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"Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available" (whoistheleader2) 06/16/2020 at 21:52 • Filed to: Dots

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You should know this lowly Ford Festiva daily driver is parked in a UPS employee lot next to a bro’d out International.

I was only poking around there because I thought it was being sold by the place that owns the International and a whole bunch of sinilarly bro’d Geeps.

This manual equiped model is painted the patented “Festiva red” except for where it isn’t. Clearly basic transport and probably relegated to surface roads. I think this guy may be one of us.

It’s so tiny! Smaller than a Beetle, I think.

Not tiny? This semi. There is a place for these and this ain’t it, chief.

I also begin college tomorrow for the summer semester. Thanks for reading.

Dusty Ventures > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/16/2020 at 21:58

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20 inches shorter than a classic Beetle

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/16/2020 at 22:03

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1st gen Festivas are 136.8” long by 63.2" wide by 57.5" tall.

Type 1s are 160.6" long, 65 ” wide, and 61" tall. So a Festiva is smaller in every way!

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 06/16/2020 at 22:06

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You can't quite appreciate how small they are until you see one peeking out from behind a towering Matrix, and that dwarfed by an International.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Dusty Ventures 06/16/2020 at 22:06

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I think you could fit a Festiva on the inside of a Beetle.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/16/2020 at 22:08

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How is that International road legal? It looks like someone took an IH semi truck and converted it to pickup. I wonder if you need a CDL to drive that with no trailer.

I’ve only seen Festivas in real life three times. Twice, they were Aspires, but once was a clapped out red one at a restaurant parking lot. I wanted it.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/16/2020 at 22:22

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Those Festiva hark from the dying days of the best supermini era. They squandered their potential by using a comparatively gutless engine for the class. With some fettling, they could do amazing things.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 06/16/2020 at 22:24

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International probably requires a CDL, but nothing in the law says you can’t drive one for pleasure. Why you’d want to is another story that makes much less sense but I’ve seen them on occasion. Also, panel gaps in an aftermarket conversion are more forgivable, but this?

That’s the second Festival I’ve ever seen and the only one I’ve seen up close. Breathtakingly basic and stunningly small. Manual too!

I know for a fact it is dailied.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 06/16/2020 at 22:26

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There’s no “super” in this “mini.” Makes a modern Cooper look big. I wonder how this stacks up to a classic Cooper?

Even with more power, it was doomed from the start. Too small and too uncool.

Under_Score > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/16/2020 at 22:30

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An On My Mind plate on a car like that tells me the owner cares about it & has had it for a very long time.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/16/2020 at 22:36

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They were popular down here.

Size wise they are close to the classic Mini but had a taller glasshouse. The Mini was definitely the better driving car but the Festiva was more practical.

These days, the Kia Picanto has this class sown up in Australia...good little car too.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Under_Score 06/16/2020 at 22:37

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Indeed. Probably not the original owner to do that sort of mods to it but the interior was surprisingly intact and there was a big box of tools in the rear to keep it going. Clearly someone who plans on keeping it for as long as possible as fun basic transport if the type you can't get anymore.

Dusty Ventures > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/16/2020 at 22:39

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Quick check says the width won’t work. The Festiva is three inches wider

Under_Score > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/16/2020 at 22:41

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If the On My Mind plate is registered to them, they have to be at least 45 years old.

1988 car registered in c.2000 means it was probably super cheap when they got it in the first place.

R.S.D. > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 06/16/2020 at 23:05

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There are Festiva modder who drop in the Mazda B series 1.6L engine.  With just 200o lbs to move and some aftermarket suspension bits, the Festiva becomes a real hoonfest.  

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 06/16/2020 at 23:25

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This class doesn't exist stateside anymore. Interesting.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Under_Score 06/16/2020 at 23:26

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Yes, probably low miles at the time for it to still be running. Probably a grandma's car before turning into a college beater before turning into a dear friend.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Dusty Ventures 06/16/2020 at 23:27

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That will complicate things but not rule it out.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 06/17/2020 at 04:45

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I really like the styling of the current Picanto! We don’t get them in Canada though. :(

If we did they'd be at the top of my list to replace Humdrum when the time came!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/17/2020 at 04:46

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This makes me sad as it's my favorite class! :(

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/17/2020 at 04:52

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That truck is dumb...NOBODY needs a semi-based pickup...it’s hard to load cause the bed is so high and that bed doesn’t look that much larger than a regular larger normal pickup truck bed anyway (say F250 or F350 sized)...a pointless status symbol...

Love the little Festiva...these were just a rebadged Mazda 121, I believe? Ford was partnered with Mazda at the time. Kia also built and sold them under license as the Kia Pride!

