Thursday 26th August 2010

Happy Tenth Anniversary, Racing Puma

A decade of Racy diminutive coupes gets celebrated at Duxford

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'Er, can you move the blue one to the right?'

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Ford Racing Puma, 48 Racing Pumas gathered last weekend at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford - where the original press photos for the car were taken.

The gathering brought together almost 10 per cent of the 500 Racing Pumas originally made.

The fun and festivities of the day culminated in the gathering together of the cars for a no-doubt less-than-rapid photocall in front of Duxford's American Air Museum hangar. There was also a concours competition - won by Alan Mowberry's A15 PUM. Very nice.

Of course, the inevitable corollary to posting a story like this on PH is a trawl through the PH classifieds to see what Racing Pumas are going for.

Quite a lot, as it turns out - generally you'll need to part with around £6k, although this 73k-mile Racing Puma has recently popped up on PH for a tidy-sounding £4.5k.

Closer to this author's Shed-sized budget are the less glamorous but equally loveable regular models. We particularly liked this specced-to-the-gunwales Y-plate Puma Black Edition, up for £2195.

[ceriw]

a brilliant car. responsive engine, plenty of go and excellent handling.
underrated.
there is a 1.6 turbo version too.

[Gad-Westy]

Seemed expensive when launched but I think these look like a great buy now. Nobody ever seems to talk about them these days but I seem to remember evo saying that it gave the DC2 a very good run for its money.

Edited by Gad-Westy on Wednesday 25th August 14:45

[Rawwr]

I use the Puma as the milestone of where Ford started making great handling cars again¹












¹Ok, the Fiesta is was strung on was probably the first but meh.

[Stevesh]

ceriw said:

there is a 1.6 turbo version too.

Only via aftermarket tuners.

Steve

[Mastodon2]

Certainly a cool looking car, but the interior is a bit dodgy (was just watching the Top gear review of this car this morning, the steering wheel covering a is a bit..shat?) but overall a very cool car. It would need more power to get my interested these days though, you can get more performance for less money if you look around, but there is obviously a bit of kudos that goes with owning a racing Puma.

[Gad-Westy]

Mastodon2 said:

Certainly a cool looking car, but the interior is a bit dodgy (was just watching the Top gear review of this car this morning, the steering wheel covering a is a bit..shat?) but overall a very cool car. It would need more power to get my interested these days though, you can get more performance for less money if you look around, but there is obviously a bit of kudos that goes with owning a racing Puma.

You can always get more performance for your money no matter what you buy. Everything about this car is probably bettered by the DC2 Integra but somehow the Puma is far more interesting. To me, anyway.

[s3fella]

Always like these, but the money is to strong on them. I'd rather get my retro hatch kicks from an utterly mint Rover BRM for £1500, or a clio Williams and keep £4500 in the bank! Just as "different" similar spec (well rover is) and proably a bit quicker. Just as rare nowadays too???


Having said that I do like the Racing Puma, no doubt.

[Matt_N]

Guy over the road from me has a FRP.

He loves it and cherishes it, but they dont half suffer from the tin worm. It's been in for rust work 3 times in the 2 years he has lived there.

[SSCooperS]

I sold mine (#0013) about a month before this event. I should have kept hold of it for another month.

[FWDRacer]

FRP Any spares are getting very rare and pricey now - I run a standard 1.7 - 90% of the kicks for 20% of the outlay. FRP or standard - both massively underated cars.

Light trim and re-colour and blow dry, Sir? - heard all the jokes - Punt one down your favourite B-road and then take the proverbial... I've had a few 'rated' pieces of exotica diasappear into rear view mirror specks - very exploitable and forgiving chassis...

[Gibo993]

Well I don't know how A15 PUM won the concours, it has the wrong font on the numberplate! Its a disgrace I tell you..

Love the Racing Puma a real future classic, buy one and tuck it in the garage (oh and drive it a bit too)

[N88]

Good friend of mine has one. Cracking car, sounds awesome popping and banging with the sports cat and piper exhaust system he has

[GPT]

Well over 10 posts and no-one has queried the spelling of "gunwhale".

Standards are slipping.

Did he mean this:

Edited by GPT on Wednesday 25th August 16:20

[Riggers]

GPT said:

Well over 10 posts and no-one has queried the spelling of "gunwhale".

Standards are slipping.

Did he mean this:

Edited by GPT on Wednesday 25th August 16:20

Absolutely - you know... a whale with firearms... sheesh

(changed)

[Mastodon2]

What is it about these old Fords that makes them rust so readily? Cheap paint? Cheap, low quality metals in the body work?

[Stevesh]

I think the FRP was prone to rust as the extended wheel arches got chipped easily. Unless you are quick with the touch up stick, it's a foregone conclusion. The rust goes out to in.

Steve

[GregE240]

The lack of FRP specific spares would frighten the bejeebers out of me if I were a prospective buyer.

A neighbour had one from new, a great car. One of the classic hot hatches.

[MrPickle]

I worked in a Ford main dealer when these were released.
Got to, breifly, drive one and fell in love. Stunning cars, The one in our showroom was polished daily! Not seen one for a few years come to think of it. How many are left?

[andy665]

I had two W648 AVW followed by X482 KAV, both fantastic cars but running costs were high and service from Ford Racing was terrible on FRP specific parts

Easily the best handling FWD I have ever owned

[N88]

olly22n said:

FWDRacer said:

FRP Any spares are getting very rare and pricey now - I run a standard 1.7 - 90% of the kicks for 20% of the outlay. FRP or standard - both massively underated cars.

Light trim and re-colour and blow dry, Sir? - heard all the jokes - Punt one down your favourite B-road and then take the proverbial... I've had a few 'rated' pieces of exotica diasappear into rear view mirror specks - very exploitable and forgiving chassis...

+ 1.

standard one is just as good in reality and more per £.

Heard the FRP rusted more eagerly than the normal one too?

Have you driven both? Not being funny, just an interesting point you make.