Fiona's Orion is a fresh 31-year-old

Remember the Ford Orion? writes Brian Byrne. It wasn't so much loved by motoring journos when it was introduced as the booted version of the Ford Escort back in 1983. But it went through three generations until production stopped in 1993, and was a good seller for the blue oval across Europe, especially in the UK. Indeed, that success encouraged other European carmakers to follow suit and boot their C-segment hatchbacks.

This one is a 1989 Mk II Orion, recently getting attention around Connemara since local woman Fiona Conneely imported it from England last November. It's in perfect nick, carefully minded by Fiona's godmother, her Aunty Kitty who lives in Birmingham. Kitty passed it on to Fiona when she decided she had to reduce her driving.

The 31-year-old car has just 30,000 miles on the odometer and was serviced to the letter by Kitty from the time she bought it new. "It is a testament to the build and quality of the car that it is still going strong giving us trouble-free motoring every day," Fiona says. "The car has become part of the family and who knows, maybe we'll have it for another 30 years!"

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