The Lucky Black Cat: The Puma and the puddle

All assembled RHD Ford Pumas began life in Cologne, Germany. All 1.7 litre MHA/B engines had a brief stop in Japan too and depending on the route, they will all have been transported through Holland, Belgium and France too before landing here in Blighty.

So that's two continents and six countries. Others may have gone further, given that the car was sold all over Europe but there were just two that went somewhere no other Pumas have ever made it to... The USA. One was a silver lefty and the other; an FRP (Ford Racing Puma). They couldn't stay there either. Remember this?

That press car wherever it may be now, was the only regular Puma (that we know of) to ever make it Stateside. The FRP came later to promote it for a magazine as I understand it:

http://www.ponysite.de/bullite.htm

http://www.pumapeople.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=86279&st=20

"Who the hell cares?" I hear you ask... Well, if you didn't take an interest in what I am about to do, you probably wouldn't still be reading.

I have found three articles online referring to the Ford Puma in the US - they all outline how cool the car is and two complain that the US market never received them. (Funny that the advertising campaign was set in San Fransisco!) One article was written by the guy that drove the FRP during the launch campaign and he talks about the enjoyment of driving it along the Pacific Coast Highway.

Articles are as follows:

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/ford-only-has-to-bring-back-one-car-and-its-the-damn-1534778933

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/videos/a22101/fords-racing-puma-revisited-36638/

http://myforddreams2.blogspot.co.uk/2007/10/tiffs-day-of-fun-in-ford-puma-why-youll.html?m=1

Needless to say, the Ford Puma has been voted as one of Europe's best handling and most fun to drive sports coupes and the few Americans that know it even existed only complain that like much of the European auto market, the Puma never made it officially stateside. Just two press cars made it to California and were driven for short periods of time… Certainly not enough time for locals to enjoy in any capacity.

I am about to take the first Puma to the USA for driving purposes and not for press purposes and it will certainly be the first on the East coast to my knowledge.

Why? Why not! The car covers all bases; they are cheap as chips right now, refined and comfy, handle great, will keep up with a 'stang in New England (because the roads have bends), simple enough to be repaired with hopes and dreams, good on fuel, comes with AC, gorgeous to look at.. It's also got a Ford badge, which will just confuse everyone and most of it is a fiesta making it frankenstein quite easily with existing Ford parts out there.

So it's cool in the UK and too cool for the US... Yep, definitely made the right choice!

I managed to find an oil-burning Black edition - with the leather, AC and F1 wheels... For 60 quid (100USD). When we got it back to the workshop, we took a look at the timing belt and... Wow. Hangin'.

The decision was made that 150 quid for parts (timing & head gasket set with stem seals) with no definite explanation for the burning oil condoned it more cost effective to buy a replacement lower mileage engine. This car had done 124k with no love whatsoever, so when an 80k motor with a new belt turned up at 120 quid, it was a no brainer.. Only I had to transport it in the back of my Saab 9-3 Saloon... Poor Sven.

My buddy Harry and I quickly got to work swapping out the engine, being sure to leave the working AC in the engine bay to save money re-gassing. I threw some silver paint at the inlet manifold (for an extra 10 bhp, obvs), only had 15 bolts left over :-/ and even treated the little cat to a new clutch. All told, with a wheel bearing, a service and a new 'non-melted' steering wheel, the car owes me circa 300 quid, which was always the plan.

New engine on the floor