Nick Larkin
The Mondeo evokes memories of a different world
The Ford Mondeo was something of an icon, recalls Nick.
We all remember the great drives of our lives; twisty roads, awesome scenery, the rich aroma of hot oil mingling with honeysuckle, deep melodic thrum of a classic in perfect health… maybe a special companion. I vividly remember journeying from Peterborough to Market Harborough back in 1993, ironically, if I remember rightly, to visit the TSSC.
My steed was one the first ever Ford Mondeos, a silver 1.6LX, on loan from its manufacturer.
How, I thought, could something on wheels so much lack discernible character and styling touches.
Had Ford really spent £3bn on developing this thing as a world car? Wayne’s World perhaps? Later, I was putting the old girl through her paces on the motorway when it was necessary to stop at a motor services to make a phone call.
Making a splash
I was astounded to find several Ford Sierras parked askew surrounding the Mondeo, then a sort of second tier of Vauxhall Cavaliers and, seemingly shoved to the back, a solitary Austin Montego.
‘Wow mate how you’ve got a Mondeo, Is it really better than the Sierra 2.0LXXX? What’s it really like? Don’t suppose you’d be interested in a photocopier with our two-year service plan?,’ said one of their occupants. This Mondeo was like a honeypot to a breed now extinct, that Foster Menswear suit-clad God of the road, the mobile sales rep.
Forced into a company 1.6L to pound Britain’s highways, a lonely and often unrewarding life punctuated only by the occasional area team meeting at the Swallow Hotel, copy of Razzle and stopping at motorway services for a cup of furniture varnish (aka coffee) and a skimpy sausage roll.
Work hard and there could be promotion to area manager (Nuneaton and Bedworth) and even receipt of a two-litre, no, no no no no no, not the Montego. At one time (source N. Larkin Statistics) 94 per cent of adult males (but why hardly any ladies) in Britain were employed in this capacity, driving an average of 4.2million miles a year and spending 98 per cent of their life in their car.
An enterprising publisher published a magazine for these ‘sales professionals’ called Coathanger after the essential part of any repmobile, used for hanging up your 35 per cent wool jacket between meetings. The sight of ‘my’ Mondeo was a seminal moment, like the first time they heard Dire Straits.
What happened to these warriors? Has online commerce killed all of them? I was pleased to hand the Mondeo back, and baulked at the sight of the first MKII, which looked from the front like a MKI that had suffered severe shock.
One Mr A. Blair paid tribute to ‘Mondeo Man; a self-made floating voter and I was terrified that I might end up living in a new semi in the Peterborough suburb of Werrington with a mad Wolseley hating harridan, wild offspring, a leaking conservatory and a 1.6L in red. But then, in 2005, I saw what I thought was truly a superb vehicle and nearly passed out when I saw badges reading ‘Ford’ and ‘Mondeo’. Is it just me, or is the MKIII just a superb looking car?
Surprisingly tempting
I was offered one in Ghia spec the other day with just 60,000 miles for £1000 and, had I not just squandered a fortune on a certain Rover, would have been sorely tempted.
Sadly, call it age or merely a change in traffic, although my love for Fifties classics is as strong as ever, I can appreciate cars for long journeys that just get you there.
I bet the Mondeo will, despite its impending demise, still be a household name in
50 years time, and veteran former sales reps will be telling their battle stories!