The Ka has a unique design
Although Ford withdrew from the Japanese market in 2016, many owners have fallen in love with the car’s frugal character and continue to drive it. The European Ford Meeting is organized by enthusiastic Ford users. On the day of the event, about 50 old and new European Fords and their enthusiastic owners came from all over Japan, including three first-generation Ford Ka’s.
The price was reasonable for an imported car
Both in the U.S. and in Europe, the cars produced by Ford are strongly influenced by the pragmatism of the “T” model, but at the same time, the company sometimes releases unique models with a different style.
The Ka was a “variant” presented by Ford at the Paris Salon in 1996. It was a casual derivative model built on the platform of the Fiesta, a compact car that was then in the lower range of Ford cars in Europe.
This was a time when Ford was promoting a common theme of design called “New Edge Design” characterized by taut surfaces and sharp edges. The most famous of these was the first-generation Focus, which was introduced in 1998, and the Ka could be considered its spearhead.
The Ka was available for pre-order in Japan in 1999, priced at 1.5 million yen, a reasonable price for an imported car at the time, and its affordable price, along with its innovative design, made it a hot topic among car enthusiasts. However, it was not an explosive hit, partly because of its unique design, which was not to everyone’s liking compared to the base Fiesta, and partly because it was not available with an automatic transmission.
However, it could be said that this Ka was the result of the exposure of the “New Edge Design” and led to the big hit of the Focus that followed. As mentioned above, three such Ka were present at this year’s European Ford Meeting 2023, and we were able to speak with the owner of one of them.
A novel design that doesn’t look old even if you see it now
“I used to drive a classic mini before that, but I fell in love with the Ka’s unique style and bought it new when it was introduced in 1999. I used to use it for my daily commute, but since retirement, I mainly use it for everyday use and for participating in events like this one,”
says Mr. Ichiro. The body is in excellent condition, so I asked him about that, and he told me that he had it completely painted in 2012, and has been coating it every year since then.
This year’s Ka is equipped with a 1.3L engine called the Endura E, which is a descendant of the OHV engine called the “Ford Kent Unit” familiar to fans of old British cars. This engine is a masterpiece of longevity, with its roots dating back to 1958. Although the basic design of the engine is old, fuel economy is said to be good, at 13 km/L in town and just under 20 km/L at high speeds.
Mr. Ichiro says he is pleased with its basic performance and its innovative design that doesn’t look old-fashioned today.
“I import parts from overseas or look for used parts in Japan. When I was looking to replace a damaged muffler, I was able to get one of the only two parts left in Japan.”
Almost a quarter of a century has passed since Ka was purchased as a new car, but it takes a certain amount of effort and love to keep it going strong.
“The tire size is 165/65R13, which is not a common size these days, but I just replaced it the other day, so I think I will continue to drive it again for the time being until this tire wears out.”
