Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2022 i Fast Ford

INTRO WELCOME ISSUE 444 - MARCH 2022 As the first issue to land in 2022, let’s start by wishing you all a very happy new year. That might seem a little odd given that by the time you’ll be reading this it will be the middle of January, and usually this time of year means no more messing about with Fords for a few weeks. Usually. But that doesn’t have to be the case. What ever happened to the budget Blue Oval? To find out, we armed ourselves with an imaginary budget of just £1000 and went looking to see what cars we could find. The results were a real eye-opener, and you can see just how much fast Ford fun can still be had on a very modest budget…

FOCUS ST SLEEPER CELL Hiding beneath the subtle styling of Nick Simpson’s ST lies a brutal 770bhp on pump fuel and an insane 900bhp-plus on E85 race fuel, making this one stealthy sleeper you don’t want to mess with… Words and photos DAN SHERWOOD Play dumb and no one will see you coming,” laughs Nick Simpson, the owner of the sweet yet subtly styled Mk2 Focus ST you see before you. “That was an expression my grandad used a lot, and it perfectly sums up the approach I’ve taken with the Focus.” You see, Nick’s not someone who likes to shout his intentions. He’s more the type to speak quietly but carry a big stick, and his ST has been built in this image. Nick says, “I’ve always been a…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT TERRY HOUGH FIESTA ZETEC S All is not quite as it seems. Of all the cars at the meet to pull a crowd once the bonnet was opened, Terry Hough’s innocent looking Fiesta Zetec S certainly drew maximum attention. The bodywork and interior may be familiar to Ford fans, but the remainder hails from the Jap scene – a combination of Mitsubishi Evos, to be precise. Terry says, “I worked at an Evo breakers when I built the car, and with all the parts we had, the idea to adapt them to a Fiesta shell came to mind. I originally planned to use the car for rallying but decided to keep it for road and occasional track use.” The conversion uses an Evo-6 floorpan adapted to fit…

MK4 FOCUS ST FULL FOCUS We’ve not yet seen many modified Mk4 STs on the scene, but Lucinda Lemmon is paving the way with her fruity Focus Words SIMON HOLMES Photos JASON DODD It may seem to be an easy process, but people often forget that it’s hard modifying a new car, especially when it happens to be a brand-new model and a generation that no one’s got their hands on yet. Not only does it take some guts to start swapping parts on a car that’s only just rolled off the production line, there’s little time to appreciate the car in its standard form. Then there’s the matter of the limited parts availability early on, which often becomes the biggest issue of all for anyone thinking of improving their…

SAPPHIRE COSWORTH OLD SCHOOL RULES Combining tried-and-tested mods with A-grade detail, this textbook Cossie is still a match for any modern fast Ford Words BEN BIRCH Photos JASON DODD Rhubarb and custard. Reeves and Mortimer. England and rainy autumns. Some things just work together, and this is especially true when it comes to the world of modified Cosworths. Over the years we’ve seen all manner of wacky engine developments, complex adjustable chassis widgets, ICE-laden show interiors and wide-arch bodykits. But nestled between the extreme ends of the Cosworth modification scale has always been a no-nonsense middle ground, which uses a formula of parts that have over the past few decades proven time and again to work perfectly together. Tony Gregory’s 4x4 Sapphire Cosworth is a shining example; from its wheels…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT PAUL THOMPSON FOCUS ST We often get to see finished projects – at shows, events, or even photoshoots for a lucky few – but it’s not often we get see the start of a build. Paul has sent us some photos of the black Focus ST he bought last year, and has already started with the mods and upgrades. In fact, he’s even launched his own YouTube channel showing the progress of the project too. So far that includes a set of new Y-Sport alloys from Team Dynamics wrapped in Yokohama tyres, but future plans already involve increasing the power to 300-350bhp, making the car lighter, and sorting the suspension and handling out too. Sounds like this is going to be a great project and one we…

FF TECH 10 MINUTE TECH CLUTCHES We speak to the experts at Helix Autosport to take a closer look at performance clutches, how they work, and why you might need one WHAT IS A CLUTCH AND WHAT DOES IT DO? In simple terms, a clutch is the component that connects the engine to the transmission to drive the wheels. It works by using a friction disc (connected to the gearbox) that is pressed by a sprung pressure plate against a flywheel (which is connected to the engine) to transfer drive between the two. Disengaging the clutch – by pressing the clutch pedal – separates the friction discs and the flywheel, breaking that connection between engine and gearbox. In turn, this allows you to change gear or stop altogether, with the…

