Innehållsförteckning för March 2017 från Fast Ford

WELCOME TO THE MARCH ISSUE! “Well, 2017 is here and it already looks like it’s going to be a fantastic year for the fast Ford fan. One reason 2017 looks so promising is the arrival of the new S550 Mustang, ready for the UK in right-hand drive. Yes, early cars did start to appear on our streets in the latter part of 2016, but we reckon 2017 is going to be the year of the UK Mustang! That’s why we’ve added a little Mustang-flavour to this issue! First up, we got our first drive behind the wheel of the whopping 5.0-litre V8 version, which you can read all about over on page 20, but I don’t think I’ll be giving too much away to let you know that we absolutely…

DRIVEN MUSTANG V8 WE GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF FORD’S ICONIC MUSCLE CAR… “THE S550 MUSTANG IS REFRESHINGLY OLD FASHIONED, AND THAT IS A HUGE PART OF ITS APPEAL” Wow! This has been a long time coming. I’ve always loved the Mustang, but with the steering wheel on the wrong side of the car and the infamous American build quality there was never a Mustang that I would actually want to own. But what about the new right-hand drive S550, will that change my mind…? Well, in short, yes! Yes it has! It actually wins you over long before you get anywhere near the driver’s seat too. Just looking at the new Mustang makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end – that long sculptured bonnet,…

SIERRA RS500 CAT & MOUSE …or should that be ‘Copycat and Rouse’? At first glance, this may look for all the world like a genuine Rouse RS500 – but it isn’t, and its owner, Ali McMillan would never pretend that it was. Nevertheless, it’s far more authentic than you might expect… Words: Dan Bevis Photos: Ade Brannan If you’re one of those people who stubbornly refuses to acknowledge the linear passage of time, you’ll no doubt be astounded to learn that Tenacious D’s iconic song ‘Tribute’ came out as long ago as 2002. Imagine! That means it’s been serving as a helpful explanatory prop for anything that acts as a tribute for nigh-on a decade and a half, which is exactly why we’re wheeling it out here. You see, that…

MUSTANG WAY OF THE COBRA There is a reason the JW Racing 2.3 EcoBoost Mustang is wearing Shelby Cobra decals… Words: Dan Goodyer Photos: Ade Brannan In the animal kingdom one rule is universal: bright-colours are a warning. From wasps to tigers, frogs and even caterpillars, a lairy coat says “I’m dangerous”. Now this 2.3-litre turbocharged Mustang might not be covered in lime green skin but the warning signs are there. Shelby Cobra badges on the front wings, the SuperSnake graphics, and the homage to the hardcore CobraJet Mustangs on the rear quarters signify this is one Mustang you don’t want to mess with. Particularly if you’re driving the more expensive ‘GT’, with the 5.0-litre V8 - there’s a good chance you’ll get bitten! In the interests of good taste,…

BUYER’S GUIDE FIESTA XR2 MK2 BUYER’S GUIDE FIESTA XR2 MK2 Words: Dan Williamson Photos: Matt Dear “...chunky styling and oversized engine in a pint-sized package” VITAL STATS MADE 1984 to 1989 PRICE WHEN NEW £5731 PRICE NOW £1000 to £8000-plus TOP SPEED 112mph/109mph (pre/post 1986) POWER 96bhp @ 6,000rpm / /93bhp @ 5750rpm (pre/post 1986) TORQUE 98Ib.ft @ 4,000rpm 0-60 8.9/9.3 seconds (pre/post 1986) It’s quick, it’s cute, it’s chuckable and, with a little tuning know-how, the Mk2 Fiesta XR2 can also be an absolute blast on any racetrack or B-road. Can you believe this Blue Oval go-kart is 33 years old? The second-generation XR2 appeared in June 1984, repeating its predecessor’s recipe of chunky styling and oversized engine in a pint-sized package. Instead of the newfangled fuel injection found…

ESCORT COSWORTH BLUE WHALE Mark Hudd’s Escort RS Cosworth has been in his possession since the era of The Matrix and Mambo No 5, but he hasn’t allowed the spectre of time to run away with the spec list. This is a timeless artefact, period-modified to perfection… Words: Dan Bevis Photos: Matt Woods It’s often said of great music that you have to listen to the notes that aren’t being played. That is to say, restraint is the creative foil to overblown embellishment – try too hard and things will end up overdone and spoiled, but exercise a little self-censoring in the artistic process and the purity of the result will speak for itself. So it is that often, we find, the best feature cars are the ones that are…

