Top tips to buying a forgotten fast Ford, the Mondeo ST24.
The Mondeo ST24 was once commonplace, but now the first ST-badged Blue Oval is a rare piece. If you want one, grab one while you still can...
It’s great to drive, has a glorious V6 growl, has motorsport heritage, and it’s increasingly rare – yet frustratingly forgotten. Is there a better-value fast Ford than the Mondeo ST24?
Inspired by the BTCC series, the ST24 was Ford’s first ST-badged machine, designed to exploit the original Mondeo’s fine chassis using unremarkable ingredients.
Appearing in September 1996, the ST24 was a repackaged Mk2 Si V6 saloon, featuring an unmodified 168bhp Duratec V6 engine, lowered suspension and uprated dampers. No ball of fire, maybe, but it offered impressive poise, effortless torque and an addictive mile-munching ability.
The ST24’s equipment included 16in 12-spoke alloys, half-leather sports seats, air con and electric sunroof, but was externally a minicab-spec four-door Mondeo, without even a boot spoiler to be excited about.
It took until the hatchback’s arrival in April 1997 for the ST24 to get funky; its four-spoke ‘turbine’ 16in rims were accompanied by an RSAP (Rallye Sport Appearance Pack) bodykit comprising spoilers, skirts and mesh grilles. The saloon, however, stayed naked.
An ST24 estate joined the range in February 1998, looking like a plain-Jane Mondeo wagon, with the bodykit and four-spoke alloys offered at extra cost.
By autumn 1998 the RSAP was finally fitted to all ST24s (unless a delete-option was ordered), along with a CD autochanger as standard; the sunroof was no longer available but the original Alchemy (blue) trim was thankfully swapped for Midnight Black. The following year saw sat nav become optional, and eventually heated front seats were fitted too. In June 1999 a hotter model – the ST200 – knocked the ST24 off top spot, and it was killed altogether when the Mondeo Mk3 arrived in October 2000.
Since then ST24s went from ultimate repmobiles to bodged-up bangers, until finally becoming recognised as future classics. They’re smart, practical, rewarding to drive and incredibly cheap. Here’s how to buy one.