With an entry-level price of just £1,856, the Fiesta arrived at time when the UK economy was dramatically shrinking, and it instantly satisfied the nation's desire for affordable fun motoring – a passion that has continued for 30 years and 3.2 million sales in the UK alone.

That’s enough Ford Fiestas, if stacked on top of each other would reach higher than 500 Mount Everests. Parked bumper to bumper, the queue would stretch from London to Bali.

"The popularity of the Fiesta is defined by its amazing sales success," said Steve Hood, Ford of Britain's Marketing Director. "It's been in the top 10 best selling cars in Britain since 1977 – a feat unmatched by any other car. In 1990, 1991 and 1996 to 1998 the Fiesta was Britain's best selling car outright, and in its best-ever year, 1987, over 150,000 Fiesta models were sold in Britain," he added.

In 1976 the average weekly wage was around £70, income tax was 35 per cent and inflation soared to 17 per cent. It was the year of punk, economic austerity and Star Trek. Personal computers, MP3 players, mobile phones and the internet remained the dreams of scientists.

The Ford Fiesta made its UK debut during the famously long, hot summer of '76 to immediate acclaim. Yet nobody imagined it would remain the nation's favourite small car into the following century.

Ford's first front-wheel-drive car, the original Ford Fiesta quickly established a reputation for excellent driving characteristics, generous interior space and value for money. It was soon unchallenged as the UK's best-selling car.

Today, 30 years on, with a 14.2 per cent segment share (full year 2005), the Fiesta remains the UK's most popular choice among private 'retail' customers in the supermini sector. With annual sales of almost 84,000, Fiesta also ranks as the fifth overall best-selling car in the UK.

So what else has changed in 30 years? Though the term "eco" meant little in 1976, the Fiesta's impressive fuel economy and low emissions were already making a significant environmental contribution, well before such performance became a requirement. However, today's ultra-clean and environmentally friendly Fiesta puts the first models into perspective.

It would, for example, take 50 new Fiestas to produce the same toxic emissions as a single Mk I in 1976. Unlike the original Fiesta, the current version is 85 per cent recyclable, too. And while the Mk I was notably economical for its era, it could hardly have matched the ability of the current Ford Fiesta to travel the 650 miles from London to Inverness on a single tank of fuel.

The 2006 Ford Fiesta is available as a three- or five-door hatchback, in a range of Style, Zetec, Ghia, S and ST variants as well as the Fusion MPV. Buyers can choose from 1.25, 1.4, 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrol and 1.4- and 1.6-litre turbo-diesel versions.

Hi-tech features that would have seemed like science fiction back in 1976 include Bluetooth, voice control, satellite navigation and Automatic Temperature Control (ATC). The design has been revised inside and out, and a vibrant new palette of colours provided for body and trim.

Fiesta Timeline:

* 1973 Project Bobcat - Fiesta under development.
* 1976 Mk I launched in 1.0- and 1.1-litre Ghia form.
* 1978 Fiesta wins British Design Council Efficiency Award.
* 1979 Millionth Fiesta built for worldwide sales. Special sporty version enters Monte Carlo Rally - this would become the XR2
* 1983 Mk II launched with fifth gear. 1.6 litre diesel becomes first in class.
* 1984 First Fiesta runs on lead-free petrol.
* 1987 Best sales year just under 154,000 Fiesta were sold in Britain
* 1989 Mk III launched with anti-lock brakes and lean-burn engines.
* 1990 135PS RS Turbo launched
* 1994 Driver airbags standard.
* 1995 Mk IV launched with Zetec engines. Dual airbags standard.
* 2002 Five-door version of sixth generation Fiesta launched.
* 2003 Three-door version
* 2005 150PS Fiesta ST launched – most powerful to date
* 2006 MK VII launched with voice activation and Bluetooth