Mint condition Ford Racing Puma for sale
The last owner kept this for more than 20 years - easy to see why...
Time is certainly kinder to some cars than others. For the Ford Racing Puma, the passing of a quarter of a century has boosted its reputation considerably. While everyone loved the way it drove back at the turn of the millennium, and its widetracked, tarmac rally car looks, it was hard to level the experience of 153hp - even a zingy, willing 153hp - with the £23,000 asking price. Even now, that looks like a lot of cash for not much horsepower, and £23k in today’s money is almost £45,000…
But this was the time of Ford making its special cars very special indeed, even when they didn’t have a huge amount of power. So the RP got the pumped-up bodywork fitted by Tickford, the brakes used super expensive Alcon calipers, Sparco seats were included, suspension was by Eibach springs and Sachs dampers, there was a limited-slip diff… like the Focus RS that followed, no expense was spared on making the Racing Puma handle as well as possible. In fact, it’s the engine modifications that were probably the least involved bit of the overhaul, with new cams, a sprightlier exhaust and its own inlet manifold to free up another 30hp.
It was that effort invested in making the Puma such a stunning little object to look at and to drive, rather than the most powerful flagship model it could be, that has secured the Racing such hallowed status. It really does look sensational. What was rare new, with just 500 made, is even more so now, with a chunk of them having rotted away or ended up around trees. Typically these will have been cared for better than standard Pumas, because they never depreciated to such bargain bin levels, but there was definitely a time when rust repairs - especially around those bespoke arches - could have cost most of the value of the car. There must be considerably fewer than 500 left on the road, put it that way.
That being said, with the Racing’s reputation as fast(ish) Ford royalty now assured, those remaining tend to be good ones. Really, really good ones, in the case of this one. It comes from more than 20 years in a collection, during which time it has passed every single MOT without advisory bar two - those fails were both for a headlight pointing too high. So a pretty much perfect record. Use slowed up at the end of the '00s, from which time it’s only been driven a few hundred miles a year, leaving it now on 58,356 miles.
You can imagine the Puma was probably in pretty fine fettle already, but after 20-odd years the Imperial Blue paint wasn’t quite perfect. So it’s actually just been resprayed, with the aim ‘to make it one of the best out there’ according to the selling dealer. Has that made it too nice to use? Tricky one, isn’t it? Because there’ll always be that concern about spoiling the paint, or exposing vulnerable bodywork, or wearing out parts that’ll be difficult to replace. The Racing Puma is definitely one of very few front-wheel drive cars you’d surely be quite happy just to park up and stare at. On the other hand, this is the very best version of one of Ford’s greatest small cars ever - one drive might be enough to have you hooked, and unable to clamber from the Sparco’s embrace…
In 2026, a Racing Puma costs about what it did all those years ago, this one for sale at £24,950. A lot against every other Puma, if small change in the mad world of fast Fords. With mass market cars as specialised as the Racing unlikely to happen again, it certainly doesn’t seem like this will be worth any less as its 30th birthday nears. But we also wouldn’t bank on any further appreciation, given it lacks a homologation link or huge power. All the more reason, you might say, to get out and enjoy it…
Fords of this era are a permanent mix of rot and door seals hanging out. Rather a R26 Megane/Clio 200 and be happy to drive it.
These are a really quirky car.
On the right road, in the right mood - absolutely some of the most fun I've had in a car
On a long journey - horribly noisy - I only ever did one !!
Daily commute - pretty horrible with crashy suspension, grabby steering and noisy
I don't think I would spend my own money on one but I do have warm feeling towards them as the "highs" were so high that you remember them
If I didn't have motorbikes then I might think about one
Can not imagine having one as an only car - would drive you mental
The Puma is such a great car to drive and, while I'd struggle to justify the required investment (and care) for a genuine Racing version, the idea of a pumped up one that looks like this still has bucket loads of appeal.
If only more manufacturers were willing to do this sort of thing today.
I did revisit them when they were in the £5-8k price range as a cheap but cool track car, you could get an utterly mint one for around £7k. The problem was even then in the late noughties to early teens parts supply was a problem and they really didn't do anything a Clio 197 couldn't do for similar money.
Parts supply must be a real problem for these now, which would be an issue for anyone wanting to actually use it.
I don't think I'd want one as a daily cos even the standard puma is a pain in the arse on the daily. Metal gear knob on a cold day? No thanks. It's raining and you want to get in the boot? All the water in the world will run into the boot. Not in a mood for driving hard? Get annoyed by the crashy suspension and the engine that doesn't really come alive until the revs come up a bit. Can't imagine a racing being any better.
That said I think it's cheap enough, they're all close to 20k, this one looks a goodun. Standard ones are coming up fast too. Mine cost £600, £300 and £200. You're looking at closer to £2k for anything halfway decent now.
I get why people might want a bit more power, but these have always been about a zingy, revvy engine to me. Adding a turbo would turn it into a very different car. If you really needed 200bhp without going mad on the standard engine, I'd fit a 2.0-litre Duratec from a Fiesta ST150 with some cams, throttle bodies and other bits. Would give a decent uplift without totally changing the character of the car.
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