Good Pumas are getting more expensive – but there are still bargains out there it seems…
By Matt Bird / Friday, November 19, 2021 / Loading comments
Sometimes it can feel like the Ford Puma has been a ‘future classic’ for longer even than the term has existed. Seemingly ever since production wound up in 2003, it’s been mooted as an investment piece for the future, and it hasn’t been hard to see why. The Puma was everything that was good about Ford at the time, and given the Blue Oval was enjoying a real purple patch at the end of the 20th century, that made the little coupe pretty fantastic. It looked smart, drove beautifully, and didn’t cost a lot of money. The Puma even had the privilege of receiving the sweet Yamaha-developed 1.7-litre motor; if only more fast Fords of the era could have used it…
In case its status wasn’t guaranteed, the rebirth of the Puma as an SUV surely confirmed it. However, though you will now see extremely low mileage cars at crazy money (and the Racing has always been valuable), it appears there are still cheap, good Pumas around. And if you haven’t heard by now, they’re well worth getting hold of – small, cheap, front-wheel drive cars don’t get much more entertaining.
This seems to be one of the good ones. The asking price of £5,995 will shock those who picked up a decent £500 one, but that’s the point – numbers are dwindling and the Puma is finally being recognised for what it is. Hence the long-predicted appreciation. And while green may not be the colour of choice, you wouldn’t call it offensive.
With just two owners it’s covered a mere 22,000 miles since the turn of the century. Cars this low mileage (and seemingly good) seldom come up for sale; after all, why would you get rid of it? The seat bolsters are intact, the wheels are decent, the paint still more than presentable. Given the less-than-stellar durability reputation these cars have, that’s impressive.
Ah, you’re thinking, but what about the rust? Like gore in a Tarantino film, it’s guaranteed to make an appearance at some point. From Ka to Galaxy, this era of Ford was infamously plagued by oxidisation. Well, the only mention of it in the MOT history is a corroded front brake pipe, there in 2019 and 2020. Frustratingly, that latter ticket expired a few weeks ago, although the advert suggests that the “majority” of its cars are supplied with a new MOT, so you’d have to hope this will be one. Or certainly that it can be negotiated into the price somewhere. On cursory inspection at least, there seems little cause for concern.
Assuming all is tickety-boo, the Puma ought to be a canny buy. For years now people have been saying they can’t get cheaper, and that time has certainly now passed. Still, you’re unlikely to lose much given the direction values are headed, and certainly there are many worse driver’s cars out there (and fast Fords, let’s be honest) that command a higher asking price. Probably also worth considering the Capri and Escort, which were considered cheap, fast fun – then became conspicuously rarer, and much more expensive. The Puma is now valuable enough to cherish yet affordable enough to enjoy. Which might make it the ideal future classic coupe.
SPECIFICATION | FORD PUMA 1.7
Engine: 1,679cc, four-cyl
Transmission: 5-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 125@6,300rpm
Torque (lb ft): 115@4,500rpm
MPG: 38
CO2: 171g/km
Year registered: 2000
Recorded mileage: 21,175
Price new: £14,550 (1997)
Yours for: £5,995
See the original advert here
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