FOCUS ST FULL PACKAGE It’s hard to create a Mk2 Focus that truly stands out in a crowd, but Stuart Webster’s fourth ST packs 360bhp and ticks every box Words SIMON HOLMES Photos JASON DODD In the modified car world it’s hard to stand out from the crowd, especially when it’s one of the most popular Fords of the last 20 years. But it’s fair to say Stuart Webster has firmly achieved that goal with this stunning Mk2 ST. Of course, it helps that Stuart started with an Electric Orange example, but it’s not just the looks that help make this car a little different from the rest, as underneath the skin lurks a series of carefully selected additions and custom modifications to ensure the car is a truly unique…

CLUB MEET OVAL OWNERS MONTHLY MEET OVAL OWNERS’ CLUB MEET We join Oval Owners’ Club members as they enjoy a regular meet-up at Autobrite Direct HQ in Stoke Words and photos JON CASS WHERE AUTOBRITE DIRECT LTD, STOKE ON TRENT WHEN OCTOBER 2021 When Craig and Natalie Weston invited us to the late October Oval Owners’ Club meet at their regular location of Autobrite Direct in Stoke, we simply couldn’t refuse. With a cold and damp forecast, we weren’t expecting a huge turnout, but how wrong we were. Purists were probably crying into their Sunday-morning coffee as social media was flooded with photos of Cossies shooting out huge rooster tails in the rain on the way to the event; these guys just want to enjoy their Fords, and a drop…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT SIMON ELLIS MK3 FOCUS RS We’ve come across Simon’s stunning Mk3 Focus before, but as his car is constantly evolving, we thought we’d bring you up to date. Bought as a standard RS three years ago, Simon is now on his third remap – an MSD420 custom map this time around. He’s also added a Mishimoto induction kit, Mongoose Section 59 exhaust and Pro Alloy intercooler. Paintmodz covers certainly brighten up the bay. Pumaspeed/Eibach lowering springs improve the already capable handling of the Mk3 RS, while the Roiform KB1 alloys add a touch more aggression. The retro tiger-stripe wrap and TRC lowline kit ensures his RS stands out from the crowd, and Simon tells us he’s happy with the car as it is. For now, at least……

GRAND BUYS GRAND BUYS Prices for sought-after fast Fords are sky-high right now, but does that mean the end of the brilliant budget Blue Oval? To find out, we see how much fast Ford you can currently buy for just £1000 The internet and social media are full of stories of 30-year-old Sierras selling for £100,000, but what does that mean for the budget Blue Oval? While the cream of the crop of any model will always attract attention and command the highest prices, it doesn’t necessarily mean all fast Fords are suddenly worth a small fortune just because of a handful of high-profile sales stealing the limelight at auction. The good news is that, while the most desirable and most expensive cars grab all the headlines, there’s still loads…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT SEAN HIBBERTS SERIES TWO ESCORT RS TURBO Sean and Abi picked up their beloved RS Turbo last August, and prior to that it had been with the same owner for the previous 11 years. “It hadn’t even been out of the garage for the last seven years,” says Sean. Collected just a week before RSOC National Day at Donnington, Sean and Abi had their work cut out getting the Escort ready in time; full service, new belts, new tyres, not to mention a good session with the machine polisher and tubs of high-quality wax got the RS Turbo looking fantastic for its first show in years. Sean says the car isn’t quite concours standard, but it is a very clean, original, and useable car – just what…

DAN ST170 PROJECT CHEAP THRILLS Dan introduced his budget ST170 project last month, and wasted no time getting stuck in to see what’s what QUICK SPEC 2002 Focus ST170 ▝ Magnum Grey ▝ Comfort Pack ▝ Rear spoiler ▝ ESP Bargain Blue Ovals have become a bit of a fascination for the Fast Ford team lately. Elsewhere in the issue you’ll find our Grand Buys feature where we gave ourselves an imaginary £1000 budget to choose a cut-price car; naturally I bought my choice – a Cougar V6 – for real, and it’s now part of my Ford fleet. Before that, last issue we introduced my budget ST170 project too. Initially it was bought as an engine-donor for a Mk1 Escort, but acquiring a couple more ’170s allowed me to…

