The Ford Scorpio, produced by the Ford Motor Company between 1985 and 1998, was a large car intended for the European market. And - spoiler alert - they are now extremely cheap! That has its reasons.
Successor of the Ford Granada
The Ford Scorpio was the successor to the Ford Granada, which in its aftermath in Germany became known as "Turkenford". In 1986, the Scorpio was named European Car of the Year. Such an election as Car of the Year has often turned out to be the Judas kiss. The most remarkable progress was the installation of the anti-lock braking system that could be found on a mass-produced car for the first time. The Scorpio is sold from Granada from a traditionalist point of view to 1994 in the UK and Ireland. At the end of the eighties the car was available as Merkur Scorpio for a short time in the United States. The Scorpio has never become a sales stunner.
Looked too much like a Sierra
The first generation of the Ford Scorpio had a certain elegance that was not impressive enough for the intended clientele. In short: He looked too much like the Sierra. Then they decided to make the Scorpio look fatter, more impressive at Ford. The car received a makeover. And then? At that time, a lot of dreamed buyers found the big Ford, with its round lines, very ugly. Tough and weird. Where was he a success? That was in the taxi world. The Ford was much cheaper than a Mercedes-Benz. And the legroom for the back seat was huge.
The Royal House was a customer
The Dutch government was also a good buyer of Scorpios. Prime Minister Wim Kok allowed himself to be driven around in a Scorpio. The most famous Ford Scorpio passenger is undoubtedly our former Queen Beatrix, who has used all models: extended, raised and the landaulet. The Fords were of course all royal blue. The cars used by our former queen had holes in the mudguards. For the royal flags. Many Scorpios who had been service vehicles for the less highly placed only received those characteristic piercings afterwards. That made them very interesting for naive Orange adepts. So more valuable. So more expensive. Ah: a monarchy is simply based on illusions.
The state of affairs now
Ford Scorpios have not yet been discovered among classic enthusiasts. They are very firmly in a blind spot. And a copy just under a quarter of a century young? There is very little market for that. All the more so because there is not yet a broad feeling about these cars of the second generation. That feeling was once most clearly described by someone who saw such a Ford for the first time: “Such a thing is ugly!” But that's not fair to this big European Ford.
The proud owner was now 'around'
“At that time I thought it was a terrible car and always had to laugh hard when I saw one. Now I have a weakness for this type of car. And probably the model was just ahead of its time. Because I don't find them as ugly as before. Moreover, it is a wonderful car that, certainly in terms of comfort, is in my top 3 of everything I have driven. ”The Scorpios are nice, spacious travel cars. And the six-cylinder are nicely plump and muscular. In fact, there is only one dark cloud in the sky: The plasticizers in the wiring harness chose freedom fairly quickly. Ford Scorpio cable trees can therefore become crispy. And that in turn can lead to annoying fires from annoying storinkjes.
The offer / prices
You won't find many Scorpios online. The taxis must have been driven. A moving Ford Scorpio is available from € 500. Neat four-cylinder models have asking prices from around € 1.200. Little is demanded for six-cylinder engines - even if they are Ghia's or Cosworths. The most expensive Sorpio that we found was a Cosworth with maintenance history. For € 3.600. And that's not a lot of money for that much car.
Our photo model
This Ford Scorpio comes from 1995, was delivered from 08-12-1994 to 03-06-1996 and then cost € 30.165. This original Dutch passenger car has been on license plate since 1995 and is equipped with a gasoline engine. The gasoline engine has a maximum capacity of 110 kW (150 PK) and a displacement of 2935 cc.
The car has a top speed of 200 km per hour and reaches the 100km / h from a standstill in 11,2 seconds. The MOT is valid up to 03-05-2020 and the road tax amounts to € 202 per quarter.
Look for the differences. The first series was not impressive enough
That the Scorpio was the first mass-produced car with ABS is not entirely correct.
The Mercedes S116 already had it, albeit as an option <in 1978.
GM had already tested such a system in the Years 60 and shared Years 70 with Ford USA as an option.
But then there was not much confidence and intersse in it
The first ABS is from 1929 when aircraft pioneer Gabriel Voisin used it to make aircraft stop faster.
The Scorpio was the first standard ABS, was not an option.
Indeed, there were more cars with ABS, but as an option.
My grandfather once had a beautiful dark blue series 1 hatchback from 1990… The YN-38-DZ… .. Beautiful car I thought that… My sister was still married in it at the time….
And what did I laugh at FROD when they came up with the new model ?! 🤭🤭🤭🤣🤣🤣Manmanman… ..
I still don't understand which idiot that car has approved, just like the terrible KA of the first model ?!
Wouldn't want to be found dead in both cars and don't want them for nothing!
However, I still think the old one is a nice car, but you don't see them anywhere anymore….
But…. If I had to choose… Then do me such a nice fat 'TurkenFord' and then of course with a 6-pittert ...
I found and still think the Granada super-cool bins !! 🤘🏽🤘🏽
Mr. Peeters,
the Leo Derksen from AMK, I was once again in a dent. The royal family an Illusion, brilliant!
It has made me think, probably my Citroen CX also “Royal”, which also has holes in the mudguard.
Fine cars for intensive use. At the time I had the diesel version of 2.5 ltr
The car drove better than my Granada 2600gxl and was also more car! After having owned 75 cars, I think I know what I'm talking about!
I thought it was beautiful and so was the Granada, and also the BMW 7 series! Tastes differ?
Because I wanted to drive it myself AND this was the first abs car AND Herz had it in the rental, I had it as a car for t marry😇 Could I try the abs myself. Was a separate experience (the abs😜)
Was idd the first generation. I never rode the Scorpio with fish eyes. I thought it was just too ugly for that.