MUSTANG MEET MUSTANGS GALORE! The largest UK gathering of S550 Mustangs to date took over the Haynes Ford showroom in Kent to celebrate ‘Steeda Saturday’, a Mustang meet that showcased the US tuning giant’s latest offerings for the iconic model… The Mustang is proving a huge hit with UK Ford fans. Those who have longed after what is arguably the most iconic Blue Oval model ever made can finally, after a 50-year wait, get their hands on a fully UK-ready, right-hand drive model! So, unsurprisingly, Ford dealers’ order books are bursting with names of wannabe Mustang owners. But if there’s one thing history tells us, it’s that owning a Mustang is only half the story. As with pretty much any other fast Ford model, the Mustang is set to be…

FIESTA ST IN TAKE HOW TO FIT... FIESTA ST INTAKE SYSTEM Get your Mk7 Fiesta ST breathing better through one of Revo’s complete intake systems, here’s how to fit it all… BEFORE STARTING… Working on cars can and should be a fun experience, but it can easily go wrong so always remember – safety first! That means wearing appropriate protective equipment and taking care when using power tools. Never work under a car without supporting it on axle stands first, and always have a fire extinguisher to hand. If you’re not confident about doing something, leave it to the professionals. The advice and guidelines given by Fast Ford are given in good faith and neither Fast Ford nor Kelsey Media can be held responsible for injuries sustained while undertaking…

fastford CAR OF THE YEAR 2016 WINNER The votes have been counted and we have a winner… QUICK SPEC Loba stage 2 turbo, Jamsport custom map, 750cc injectors, BC Racing coilovers, Summit strut braces, K-Sport 8-pot brakes, Hardrace bushes, 19in OZ Superturismo GTs, 3M wrap. Power: 466Bhp Over the past few weeks you have been able to have your say on which car you thought was the best we’d featured in 2016. We narrowed the selection down to a shortlist of just 10 cars, and then it was over to you to decide who would be crowned the ‘Fast Ford Car of the Year 2016’! Thanks to all those who headed over to our website to cast their vote for the competition, but now it’s time to find a winner!…

SAPPHIRE COSWORTH SHINE BRIGHT LIKE A SAPPHIRE The Ford Sapphire is often considered a forgotten classic, but lumbered with Cosworth mechanicals it’s simply unforgettable, and Leigh Edwards knows that more than most Words: Dani Bagnall Photos: Matt Woods Upon hearing the word ‘Cosworth’, palms tend to moisten and mouths often salivate, and it’s no different for Leigh Edwards; the owner of this 1989 Ford Sapphire Cosworth you see sprawled across these pages. Cosworth-powered Fords have always been a popular breed, and that’s prominent now more than ever, with prices at the highest they’ve ever been, but, if like Leigh, you’ve been lucky enough to acquire one yourself, then it’s probably a good bet to hang on to it. “The Sapphire is a car I’ve wanted to own since I was…

GYMKHANA GRID BLOCK ROCKIN’ HEATS Think you’re a better driver than Ken Block? You have the chance to prove it at Gymkhana GRiD… Words and Photos: Dan Furr Even those with only a passing interest in modified motors will have heard of Ken Block. Granted, they might not know that the forty-nine year old is one of the co-founders of DC Shoes (or that the Californian is a professional rally driver), but they’ll have clocked one of his many videos on YouTube and will probably be able to name him as the fella who “performed donuts at the Cenotaph War Memorial in a Ford Mustang” following national outcry at a Top Gear film he starred in a few months ago. Block’s enthusiasm for killing tyres on camera has made him…

READERS CARS Engine swapped, or styled to the max? Send us your modded Blue Ovals! JOE HIGGINS FOCUS ST Focus ST owner Joe Higgins set out 12 months ago to build an ST with RS beating performance. Using a load of RS components and a Revo Stage 4 map he’s certainly achieved it, with a claimed 406bhp and 404lb.ft of torque. The 5-pot had been fitted with RS pistons and rods, cams, turbo, modified loom and sensors, and the ECU has been cloned to RS spec. With a number of supporting mods the 2.5 kicks out some serious power, yet the exterior remains deceptively subtle, with only the RS rear spoiler and hints of green detailing suggesting that it’s far from standard. It won’t come as much of a surprise…