Direct Injected 2-Stroke: 1997 Ford Aspire Prototype

Folks have toyed with the concept of direct injected two-stroke engines for years...in fact, I worked at a (now defunct) small alt-fuels engineering firm (BKM) in the early 2000s that was working with Yamaha on direct injection technology for small engines...and it was neat stuff that never went anywhere.  Anyway, at the same time there was a small (not defunct, but now in the unmanned aerial vehicle biz) company in Perth, Australia called Orbital Engines Corp that produced about a hundred direct injection engines and put them in Ford Aspires that drove around making two-stroke noises without the 2-stroke smells.  Here is one that has some engine noises according to the seller -- just head to your local Pep Boys for new parts, shouldn't be a problem. Find this 1997 Ford Aspire offered for $5000 in Newbury, NH. Tip from Cory.

A Festiva-us For The Rest Of Us: 1993 Ford Festiva

The Ford line up is chock full of automobiles whose name start with the letter F: F150, Focus, Fiesta, Fusion, and Flex.  Back in the late 80's and early 90's, the Festiva name plate was the bottom rung on the car ladder.  The owner of this aqua hatch sums things up well when he says this about the Festiva, "very few cars can hold a washing machine and still deliver 30+ mpg."  The 63 hp 1.3 4 cylinder engine only has to haul around 1700 lbs so things aren't as bad as you might think.  Find this 1993 Ford Festiva for sale in Plattekill, NY for $750 via craigslist.

1994 Ford Aspire vs Buick Roadmaster

All but gone from our roads, the Ford Aspire was a joint development between Kia and Ford with a bunch of Mazda parts thrown in from the old Festiva/Kia Pride. The Aspire was never envisaged as cheap transportation for the second and third world, it was designed for developing parts of Appalachia and the Ozarks. When you have a car that’s got a salvage title because the front seat was replaced, per the seller’s description, you know that you’re at rock bottom of the econobox barrel. Find the car that FoMoCo would probably rather forget, a 1994 Ford Aspire, on craigslist in LA for $1,200. This post is part of DT's 2016 Birthday Celebration of 100 cars; enjoy the ride!