In the four decades years since it was launched in 1976, Ford has sold 4,339,149 Fiestas in the UK alone, with European sales set to surpass 18 million before the end of this year. 

In 2014, the Fiesta became the UK’s best-selling car of all time, overtaking the Ford Escort. It is not only the best-selling car in the UK this year; it has been the UK’s most popular car every month for the last seven years.  

To celebrate this success, and the range of vehicles produced over the years, 40 of the nation’s favourite Fiestas travelled in convoy from the Ford Engine Plant in Dagenham to Brighton Race Course for the Kelsey Media organised, 2016 Ford Summer Festival – A celebration of all Ford models.

The Dagenham to Brighton drive was open to all Ford vehicles; each receiving a unique numbered plaque. Around 200 cars took part with models ranging from Cortinas to Rangers, and to mark the occasion, numbers 1-40 were allocated to Fiestas from the past four decades. 

The Ford Fiesta MkI began production in the all-new Valencia factory in 1976 with UK sales kicking off in 1977 and a number of MkI models took part in the drive on Saturday. Ford of Britain chairman and managing director, Andy Barratt, said, “The opportunity to have these wonderful heritage vehicles lined up next to our latest Fiestas, such as the ST200, is very rare and was fully appreciated by the Ford fans that made the 69-mile journey down to the festival.”

Also on display at Dagenham was a MkIV 1.4 Fiesta Ghia; the 10 millionth Ford vehicle produced at Dagenham as well as the MkVI World Rally Championship car. The Fiesta MkI owners club were also involved in the drive, bringing along a variety of sport Fiesta models as well as a MkII Fiesta Popular and a MkI Fiesta Van.

Here’s a timeline of the milestones in the Fiesta’s first four decades:

1975
•    Engine production begins at Valencia
•    Fiesta name chosen personally by Henry Ford II for its alliteration with Ford, its spirit and its celebration of Ford’s new connection with Spain

1976
•    Production of new Fiesta begins in Valencia, Spain in May. Fiesta initially available in 1.0-litre and 1.1-litre Ghia versions

1977
•    UK sales of the Fiesta begin
•    Export of Fiesta models for the US market begins

1979
•    Millionth Fiesta built for worldwide sales.

1981
•    Ford introduces the new Fiesta XR2 with a 1.6-litre engine, stiffer suspension, unique perforated alloy wheels and styling treatments, including available auxiliary driving lamps. The first 100mph Fiesta

1982
•    Fiesta is best-selling car in its class in Britain and Germany for six years running

1983
•    Aerodynamic new Fiesta MkII introduced. This new model was longer and more fuel efficient, available in 1.0-litre and 1.1-litre
•    1.3-litre model launched with a fifth gear
•    Fiesta 1.6-litre diesel introduced. This overhead-cam, indirect injection engine would become a mainstay of the Ford line-up for more than a decade

1984
•    XR2 MkII version of new Fiesta introduced with 1.6-litre, single-overhead-cam engine and 5-speed gearbox, plus low-profile tyres, improved suspension and brakes

1987
•    Best sales year in Britain with 153,000 Fiestas sold

1989
•    Fiesta MkIII launched with anti-lock brakes and lean-burn engines, in 1.0-litre and 1.1-litre versions. New Fiesta featured a longer and wider body shape and an increased wheelbase. It was available for the first time as a five-door model, 
•    Fiesta is first small car with ABS
•    Fiesta MkIII adds 1.4-litre – the first Ford engine to meet pending European emissions standards due to take effect in 1996 – and 1.6-litre engine options
•    Fiesta XR2i joins the range later in the year with new 1.6-litre twin cam engine and 5-speed gearbox as the range’s hot hatch.

1990
•    Introduction of Fiesta RS Turbo at Turin Motor Show. Using the XR2i engine with an intercooled Garrett turbocharger, the Fiesta RS Turbo was 1.6 seconds quicker than XR2i to 100km/h (62mph)

1992
•    Fiesta RS 1800 introduced. Powered by a 16-valve 1.8-litre engine with improved hot hatch handling, plus five-spoke alloy wheels and a body-colour spoiler
•    Introduction of 1.8-litre, 16-valve Zetec engine

1993
•    Driver airbag becomes standard

1996
•    Introduction of the new Fiesta MkIV with all-new rounded, aerodynamic shape and oval grille. Available with 1.25-litre, 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre engines, plus a 1.8-litre diesel. Dual airbags standard

2001
•    All-new Fiesta MkV introduced at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show
•    Production begins in Cologne and Valencia of the new Ford Fiesta

2002
•    All-new Ford Fiesta MkV launched initially in the five-door version with a new line-up of engines, including the new Duratec 1.3-litre and the 1.6-litre 16-valve Duratec petrol engines
•    Fiesta three-door model and the range’s 1.4-litre Duratec petrol engine and new 1.4-litre Duratorq TDCi common rail diesel engine
•    Durashift EST automatic shifting manual transmission introduced

2005
•    2.0-litre 150PS Fiesta ST launched as the first production offering of Ford Team RS. It was the most powerful Fiesta ever at the time. 

2006
•    Fiesta launched with voice activation and Bluetooth

2008
•    All-new Fiesta MkVI unveiled at Geneva Motor Show
•    MkVI Fiesta goes into production in Cologne, Germany, Valencia, Spain and Nanjing, China, with new 1.6-litre Duratec Ti-VCT petrol and sub-100g/km 1.6-litre Duratec diesel engines

2010
•    Fiesta’s 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi engine sees power increase to 95PS and three petrol engine options benefit from CO2 emission reductions

2012
•    Introduction of the Fiesta MkVII, the first Fiesta to come with the three cylinder 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine. Launched with Ford’s MyKey technology that would become a mainstay in many future Ford vehicles

2013
•    Fiesta ST launched with a 1.6-litre EcoBoost turbo engine that produces 182PS - Awarded Top Gear Car of the Year

2014    
•    Fiesta Red/Black editions unveiled with 140PS 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine. More power-per-litre than a Bugatti Veyron
•    Powershift launched
•    Fiesta becomes best-selling vehicle ever in the UK, surpassing the  4,105,961 registrations achieved by the Ford Escort 

2015    
•    Best year for Fiesta sales since 1996 – selling more than 133,000.

2016     
•    Fiesta ST200 launched with a specially developed 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine that delivers 200PS  - fastest-ever production Fiesta  
•    Fiesta becomes best-selling car in the UK every month for seven years in a row
•    Fiesta ST wins more than 10 key awards since launch in 2013, including What Car? ‘Best Hot Hatch’ for three years in a row