Steph from idriveaclassic reviewed a UK spec Pride not too long ago!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ijlMPAOxxpg

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 06/17/2020 at 05:07

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Updated version drops next month...

https://www.goauto.com.au/future-models/kia/picanto/kia-updates-picanto-with-new-tech-here-late-july/2020-06-10/83049.html

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 06/17/2020 at 05:23

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Oppo, me likey! :D

Khalbali > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/17/2020 at 06:19

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I was really hoping it was going to be for sale, I really miss mine... 

nerd_racing > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/17/2020 at 07:36

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I just went to a car gathering in Columbus over the weekend called Ohiostiva.  There were well over 30 Festivas.  I even left one there that I had sitting in my driveway.  They are fun cars and can be built any way you like.  Surprisingly good chassis for racing too.  

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 06/17/2020 at 09:52

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There is the Mirage and there used to be the I-MiEV. Trying to think. Smart is gone too. I'm not sure the Mirage is really a supermini though.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Khalbali 06/17/2020 at 09:57

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I stopped and poked around because I thought that lot full of other I retesting rides was for sale by the company selling the International but it turned out to be a UPS employee lot.

No rust and best interior I've seen in these ever. The grandfathered in plate means this had probably been owned by the same person for most of its life.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > nerd_racing 06/17/2020 at 09:59

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Any pictures? I'm sure many there would kill for the nearly perfect interior this thing had. I was pretty surprised given the filthy faded exterior. 

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/17/2020 at 10:01

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Chevy Spark? I think that’s gone soon too...

nerd_racing > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/17/2020 at 10:18

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They have a bunch of pictures on the FordFestiva.com facebook group.  There is another gathering in October called Festiva Madness in Raleigh NC that usually brings closer to 50 cars or more.  

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 06/17/2020 at 10:20

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No one could possibly argue that the International is “useful.” There are only a handful of people stupid enough to buy one. I think you need a CDL to drive it too.

Interesting but about the Kia Pride. She mentioned they were sold in Oregon but that would mean they would be competing with the identical Festival. I imagine much more were sold in the US due to the more familiar Fo rd brand despite Americans’ aversion to small cars. It might just be the smallest car I’ve ever seen. Was the four door sold here? I’ve only seen two doors.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 06/17/2020 at 10:24

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Gone. Too bad because that was kind of a quirky and surprisingly successful attempt with the motorcycle inspired gauges. There is one always driving around that is a simply revolting washed out shade of plum. I like color but somehow it is just absolutely wretched.

What exactly is a "supermini?"

Schaef_Camaero Z/28 > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/17/2020 at 11:24

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Here’s my old one. It was a good little car. It had sat in Texas for 10 years before I got it, so the interior was UV damaged and the paint was faded, although it did shine up pretty nicely. It was fun to bomb around in with the 5 speed. I put a lot of miles on it driving the ~70 miles to school and back.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Schaef_Camaero Z/28 06/17/2020 at 11:28

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Seems like people have lots of fonde memories of them . Why are they always that same red? Paint looks pretty good for 10 years of  the Texas sun. 70 mile commit is no joke.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/17/2020 at 11:52

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I think all Festivas sold here were 2-door. The Kia Pride and Mazda 121 were never sold here either...all models of that car were badged as the Ford Festiva for the North American market, as far as I know !

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/17/2020 at 11:54

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I believe ‘supermini’ is a colloquial term for the European-designated ‘A-class’ of cars, though the term is used fairly commonly on a global scale now as well but originated in the UK as the UK term for ‘A-class’ cars :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-segment

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermini

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 06/17/2020 at 12:03

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Huh, I sort of misunderstood the term. I forgot that the Mini is still on sale (and really just needs a new generation at this point that can accommodate larger batteries for the EV ) and there are one or two subcompacts left. I guess the Rio hatch is a “supermini” too.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 06/17/2020 at 12:06

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The thing that surprised me the most about that video is that it was a four door. She also said that the Pride was sold here starting in Oregon but she may have just confused the brand starting there. 

Schaef_Camaero Z/28 > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/17/2020 at 12:09

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I think there was only a handful of colors available, I would bet red was the most common. I also had a ratty teal/robin egg colored one before the red one. It was grimy and rotting, but ran well. I had to fix a lot of stuff on the red one due to it sitting. Very easy car to work on. 

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/17/2020 at 12:20

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I’m guessing she mentioned the ‘Pride’ as in the model of car, but forgetting that it was rebadged as a Ford over here.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/17/2020 at 12:22

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Not sure...I think the current Rio/Accent hatch siblings would be a little larger class. Superminis are moreso considered cars the size of the current FIAT 500 or Smart.

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/20/2020 at 23:10

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Old Neon I saw on a walk today…

Hardly see any Neons and certainly not older generations.