Affectionately known as McDonald’s-on-wheels, Seb Thornton’s modified Ford Fiesta ST Mk7 has rapidly gone large.
Feature from Fast Ford magazine. Words Ben Birch. Photos Jason Dodd.
We all modify our cars to stand out from the crowd, whether in terms of looks, performance or both.
Seb Thornton is no different, and what started with a simple induction kit evolved into a two-year mod-fest with the aim of creating one of the most unique, attention-grabbing Fiesta STs in the land.
Seb bought the car completely standard after trying out a Mk3 Focus ST at a local dealership. He explains, “The Focus felt big and heavy, and I was completely underwhelmed. The sales guy then threw me the keys to a Fiesta ST and it was such an enjoyable test drive that I put an order in the same day.”
It was love at first drive; the Fiesta ST Mk7 felt light, agile and, in Seb’s words: “Like a go kart, a proper hot hatch experience.”
He’d originally wanted a white Fiesta, but the dealership found a good used red example in its network at the right price, and the rest is history.
Seb says, “I was happy enough with the standard car, but I did fancy an induction kit for a bit more noise.”
Ah, the old ‘just this’ chestnut, which soon becomes ‘just that’ and ‘just those’, and before you know it, you’ve got a direct line to the bank manager and you’re living in tuners’ workshops and making the staff cups of tea while they spanner on your car.
Seb’s urge to keep modifying mainly stemmed from joining a few ST groups on Facebook. As well as being bombarded with pictures and videos of shiny new products, he made friends with the community and started to attend car meets where he got to see, hear and experience higher-spec STs.
He says, “After the induction kit came a Stage 1 tune, but then I went in a friend’s Stage 2 car so ended up going for the same. But despite telling myself after each mod that was enough, it never was.”
Seb’s addiction peaked when Covid lockdowns were implemented. Suddenly he had disposable income but nowhere to go and spend it. So instead of spending cash on Nando’s and travelling to car meets, his only outlet became the modified Ford Fiesta ST Mk7.
“I decided to go wild with the car,” he says. “The aim was to make it really stand out among the other Fiesta STs, not only in terms of performance but also in looks.”
In quick succession, a Pumaspeed Stage 3 tune found its way under the bonnet, along with supporting mods such as an Airtec full-height intercooler, Turbo Technics hybrid turbo and a de-cat downpipe joined to a Mongoose non-resonated exhaust system. The modified Ford Fiesta ST Mk7 now makes a solid 334bhp with similar torque, and Seb reckons going from Stage 2 to this spec has given him the biggest jump in performance compared to any other of the stages.
Seb says, “Not only is it much more powerful but it’s more responsive, and I still get 27mpg on average, which isn’t bad.”
Indeed, with petrol prices as they are, it’s going to be an increasing factor in choosing the right car, especially if you daily drive the car like Seb.
“I didn’t buy it to drive economically, though,” he adds with a grin.
As for other mechanical mods, the already excellent Mk7 Fiesta ST chassis has been treated to a set of lowering springs, which Seb says has improved the handling a little but surprisingly made it a lot more comfortable to drive. There are further plans for the suspension, and also for the brakes. Currently they are factory-spec apart from a set of Mintex M1144 pads, which made an improvement but were found a little lacking when Seb took the car on its – and indeed his – very first track session.
He says, “I went to Ford Fair last year and my friend took me out as a passenger in his track ST with just under 400bhp and it was great fun. Afterwards, I reasoned that I had my car and my crash helmet, so why not have a go too.”
Fair play for being so spontaneous, and honest… “Under the bravado I was crapping myself. But I came away impressed with my Fiesta, other than slightly soft handling and slightly fading brakes.”
Despite these slight shortcomings, the seed has been well and truly sown, and track days are about to become a more regular occasion. Seb is currently saving for a big brake kit and coilovers to achieve the ST’s full potential.
He says, “I’ve started to poly bush the chassis, and I’ve bought a set of Team Dynamics Pro Race alloys with NS2R track tyres ready to switch over for track use.”
The interior already boasts a set of bucket seats and a Clubsport roll cage, which also ties the cockpit into the overall yellow-and-red colour theme that spawned the nickname of McDonald’s-on-wheels. Seb embraces this affectionate banter in good faith, and even has an appropriate sticker in the engine bay. As he says, “Well, I am lovin’ it. So why not be proud about it. I know some people don’t like the looks, but it’s unique and I love it”.
Creating such a head-turner takes an extensive amount of bolt-on exterior goodies with splitters, canards, diffusers and skirts all beefing up and lowering the profile of the arguably-too-subtle standard Fiesta’s styling.
Many of these aftermarket parts have been further accentuated with some rather trick yellow pin-striping, and along with a huge rear wing we can all agree that Seb has 100 per cent achieved his goal of standing out from the crowd.
Seb’s favourite modification, though, is to the headlights. Many people might miss them at first glance, but not only do they have honeycomb-etched glass and custom interior paint, they also boast quad xenons, quad halos and loads of other unique touches that would keep a show-goer’s attention for ages. This is a good thing, because they ran Seb well into four figures. In fact, they are the single most expensive mod on the modified Ford Fiesta ST Mk7.
What started with Seb wanting to buy a Mk3 Focus ST has turned into him building a wild modified Ford Fiesta ST Mk7.
All that’s missing is for him to lap the haters at Ford Fair 2022, while dressed in a custom Ronald McDonald race suit complete.
Be sure to check out our guide on tuning the Mk7 Fiesta ST.
Tech Spec: Modified Ford Fiesta ST Mk7
Engine:
1596cc EcoBoost, Turbo Technics S242 turbo, Turbosmart recirc valve, Airtec Stage 3 intake, Airtec Stage 3 intercooler, Airtec de-cat, Powerflex upper and lower engine mounts, Mongoose 3in non-resonated cat-back exhaust system, Paintmodz engine cover, battery cover and fuse box cover, Airtec header tank
Power:
334bhp and 340lb.ft
Transmission:
Fiesta ST six-speed IB6 gearbox, Powerflex transmission mount
Suspension:
Eibach lowering springs (-35mm front, -45mm rear), Powerflex rear beam bushes, Summit front strut brace
Brakes:
Front: original Fiesta ST callipers and discs, Mintex M1144 pads, Hel Performance braided brake lines; rear: original Fiesta ST discs and callipers, Hel Performance braided brake lines
Wheels & Tyres:
7.5x17in Sico Developments DNT alloys, ET40, 4×108 PCD, with 205/40×17 Uniroyal Rainsport 5 tyres
Exterior:
Mk7 Fiesta ST in Race Red, TRC styling upgrades (including V3 front splitter, Aero rear diffuser, side skirts, eyebrows, and chin lip), Maxton Design styling upgrades (bumper canards and bonnet vents), Zunsport upper and lower front grilles, Rally Flapz mud flaps, MGC tailgate-mounted big wing, OSRAM rear tail lights, wind deflectors, black door mirror caps, yellow pin-striping, gloss black fog light surrounds, custom shortened aerial, blacked-out sequential door mirror indicators, custom LK2 Lights headlights (with quad xenon projectors, X-halos, demon eyes, etched honeycomb lenses and blacked-out internals with red and yellow paint splatter)
Interior:
Sparco Sprint bucket seats, Sparco harnesses, Mountune gearknob, Airtec Clubsport roll cage, Turbosmart boost gauge, Lufi X1 revolution OBD gauge, Mountune floor mats, custom-made false rear floor
