European hatchbacks: first in a series.

The selection of econoboxes in North America in the late 80's and early 90's wasn't a wide one.There were a few domestic models but most were captive imports such as the Ford Festiva and Dodge Colt or models directly from Honda, Toyota and the like. Cities and towns are generally spread over long distances in North America so cars, and trucks for that matter, tended towards the large size for comfort and because we had the room! Such is not the case in Europe. Towns and cities are much closer together, countries smaller and the continent is more densely populated. If you took a twelve hour drive in Canada or the US you wouldn't leave Canada or the US. A twelve hour drive in Europe, for example from Amsterdam to Milan could have you  in a total of six countries; Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland and Italy! That's part of the reason that the majority of cars in Europe tend to be smaller. Combine that with the high cost of fuel and the result was, and still is, a much larger selection of cars that would fit into the econobox category. 

European econobox and hot hatch

This is the first of four posts coming over the next couple of months that will feature a number of those econoboxes, and their "hot hatch" variants, not available in the North American market. These will be models available from the late 80s until the mid to late 90s manufactured in France, the UK, Italy and Japan!

Westiva X

It's that time of year again!

Artwork courtesy of Ben G. Rogers

Westiva is very casual, informal event originally geared towards owners, fans and fanatics of both the Ford Festiva or Ford Aspire with invitations extended to owners of other econoboxes from the late eighties and early nineties such as the Dodge Colt, Chevrolet Sprint, Geo Metro, Suzuki Swift and Nissan Micra.

Westiva 2017... four weeks and counting.

As I write this post Westiva 2017 is only four weeks away. What is Westiva you ask? Answers to that question can be found by following this link.

Some of the attendees at Westiva 2016

We are getting excited as this year's event is shaping up to be the biggest ever. We have confirmed attendees from Kentucky, Washington State, Georgia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. There is also a possibility of at least one Festiva coming up from Arizona! We have several of our "regulars" coming along with a number of first timers. 

If you have a Festiva, an Aspire, or one of many of the econoboxes from the late '80's and early '90's come and join us. If you don't and are wondering what all the fuss is about please stop by to have a look and ask your questions.

Watch this space for weekly updates!

Westiva 2015: an event for econobox fans!

On July 11th we will be hosting Westiva 2015. This will be the seventh time we've held this event with the first being in 2008.

2008 attendees with 'The Wedge' in the background.

Westiva is very casual, informal event originally geared towards owners, fans and fanatics of both the Ford Festiva or Ford Aspire with invitations extended to owners of other econoboxes from the late eighties and early nineties such as the Dodge Colt, Chevrolet Sprint, Geo Metro, Suzuki Swift and Nissan Micra.

The meet is held at the picturesque Wedge Pond Day Use Area in beautiful Kananaskis Country. The "official" start time is around 10:00am. At about 1:00pm we’ll cruise up to the Boulton Creek Trading Post in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park for ice cream, about a 30km drive. From there we'll continue to Upper Kananaskis Lake.

2010 attendees (This shot was taken before the tenth car arrived)

When Westiva was first held in 2008 there were four attendees. Two from Calgary, one from the lower mainland of British Columbia and the fourth driving up from Worland WY. Our best year attendance-wise was 2010 when we had 10 Festivas show up with the furthest being from Ontario. This year we already have owners bringing the cars from as far away as Pasco WA and St. Albert SK.

In keeping with our expanded area of interest we had the owner of a Suburau Vivio RXR come to the 2012 edition. There was no event in 2013 due to significant flooding in southern Alberta

The 2014 event saw a couple of Suzuki Swifts in attendance, one from Calgary and the other from Spruce Grove AB.

Westiva 2014 attendees.

So consider yourself invited! I hope to have my new Festiva project car done in time for the meet.


7th ANNUAL WESTIVA

When: Saturday July 11, 2014
Where: Wedge Pond Day Use Area, Kananaskis, Alberta
Who: Ford Festiva and Aspire fans and anyone interested along with owners, fans etc of other econoboxes from the era.
Why: Why not?

If you'd like more information either leave a comment here or check out the "Meets & Events" section at FordFestiva.com

Upcoming event for econobox fans!

On July 12th we will be hosting Westiva 2014. This would have been the seventh annual but the event was cancelled last year due to significant flooding in Southern Alberta. 

 

2008 attendees with 'The Wedge' in the background.

Westiva is very casual, informal event originally intended for owners, fans and fanatics of both the Ford Festiva or Ford Aspire but we have recently extended invitations to owners of other econoboxes from the late eighties and early nineties such as the Dodge Colt, Chevrolet Sprint, Geo Metro, Suzuki Swift and Nissan Micra.

The meet is held at the picturesque Wedge Pond Day Use Area in beautiful Kananaskis Country. The "official" start time is around 10:00am. At about 1:00pm we’ll cruise up to the Boulton Creek Trading Post in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park for ice cream, about a 30km drive. From there we'll continue to Upper Kananaskis Lake.

2010 attendees (This shot was taken before the tenth car arrived)

When Westiva was first held in 2008 there were four attendees. Two from Calgary, one from the lower mainland of British Columbia and the fourth driving up from Worland WY. Our best year attendance-wise was 2010 when we had 10 Festivas show up with the furthest being from Ontario. This year we already have owners bringing the cars from as far away as Pasco WA and St. Albert SK.

In keeping with our expanded area of interest we had the owner of a Suburau Vivio RXR come to the 2012 edition.

So consider yourself invited!


6th ANNUAL WESTIVA

When: Saturday July 12, 2014
Where: Wedge Pond Day Use Area, Kananaskis, Alberta
Who: Ford Festiva and Aspire fans and anyone interested along with owners, fans etc of other econoboxes from the era.
Why: Why not?

