BIG CHANGES COMING FOR 2009

+ Click to Enlarge SILVER JUBILEE: Ford is celebrating 25 years of Bantam bakkies with the limited-edition Montana.

August 26, 2008

Ford is celebrating 25 years of its Bantam half-tonner with a limited-edition model called the Montana ahead of a major revision of the Bantam for 2009.

The anniversary special is based on the current XLT trim and will be available with either a 1.3 (55kW, 110Nm) or 1.6 (70kW, 137Nm) locally built RoCam engine.

Only 200 will be made, at a premium of R9410 over the cost of the equivalent XLT model, for which your get:

Sporty front bumper with mesh grille.
Front fog lamps.
Stainless-steel sill protectors.
Stainless-steel sports bar.
Stainless-steel rear step bumper.
Montana branded loadbed cover.
Montana badging.

Ford marketing manager Ben Pillay said: "South African drivers were introduced to the Bantam in 1983 – and it's still going strong 25 years later."

The Bantam has been developed in South Africa for local conditions, with Macpherson struts in front and a conventional dead axle at the rear and gas-filled shock-absorbers.

It's rated to carry 650kg in what Ford says is the widest load box in its class at 1430mm.

Prices:

Montana 1.3i - R129 800
Montana 1.6i - R136 059

The Montana will be sold with Ford's standard four-year or 120 000km warranty and service intervals are 15 000km.