Every day, we get asked to value an increasingly wide variety of vehicles. Sometimes we do specialist work; on more unique or one-of-a-kind cars — everything from ice cream trucks to tractors. But we also get asked to do more day-to-day classics, some of which have been used as daily drivers.
Seeing such a wide variety of cars can lead to some pretty unique finds and an appreciation for the heritage of different models.

Every brand will have cars that, nowadays, are tried and true. For Volkswagen, it’s the Beetle. For Mini, it’s the Cooper. For Land Rover, it’s the Defender.

So what are each of their journeys?

With Ford, so many models come to mind; some of them we can even remember driving when they were the newest thing! The British Motor Museum has a parade of a few different Fords, including an early Ford Focus, and a 1988 Ford Fiesta XR2, which we saw on a visit back in April. 

How has the classic Ford aesthetic changed over the last century?

There is much more to the heritage of Ford, with a history spanning back to 1888, they’ve released countless iconic shapes.

Looking back at Ford’s journey, what stands out the most is how distinct each era’s designs were, with every model showing the cultural shift in automotive style. Early Fords, like the Model T, were the embodiment of simplicity. With its angular but slim design and signature black paintwork, the Model T wasn’t concerned with sleek lines or bold statements. It was all about function. Getting people on the road affordably. The upright headlights, prominent grille, and durable structure still make it instantly recognisable to classic car enthusiasts today.

As time went on, Ford’s designs became more expressive, particularly with the release of the Ford Mustang in 1964. The Mustang was a turning point not only for Ford but for car design as a whole. It had a long hood, a low stance, and a sporty silhouette that screamed power and performance. The grille, flanked by its rounded headlights, set the tone for what would become one of the most famous cars ever, and it remains one of the most easily identifiable classics to this day. Its distinctive rear lights and the galloping horse emblem became an emblem of American muscle cars.

In the UK, Ford made a similar impact with models like the Ford Capri and Escort. The Capri, sometimes called “the European Mustang,” had similar long, sweeping lines but was more compact, with a sportier shape.

The Ford Escort, on the other hand, had a more practical but still stylish appearance, with a boxy frame that felt modern for its time but approachable. The front grille and rectangular headlights were its defining features, making it a staple on British roads and in rally competitions, solidifying its place as a classic.

Fast forward to the 1980s and 1990s, Ford’s design language stayed true to its roots. Models like the Fiesta still featured the boxy shapes of the previous decades, continuing the trend with its sharp, angled lines and striking headlights. The Ford Focus, which emerged in the late 1990s, set a new standard for the compact car category, featuring more curves and modern space-ship-looking headlights, as opposed to the more geometric styles of before. The Focus was all about blending form and function, becoming an instant classic for everyday drivers, to this day.

What makes classic Fords so identifiable isn’t just their shapes, but their attention to character and detail.

The beauty in a classic Ford’s Value is in appreciating the evolution of their aesthetic, it’s the details that make each one unique. Whether it’s the trim on a Capri, the unmistakable stance of a Mustang, or the sharp lines of a Fiesta, these cars are immediately recognisable. They’ve become symbols of their eras, and even as Ford has modernised its line up with models like the Mach-E, you can still see nods to its classic design elements.