Westiva 2012

SATURDAY JULY 14th, 2012

The 5th annual Westiva meet was held at Wedge Pond in beautiful Kananaskis country. Four Festivas made it along with a Subaru Vivio. A former Festiva owner and friend made it out along with his wife. Another owner made it out but unfortunately without his Festiva.

The weather was great for most of the day. The rain held off until after we had our ice cream at the Boulton Creek Trading Post.

Festivas and guest

The four Festivas

The white Festiva is an all original, one owner car. It's an LX so has all the desirable goodies, except the spoiler. Mine is the red one, I should probably do a post about it! The blue one has some suspension mods but is otherwise stock. It was driven from White Rock BC and won the long distance award. The fourth Festiva is from Calgary and is in what I would call rough but reliable shape. The stock headlights have been replaced with standard, large rectangular sealed beams; it has a rattle can paint job; one wiper arm is missing but it's the owner's daily driver!

Our "guest" is a Subaru Vivio RX-R, one of the Japanese Kei class cars. This little car is amazing! It has power windows, air conditioning and many more features that would normally be found on higher end cars.

Subaru Vivio

... all that plus an intercooler and only 660cc!

 Although attendance was a little lower than hoped we all had a great time talking car talk, comparing notes and enjoying some great ice cream after a 30 km cruise up to the Boulton Creek Trading Post.

I'd like to thank Richard Adrian of Interstate Batteries in Calgary for the hats and other goodies. Thanks too go out to Rockauto.com for the gift card and other giveaways!

There will be a Westiva 2013 so mark your calendars. Saturday July 13th, 2013!! We'll be inviting other subcompacts and econoboxes to join us again. Will we see any Suzuki Swifts or Dodge Colts? Keep watching this space!

Upcoming event

Join us on Saturday July 14th for Westiva 2012.

Westiva has primarily been targeted for the Festiva but this year we have decided to invite owners, fans and fanatics of other cars from the econobox era. Although our interests are in different cars we face some of the same issues... aftermarket support, parts availability, people asking "why bother"... you get the idea.

Bring the family and a picnic lunch to the Wedge Pond Day Use Area in Alberta's beautiful Kananaskis Country. Things get started at 10:00am and after lunch we’ll cruise up to the Boulton Creek Trading Post in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park for ice cream and then continue on to Upper Kananaskis Lake.

Festivas from as far away as Ontario and Wyoming have made the trip out for past events. You can expect to see everything from one owner originals to highly modified cars and everything in between.

For more information drop an e-mail to westiva2012@gmail.com or check out the Meets and Events section at www.fordfestiva.com.

 

We have been blessed with awesome weather for the past four years and the long term forecast looks great!

Here are some photos from past meets...

Westiva 2008 with "the Wedge" in the background.

 

Westiva 2011 from the top of "the Wedge"

Westiva 2010

Westiva 2010

So whether you own a Festiva, an Aspire, a Metro, a Swift, a Colt, a Champ, a Micra, or any other econobox come out and see what all the fuss is about! There may even be a Japanese Kei car in attendance.

In fact you don't have to own an econobox to attend. Just come out and enjoy the day!

8 FORWARD SPEEDS & 2 REVERSE? IN AN ECONOBOX?

This post is long overdue! I said in my post back in December that I would have some info on the Dodge Colt so here you go.

The Colt was first introduced into North America in 1970 with a 1.6l four cylinder driving the rear wheels through a four speed manual gearbox or the optional 3 speed automatic. I remember it being available as a Plymouth Cricket as well. It was available in this layout until 1979, going through a couple of revisions or generations.

We had a 1974 edition for a couple of years. We called it the "hundred dollar wonder"! When we bought from friends it had no carpet, the front end would shudder, shimmy and shake at anything over 70km/hour and water would come up through the hole in the floor that was missing its plug. Fixed the front end and replaced the plug but never did get around to putting in any carpet.

The "Econobox" version of the car was introduced in 1979. This was the fourth generation of the name plate which was based on the Mitsubishi Mirage and marketed as the Dodge Colt and Plymouth Champ. It was only available as a three door hatch until a five door was added in 1982. Two engines were available, both four cylinders, a 1.4. and a 1.6l. A turbocharged version of the 1.6l was offered in the last year of this generation. There were three different manual transmissions available as well as an automatic. There was a five speed and two different four speeds available with the most intriguing of these being the "Twin Stick" option. This had a 2 speed transfer case which gave the driver 8 forward speeds and two reverse!!! Combined gas mileage ranged from 25-34 mpg  with the "Twin Stick" option on the lower end of the scale.

Twin Stick ad.

1982 Plymouth Champ. Photo found at www.oldparkedcars.com

The fifth generation of the Colt was introduced as a 1985 model. A 4 door sedan was added to the lineup as was a 4x4 wagon. The base engine was a 1.5l four cylinder with a 102hp turbocharged 1.6l available as well. The wagon got a larger 1.8l non-turbo engine. Gas mileage ranged from 22-33 mpg. The next generation was introduced in 1989

1985 Colt, photo found at www.thestreetpeep.com

This new Colt was taller, wider, longer and heavier than previous years and was on the market until 1992. Three engines were available, a 1.5l and 1.6l normally aspirated. A 135hp turbocharged 1.6l was offered only in the 1989 model year. Transmissions available were 3 and 4 speed standard and a 3 speed automatic. Gas mileage ranged from 26-28.

Sixth generation Colt

There was a seventh generation introduced in 1993 but as far as I can tell was only available for two years.

So there you go.. another econobox for you to enjoy.