Ford Laser

E92 · 15-01-2008 8:41pm #1

Believe it or not, I saw one of these this morning. No photos, I don't 'do' photography I'm afraid! At first I thought it was an American market Escort, and it had a 00-C-xxxxx reg on it, but the closer and closer I got to it I realised it was a RHD car, and it had the Chrome around the number plate a la the Focus Ghia of the time. Then I saw what looked like "Laser" to the left of the licence plate. Now the only "Laser" Fords I remember were the Mark 2 Fiesta which could be had in Laser trim and a Capri Laser which I saw on wheeler dealers. When I looked closer again I realised it wasn't a Focus Ghia saloon at all, the boot line of it was much lower than the Focus saloon. It looks Focus/Escort sized though.

So I'm wondering what is it, and does anyone have any insights?

ninty9er · 15-01-2008 8:48pm

AFAIK the Laser was available down under which is the likely explanation.

alias no.9 · 15-01-2008 9:57pm

Probably from oz but possibly japan. It's based on the mazda 323 of that era.

E92 · 16-01-2008 9:53am

Thanks for the response lads. Now that you mention it, it did look suspiciously like a 323 saloon alright! What a strange car to be importing, especially as the one I saw had stickers on the back window for a local GAA team:D!

Cosmo K · 16-01-2008 10:41am

Could have been an impost from South Africa as well.

G Luxel · 16-01-2008 3:33pm

There are 2 of them, one green and one gold. Both are japanese imports. It does look like a cross between a Mazda 323 and a Ford Focus.

Guy:Incognito · 16-01-2008 3:35pm

Seeiing as we're on the subject of odd sightings , I was behind an 02 TN reg Holden Astra 1.8 on the way home today.

E92 · 16-01-2008 3:35pm

Isn't that just an Opel Astra, except they call 'em Holdens in Australia?

Guy:Incognito · 16-01-2008 3:49pm

E92 wrote: »

Isn't that just an Opel Astra, except they call 'em Holdens in Australia?

I figured that yeah. Looked a different though. Bit bigger and more square.

maidhc · 16-01-2008 4:04pm

E92 wrote: »

Isn't that just an Opel Astra, except they call 'em Holdens in Australia?

I have seen a few around actually. I assume someone just brought the badges home from their 12 months in Oz though!

Max_Damage · 16-01-2008 5:07pm

Was it silver? There is one of those (re-badged Mazda 323) doing the rounds. I've seen it a few times before.

There is a few Oz imports going around Ireland, in the past year or so, I've seen two Holden Barina's (one was a re-badged Suzuki Swift and the other was a Corsa), a Ford Maverick (Oz-based Nissan Patrol), a Holden Astra, as well as this Ford Fairmont I saw at Rosslare Harbour:

E92 · 16-01-2008 5:19pm

Max_Damage wrote: »

Was it silver? There is one of those (re-badged Mazda 323) doing the rounds. I've seen it a few times before.

There is a few Oz imports going around Ireland, in the past year or so, I've seen two Holden Barina's (one was a re-badged Suzuki Swift and the other was a Corsa), a Ford Maverick (Oz-based Nissan Patrol), a Holden Astra, as well as this Ford Fairmont

The Ford Maverick was based on the Nissan Teranno. At least it was in Europe! They replaced it but it was never sold here. It was also the basis for the now discontinued Mazda Tribute(or was it the other way round?).

As for the Laser, no it wasn't silver. It was a kind of tealish colour. I didn't get a great look as it was moving at speed while I was on a bus at the time!

Max_Damage · 16-01-2008 5:23pm

E92 wrote: »

The Ford Maverick was based on the Nissan Teranno. At least it was in Europe!

That is true, but in Oz they were re-badged Patrol's.

From Wiki:

Until 1994, Ford rebadged the Australian version of the Y60 (GQ) Patrol, as the Maverick.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Patrol#Name_Variations

E92 · 16-01-2008 5:32pm

Max_Damage wrote: »

That is true, but in Oz they were re-badged Patrol's.

Ta for the info. I thought that might be it alright. A bit like the Ford Fusion, mention it here and it's a Fiesta on stilts, mention it in the US and is a car based on the Mazda6!

ninty9er · 16-01-2008 5:44pm

E92 wrote: »

I was on a bus at the time!

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

Are you okay??

:D

G Luxel · 21-01-2008 4:53pm

Ive seen a Fairmont or Falcon Ute registered in Co Waterford and a Fairmont/Falcon estate, i think its a kerry reg but the rear was this..

The UK coachbuilder Coleman Milne use the Falcon/Fairmont as the basis for their range of hearses and Limousines. The hearse was used for the George Best Funeral.

Ford Laser

Comments