. I wouldn’t do that again even if it were legal, and the thought of not having ABS or airbags and driving the way I used to – no thank you.

In short, the Sierra was a very good car. As well as being mechanically robust, it drove very well with excellent ride and handling, good seats and driving position plus general usability. Of course, it couldn’t last. Ford launched the Sierra at about the same time as the Pinto engine should have been axed and replaced with something like the Japanese were making. It was a good engine, but economy, refinement and specific power outputs were never its strong suits. The 1600 was notably smoother and nicer than the 2000, but wasn’t overly powerful.

The first raft of improvements were worthy: the so called ‘Kinnock fins’ behind the rear screen quelled much of the sidewind instability and the ’85 models mostly had the bigger and better Ghia type headlights. The trim improved, and the excellent 2.0i S model with the fuel-injected Pinto and uprated suspension should have sold better because it was a fine sports saloon for not much money.

Then they started to spoil it. The Sapphire was an abomination to me; the whole point of a Sierra was the hatchback and practicality. The general facelift that went with it seemed to detract from the originality of the ’82 car, although I know Ford had to facelift it after five years. But then they started down that Lean Burn E Max route, turning the poor old Pinto into a gutless wonder. The 1600 was a mobile roadblock. The 2000 was replaced by the I4 Twin Cam, an engine that was little more powerful or refined than the Pinto, plus it was very heavy and with two valves per cylinder and an iron block was already on the verge of being outdated. Ford later did something useful with it as the 16 valve RS2000 engine, but it was still an expensive dead end.

Ford made the Sierra for too long and it ended its days being absolutely slaughtered by the Vauxhall Cavalier. But those early Sierras were an ideal blend of original thinking allied to a well proven engine and a seriously good chassis. I need to drive one again after so many years. Right now I’m listening to Give It Up by Kool & The Gang (late 1983) and, fuelled by a gin and slimline (just the one, honest) I’m right back there listening to the hum of the Pinto engine and smelling the back-draught of dad’s Rothmans. Who would have guessed I’d be talking about it 40 years later?

In short, the Sierra was a very good car. As well as being mechanically robust, it had an excellent ride and handling