FF TECH BUYER’S GUIDE SIERRA RS500 COSWORTH Never bettered, rarely beaten and never outshone, the Sierra RS500 Cosworth is pure Blue Oval legend – hero of a generation, and now bank-bursting sales topper. Here’s how to buy a whale-tail king… Words DAN WILLIAMSON Photos ADE BRANNAN WHY YOU WANT ONE… ▝ Why wouldn’t you? The RS500 is the absolute daddy of the fast Ford world, being not just the king of touring car racing but also godfather of the UK’s modifying scene since the 1980s. ▝ While collectors want the lowest-mileage machines, it’s possible to bag a relatively usable and reasonably-priced RS500 if you choose a higher-mileage or modified car. ▝ When the eco-mentalists have won and everyday humans are no longer allowed to own cars, the RS500 will still…

FORGOTTEN FORDS FORGOTTEN FORDS We’ve seen fast Mustangs. We’ve seen McLaren supercars for the road. But what if the two were ever to meet? They nearly did in 1981… THE BLUE OVALS YOU’VE (PROBABLY) NEVER HEARD OF… A side from winning multiple Formula One Championships, McLaren may be best known for producing exotic supercars for the road in more recent history. But McLaren having been involved with building performance road cars long before the legendary F1 arrived in the mid-Nineties, and in particular, fast Fords too! Back in 1980 Ford had just formed its Specialist Vehicle Operations arm (not to be confused with the British Advanced Vehicle Operations or Special Vehicle Engineering divisions) and immediately after, in 1981, a collaboration with McLaren was on the cards. McLaren was already world-famous…

WHAT’S NEW NEWS See what’s going down in the world of fast Fords… FORD FAIR DATE CONFIRMED Ford Fair’s back for 2022; the new date is Sunday, 14 August. Once again, the event heads to Silverstone circuit for a celebration of all things Ford. The teams at Silverstone and Ford Fair have already started working on the details and are confident in putting on another fantastic event for 2022. Expect to see thousands of the very best Blue Ovals on show throughout the entire Silverstone site, as Ford Fair attracts clubs and owners’ groups from all over the UK – and beyond. Of course, Fast Ford magazine will be there with some of the awesome cars you see appearing in the magazine too. The famous track will also be in full…

WHAT’S NEW FORD STUFF The latest gear on the Blue Oval scene PB BRAKES ELECTRONIC HANDBRAKE CALLIPERS £TBC PB Brakes is now offering a clever solution for those modern fast Fords that come from the factory with an electric handbrake. Previously, fitting uprated rear callipers to such models would often mean having to retain the original callipers too, purely to operate the handbrake function. But thanks to PB Brakes’s innovative bolt-on solution, you can avoid all that unnecessary complexity, as these new units allow you to use the electronic handbrake function on the aftermarket calliper directly. Currently PB Brakes has solutions for models including the Kuga, Mk4 Focus, and Mk5 Mondeo. For more details, contact PB Brakes. www.pbbrakes.com GS ESCORTS RS-STYLE BODY WARMERS AND RALLY JACKETS From £50 Let’s face…

