I've been driving to a much more symbolic reunion, though, one with the dinky coupé's design chief, the inimitable Ian Callum. Back in the mid-1990s Callum was working for TWR and the Aston Martin DB7 had just launched to widespread praise. He tells me: 'Suddenly I have a calling card. Ford comes along and says "We've got this Yamaha engine and we're looking for a car to put it in." Rather than just put it in a Fiesta, they want to build a special car around it, to give the engine a unique home.'
In the modern era of platform-sharing and parts-bin commonality concepts that have hoovered up the individuality of affordable mainstream cars - it sounds like an absurd indulgence. The fact that the Vauxhall Tigra was out gave the numbers boys an excuse to try something, otherwise I'm not sure this would have happened. Ford always measured to make sure a marketplace existed, and that's something that was a big frustration for a designer with new ideas.
It brought the Puma to fruition, however, giving Callum one of his biggest-selling hits. 'Designing this fascinated me more than designing something exotic because it's more challenging,' he tells me. 'You have to think harder. At the end of the day, it gives a lot more people pleasure. It's like a pop song. It's nice to get a number one that people can all enjoy rather than some obscure track that only niche music fans will listen to.
The challenge here was to whip up something exotic from a Fiesta platform. The body could be all-new, but the dimensions couldn't change - and nor could the rather prosaic interior. 'Design is about dealing with constraint and getting the best answer out of it, Ian says. 'It's not about just doing what you want and hoping somebody will build it. I have done that, mind. It was called the Jaguar C-X75...'
Bu hikaye Octane dergisinin May 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Octane dergisinin May 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Will China Change Everything? - China is tearing up modern motor manufacture but is yet to make more than a ripple in the classic car world. That could be about to change dramatically
China now dominates the automotive world in a way even Detroit in its heyday would have struggled to comprehend.Helped by Government incentives, the new car world is dominated by China's industries: whether full cars that undercut Western models by huge amounts, ownership of storied European brands such as Lotus and Volvo, or ownership and access to the vast majority of raw materials that go into EV cars, its influence is far-reaching and deep. However, this automotive enlightenment hasn't manifested itself in the classic world in any meaningful way - until now.
Jem Marsh
The hard-bitten Marcos boss was driven like few others and never knew when he was beaten. Thankfully
Vandamm House
A Mid-Century Modernist masterpiece that was immortalised on celluloid - despite never actually existing
Making light
Alfa Romeo's post-war renaissance began with the 1900 saloon - and matured with Zagato's featherweight coupé version, as Jay Harvey discovers
FULL OF EASTERN PROMISE
Is burgeoning classic car interest in the Middle East good for the global classic market? Nathan Chadwick investigates
Before the beginning
This rare Amazon Green pre-production Range Rover is Velar chassis number 4. James Elliott charts its historically revealing factory restoration
Ben Cussons
As the outgoing chairman of the Royal Automobile Club hands on to his successor, Robert Coucher quizzes him about the evolution of this great British institution
BULLDOG & THE PUPPIES
We gather five motoring masterpieces by avant-garde designer William Towns - and drive all of them
Below the tip of the Audrain iceberg
As the Audrain organisation grows, we take a look behind the scenes at the huge car collection that feeds it
Flying the Scottish flag
Young Ecurie Ecosse driver Chloe Grant gets to grips with the Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar C-type at Goodwood. Matthew Hayward is Octane's witness
