1988 Ford Fiesta 1.4 Sport

Highlights

• Exceedingly rare - far more so than an XR2i

• Fresh from restoration by a Ford Approved specialist 

• Ready to use and enjoy 

• Reported to be in great mechanical health

• MOT to July 2026

Overview

The Ford Fiesta is a cornerstone of UK car culture, and the recent decision by Ford to kill the model in its entirety during 2023 makes the classics even more desirable. Whilst many Ford enthusiasts think immediately of the XR2i when the MK2 Fiesta is mentioned, arguably its sibling the Fiesta S is just as, if not perhaps more desirable, thanks to its increasing rarity.

Pitched as a mid-range model, the rev-happy 1.4-litre ‘lean burn’ engine, five-speed manual gearbox and low weight made the S punch far above its weight or price tag, with a sub-11-second 0-60 time. Sadly, these figures also caught the attention of fledgling boy racers and ‘driving enthusiasts’ of the time who wished they could afford an XR2i, with the result being that many of these plucky hot hatches ended up in the ditch, badly modified or worse. 

All of which brings us to this example - a wonderful 1988-registered Fiesta S. Purchased by the current owner in need of restoration but free of any distasteful modifications, the current owner commissioned a full-body respray, fitment of new panels where required, and had any known corrosion issues addressed. The result is an ‘S’ that is ready to drive and enjoy, yet allows the next keeper to fettle where they desire (think of it being the final 10% of the restoration) which makes this Fiesta a very keen prospect for those looking for a usable project with the heavy work already taken care of.

History and documentation

• Registered 01 Aug 1988

• Original stamped service book with services as follows: 500 miles (stamped, but no date/exact mileage), Jun 1988 @ 1,206 miles, Dec 1989 (no mileage), Aug 1990 (no mileage), Mar 1991 @ 21,973 miles, Jun 1991 @ 25,212 miles, Jul 1993 @ 35,800 miles, Mar 1995 @ 41,189 miles, 50,124 miles (no date), Jul 2025 @ 73,285 miles

• Full document pack

• Collection of invoices and historic MOT certificates

• Numerous historic servicing invoices

• Two keys

• Current MOT expires 17 July 2026 with advisories for play and noise from the offside rear wheel bearing

• Invoice from 2009 detailing historic welding

• The seller notes that any bodywork carried out during the recent restoration was completed by a professional bodyshop

• The bodyworks carried out include fitment of a new bonnet, tailgate, offside door and front wing, welding to the chassis and boot floor, a new exhaust and other sundry items

• V5 present in owner’s name

• New front brake discs and pads fitted in December 2025

• HPI clear

Interior

• Wonderfully retro interior in remarkable condition

• Reported to be original and unrestored

• Manual sunroof

• The dashboard looks to be free of any cracking or notable wear, but has faded slightly over the years

• The same is true of the front seats, which are lightly sun bleached but show no signs of any rips or large blemishes

• In the rear, the bench seat is also in remarkable condition for its age

• Looking closely, there are some areas of the cabin that show a little wear such as small blemishes on the door cards, areas of corrosion on the seat rails, scuffs on the gearstick and other minor imperfections

• The plastic surround for the stereo is cracked in the upper right-hand corner

• On the nearside door card, the finishing trim is missing on the window winder handle

• Up above, we note some light staining to the headliner

• The boot looks to present well, with some areas of wear visible to the exposed rear suspension turrets

• Notably, the parcel shelf is wonderfully free of any 6x9 speaker cutouts!

• The seller notes that the radio is inoperable, but everything else is functioning as intended

Exterior

• Recently restored white bodywork presents very well; the car has been on display in a Ford dealership next to a model T and has generated a lot of positive feedback

• New wipers and Ford badging 

• New hubcaps for the steel wheels

• The black plastic trims and bumpers are beginning to show their age with a mixture of blemishes and UV fading

• The paintwork on the mirror mounts is beginning to flake

• Below the fuel filler cap, the rear quarter trim is stained from a previous fuel spillage

• Looking closely, there is evidence of previous repairs to the bodywork below both rear light units

• Along the flanks of the car, the shut lines look to be crisp and even

• Speaking of shut lines, we’d suggest the bonnet perhaps needs some minor fettling, as the panel gap on the offside looks larger than that of the nearside

• The exterior is finished off with a brace of front spot lights, striking red side graphics and a fresh Fiesta S rear graphic badge

• Overall, a very smart example of the lesser-seen MK2 Fiesta variant that is sure to draw plenty of attention

Mechanical

• 1392cc SOHC ‘lean burn’ inline-four engine producing circa 75bhp, with a raspy Ford engine note to accompany the 0-60 sprint of 10.8 seconds - still respectable by modern standards!

• Five-speed, all-synchromesh manual gearbox

• Front-wheel drive

• No modifications from factory specification

• Under the front-hinged bonnet, some of the exposed fixtures and fittings exhibit areas of corrosion, but nothing that looks to be other than superficial

• The underside looks to have been coated with a corrosion inhibitor

• The seller tell us that the car runs and drives well, having been taken to a number of local shows without fault

Summary

Rarer than an XR2i, the Fiesta S may be devoid of the holy badge bestowed upon its stablemate, but is arguably far rarer and therefore, far better of a prospect for those looking to expand or perhaps start their classic Ford collection. Given its ‘lesser’ position in the Fiesta lineup when new, it was also often bought by those with lofty ‘boy racer’ aspirations, and as such, finding one in standard, un-crashed form such as this is a rare occurrence. 

This 1988 Fiesta S has had the heavy lifting done for you with its recent restoration, is in running and driving condition with an MOT until summer, and yet offers some areas for little rounds of TLC and ‘tarting up’ - perfect for those winter weekends and springtime evenings in the garage to bring everything up-to-scratch for the summer show season, or an ideal balance of condition and usability for those who just want to drive the car as-is.

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Prestbury, Macclesfield.