Throughout the ’Eighties, Ford’s sub-Transit commercial offerings were among the best-selling vans in their sector. But as the decade was drawing to a close, the Blue Oval couldn’t afford to rest on its corporate laurels, hence this updated line-up of Fiesta, Combi and Escort vans for 1989, featuring improved petrol and diesel engines.
The Combi is a particularly unusual sight these days. Unashamedly based on the Escort estate of the time, with the rear side windows panelled in, it provided an interesting alternative to the Escort van. What the Combi lacked in extra load height it more than made up for in terms of affordability.
For 1989, both the Combi and the Escort van were better looking than before: “Restyled front bumpers and a range of new body colours complete the treatment” explained Ford. As for the Fiesta van, this now benefited from “more comfortable seats and padded head restraints on all models”.
