Prices rev up for old Fiestas after Ford announces it is to end production of the hatchback after 47 years

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A second-hand Ford Fiesta less than a year old are being advertised for more than a brand new one as news that Britain's most-owned car will go out of production next year.

Last week, the car giant announced it was ending manufacture of its supermini after 47 years and nearly 5 million sales in Britain alone.

But over the past three years used car prices have exploded, meaning second-hand examples are pricier than ever.

End of the road: Last week, Ford announced it will end production of the Fiesta after 47 years and nearly 5 million sales in Britain

In October 2019, the average second-hand Ford Fiesta price on the Auto Trader marketplace was £7,363. 

Today, this price has surged 42 per cent to £10,473.

According to Auto Trader, the average price of a nearly new Fiesta that is less than 12 months old has increased by £4,300 in the past six months, to £23,601.

By comparison a brand-new equivalent costs £23,196, meaning the second-hand model is £405 more expensive.

That said, there are still relatively long delivery delays on Fiesta and Ford already pulling many derivatives and trim levels from showrooms.

Three-door Fiestas are no long available in dealerships, while the manufacturer pulled diesel-engined examples from its line-up two years ago. 

Erin Baker, of Auto Trader, says: ‘With Ford ending production, we’ve seen demand for the Fiesta rocket.

‘If you have a Fiesta on your driveway, it could be worth considerably more than you think and more than you originally paid for it.’

Ford says that orders made today will be delivered before April 2023.

Auto Trader says that second-hand values across all cars are up 8.2 per cent annually and 17 per cent of cars under a year old are actually more expensive than their brand-new equivalents.

Britain prepares to bid farewell to the Ford Fiesta 

The Fiesta first arrived in 1976 and Ford has produced more than 22 million examples for the worldwide market across nine generations.

The plucky small Ford has topped Britain's sales charts 16 times in its history, amassing over 4.8million UK sales in total. That's more than any other motor, leading the Cortina and Escort.

It's officially the end of the road for the Fiesta: Ford has confirmed that Britain's most-owned car will cease production at the end of June 2023 with the model scrapped as part of the company's electrification plans 

With 1.54million registered on the road last year, it is the nation's most common car, though has been forced aside by Ford's plans to go electric in the lead up to the 2030 ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars.

Despite the Fiesta remaining the best-selling car for over a decade up to 2020, Ford today confirms that production of the model will finish at the brand's factory in Cologne, Germany, 'by the end of June 2023'.

Ford will also be ceasing outputs of its S-Max and Galaxy people carriers in April 2023 in response to a market shift away from MPVs to larger SUVs.

Henry Ford II pictured standing alongside a Fiesta S in 1976, the year the car was first launched to the market

A 1977 advert for the Fiesta. One of the biggest selling points to potential customers was the fact it could carry a chest of drawers if you lowered the rear bench seat

In a statement issued last week, it said: 'At Ford in Europe, we are accelerating our efforts to go all-in on electrification with our passenger vehicles being fully electric by 2030 – and all vehicles across our Ford portfolio by 2035.

'As we get ready to transition to an electric future, we will discontinue production of S-Max and Galaxy in Valencia, Spain in April 2023 and discontinue Fiesta production in Cologne, Germany by end of June 2023.'

The company's official Twitter account posted: 'It's time to say goodbye to the little car that has touched us all. 

'The big moments, the little moments, and all the 'firsts' – thanks for the memories.'

It then added: 'As one era ends, another is just getting started – and we can't wait to show you what we've got coming,' with the tweet signed off with a plug and bolt of lightning emoji, hinting towards the electric replacement that will ultimately follow.

SEVEN GENERATIONS OF FORD FIESTA IN PICTURES 

Fiesta Mk1 - 1976: Pictured, a first-generation Ford Fiesta being test driven by former Daily Mail motoring correspondent, Michael Kemp

Fiesta Mk2 -1983: The second-generation Fiesta was the first to be available with a diesel engine. In October 2020, the brand made the decision to cull diesel engines from its range as demand for oil burners continued to decline

Fiesta Mk3 - 1989: The third Fiesta offered a longer and wider body, more interior space and anti-lock brakes - a first for any small car. It was also the first Fiesta to be sold with five doors

Fiesta Mk4 - 1996: The fourth version had new rounded looks and an oval grille. Dual airbags came as standard for the first time in the small Ford. Pictured: An employee of the Kolner Ford plant Niehl in 1996, when, every 40 seconds, a new Fiesta would leave the assembly line

Fiesta Mk5 - 2002: Idris Elba worked on the Fiesta plant in Dagenham for two years before he found fame as an actor. Pictured: The fifth-generation Fiesta (pictured) was the first not to be built in the UK as of 2002

Fiesta Mk6 - 2008: The seventh-generation Fiesta proved a massive hit after it came to market. Sporty looks and styling made it the best-selling car every full year it was produced until it was succeeded by the latest model that arrived in 2017

Fiesta Mk7 - 2017: The current Fiesta continued predecessors' success, being the most-bought new car in Britain until 2020. However, Ford's decision to prioritise outputs of commercial vehicles - and the rise in popularity of the latest Vauxhall Corsa - means it is no longer the best-selling new model in the country. Ford will cease production at the end of June 2023