By Classic Yorkshire contributor Tony Lofthouse
Mike’s great piece on the Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional (27 July) brought to mind a short- lived Ford coupe from the early noughties.
The Ford Focus Coupe-Cabriolet was one of those cars that went under the radar as an affordable convertible – part of the Focus Mk2 range.
It was designed by the Italian firm, Pininfarina and as a sporty variant of the Focus saloon it was quite appealing.
The Focus CC first appeared in 2006 and came with 1.6 and 2.0 litre petrol engines as well as a 2.0 litre TDCI diesel option.
The engine choice may not have excited buyers looking for a Golf GTI-style performance but the CC offered a nice smooth ride. Reports suggested the pick was the more efficient 134 bhp diesel engine, complete with a six-speed gearbox.
Style wise, the car’s lines were enhanced when the electric roof slipped into the boot.
With the roof up the CC had a substantial 534 boot and a cabin with adequate room for four seats. On the minus side, many early models suffered leaking roof seals.
In five years, only 6,000 CCs were produced, but there are still good examples out there. Prices are also very affordable – starting at less than £2,000 – and for that you get some fun in the sun aboard a very reliable runner.