SERIES ONE RS TURBO LITTLE RED RS Once a purist, Barry Meldrum deviated from the OEM rulebook with his stunning Series One. And there’s much more going on than just Ferrari-coloured paintwork Words & Photos JON CASS For decades, Barry Meldrum had remained a purist when it came to his Fords. That was until an advert for a Series One Escort RS Turbo painted in a distinctly non-standard Rosso Corsa from the Ferrari colour catalogue caught his eye. With his options open and effectively a blank canvas to work with, Barry painstakingly transformed this RS into a ZVH-powered 360bhp show-stopper. Barry is certainly no stranger to a fast Escort, having owned XR3i and RS1600i models when he was young, despite the incredibly high insurance premiums at the time. But they…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT JOHN ROUND ESCORT COSWORTH John Round has been the proud owner of this Small Turbo Escort Cosworth for some 20 years, and he remains as passionate about it as the day he bought it. John says, “I’d had an XR3i before this but I’d always wanted a Cosworth and decided to take the plunge. It was modified when I bought it, as many were back then.” Since then, John has followed the trend of gradually returning his Escort into more of an OEM-plus specification, which began when the bodywork was beginning to show its age. John explains, “I took the decision to carry out a full bare-metal restoration around six years ago. I did the work myself to keep costs down, and a friend resprayed the shell.”…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT DARRYLL BARBER SAPPHIRE COSWORTH 4X4 For those of you old enough to remember, this was Castle Performance’s Sapphire Cosworth 4X4 demo car back in the day. Local man Darryll Barber remembers the Stoke company well, and always regarded this particular Sapphire as quite the icon. So, when he finally had the chance to buy the famous Nineties’ pin-up around five-years ago, he couldn’t refuse. Sadly, it wasn’t in as great a shape as he remembered. But after a bare-metal restoration and a hefty investment, the Castle Performance Sapphire has been returned to its former glory. That also meant sticking to the original and well-known specification, which is still impressive. The T4 turbo, Level 8 ECU, RS500 eight-injector inlet, RS500 intercooler and Mongoose exhaust add up to an…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT JON MCINTOSH MK1 FIESTA We don’t see Mk1 Fiestas all that often in Fast Ford, but when we do see well-sorted examples like Jon’s here, we sit up and listen. From the outside it may at first glance look like a regular beige 1.1 on Ally Cats. But then the details start to jump out at you; the Austrian front splitter, the yellow headlamps, the door mirrors, and that oh-so aggressive stance thanks to a set of Gaz Gold coilovers. That should be enough to get you asking ‘what’s under the bonnet?’ And when you look, you’ll not be disappointed. Despite the cheeky 1.1 badges on the back, there’s no underpowered Kent in here. Instead, a well-fettled 2.0-litre Zetec running Kawasaki bike carbs and Megajolt ignition system…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT PATRICK SIMPSON FIESTA S Blue is the traditional colour of a modern fast Ford, and Patrick’s stunning – and shining – 2015 Fiesta ST takes that to another level with its blue-on-blue colour scheme; highly-detailled and glossy Spirit Blue bodywork over Team Dynamics Pro Race 3 alloys powdercoated in a close match to Nitrous Blue from the Mk3 Focus RS. Finishing the look is a set of gloss black plastics and Maxton Designs low-line kit. But it’s not all about colour coding, under the bonnet the 1.6-litre EcoBoost has been poked with a Collins CP2-shaped stick, including adding CP2 software, a Collins Performance actuator, Mountune exhaust, and Airtec Stage 2 intercooler. Of course, that’s all been colour coded blue too thanks to a full engine dress up…

FORDS IN MOTORSPORT The latest updates on racing Blue Ovals from all over the globe By PAUL LAWRENCE, MOTORBASE PERFORMANCE, AND JAMIE BTCC CHAMP IN A FOCUS ST It’s been a busy few weeks for the Motorbase Performance team and their Focus ST race cars. The team will once again be fielding four Mk4 Focus STs in the 2022 season, as Motorbase recently welcomed NAPA Auto Parts on board to run two of the cars under the NAPA Racing brand. The other two cars will wear different livery (sponsor to be confirmed), driven by Motorbase regular faces Sam Osborne and Ollie Jackson. Motorbase Performance team principal Pete Osborne said: “I’m absolutely delighted to welcome NAPA to Motorbase and the BTCC. It’s a huge brand in America in the automotive parts…

MUSTANG COBRA R EXTREME MUSCLE How do you make even a modified Mustang look like a seven-stone weakling? Buy a Cobra R… Words BEN BIRCH Photos JASON DODD Jason the photographer snaps away at an angry-looking bright red Mustang, which sits for the moment deathly quiet – but still menacingly – in the corner of an Essex industrial estate. We pinch ourselves to check what we’re looking at is real: build number 252 of just 300 SVT Cobra Rs supplied worldwide as a 2000 model, and bone stock as it left the Dearborn, Michigan factory over 20 years ago. The car certainly doesn’t look two decades old. In fact, what was once slightly unloved styling is now looking very fresh indeed. “Maybe it’s just ripening enough to become more desirable”,…