Innehållsförteckning för Spring 2021 från Fast Ford

WHAT'S NEW NEW STUFF The latest gear on the Blue Oval scene BURTON POWER QUAIFE ATB FOR FWD FORDS From £726 Burton Power is now offering a range of Quaife ATB units for many FWD fast Fords. The benefits of a torque-biasing differential in front-wheel-drive applications have been well documented, but to summarise the results are superior and more controllable traction without the harsh steering wheel snatch or torque steer that have long been associated with performance differentials. Burton is now stocking ATB upgrades for the Mk3 Focus RS, Mk3 Focus ST, Mk7 Fiesta ST and ST200. The Quaife ATB uses standard transmission oils and is covered by a limited lifetime warranty for both road and competition use, making it a true ‘fit and forget’ upgrade. For more info, speak…

S2 RS TURBO THE COMEBACK KID In its advanced state of rottenness and decomposition, most people would have left this RS Turbo for dead. But Sean Johnson, with a head full of childhood dreams, is not most people… Words DAN BEVIS Photos ADE BRANNAN All the best stories of project cars are grounded in effort and endeavour. And, more often than not, such things are rooted in dreams. After all, we wouldn’t be in this hobby unless we deeply cared about it on an elemental level – and when you start making those first fledgling steps towards realising a dream, it’s just the most magical feeling. The passion has been fuelling the scene for generations, although it can be argued that certain quarters of the modding community like to take…

FIES TAST EVERYDAY THRILLS Want a fast, dependable and fun Ford for daily duties? You need a Fiesta ST – Josh Barker shows us why Words and photos JON CASS When 25-year-old Josh Barker was looking for a fun and reliable car to drive every day, the Fiesta ST ticked all the boxes. With the addition of a few cleverly chosen mods, he now has a Fiesta that handles like a dream, with the pace to match. It’s no surprise that Josh is extremely enthusiastic when it comes to modified cars, as much of his childhood was spent helping his dad, Jamie, in the garage preparing rally cars. Josh recalls, “I got to work on numerous Mk1 and Mk2 Escorts and several Mitsubishi Evos. It was more for performance than…

MK2 FOCUS RS “IT’SABIT MENTAL” Understatement of the year goes to Steve Hill, owner of this bonkers 720bhp Focus RS Words BEN BIRCH Photos ADE BRANNAN What performance car would you upgrade to if a 600bhp Focus RS wasn’t crazy enough? Most of us will never have to answer that question, but in March 2020, Steve Hill was in exactly that predicament. Already on his fourth – and maddest – Mk2 FRS, he could have gone looking at sports cars or German über saloons to get an easy fix, but he was in love with Ford’s most potent front-wheel-drive hatch and just couldn’t get them out of his system. Steve says, “Every time I got rid of a Mk2 RS, I immediately asked myself why I did it. They’re just…

BEST BUYS MK6 FIESTA ST(150) £1000 TO £3000 MK6 FIESTA ST(150) Spiritual successor to the much-missed XR2, the Mk6 ST was the first fast Fiesta of the century, arriving in winter 2004. The fiery new Fiesta was TeamRS’s primary production car, packing 148bhp (150PS, thus the ST150 nickname) from a two-litre Duratec powerplant, which had been tuned with a variable intake and free-flowing exhaust. The result was a load of naturally-aspirated grunt, along with 129mph top end and 0-to-60mph acceleration in 7.9 seconds. An uprated gearbox with lightened flywheel and quickshift enhanced flexibility, while lowered springs, stiffer dampers and sharper steering meant big grins on the back roads. The brakes were beefed-up, with rear discs and ST170 front callipers. Even a Mountune performance package was an official Ford option.…

BEST BUYS MK1 FOCUS RS £10,000 TO £20,000 MK1 FOCUS RS Money in the bank: less safe than a Focus RS Mk1, and loads less fun. The Mk1 RS is a perfect package of performance, practicality and impending classic status. It’s an iconic Blue Oval you can enjoy using without worrying about depreciation or breaking down. The first RS-badged Focus was introduced in October 2002, developed from the basic three-door but with 70 per cent of its components uprated and 521 unique parts. A two-litre Zetec-E (renamed Duratec RS) was turbocharged and tweaked to produce 212bhp, gaining forged pistons, modified head, Garrett GT2560LS turbo and chargecooler. It was mated to a close-ratio MTX75 gearbox with AP Racing clutch, Quaife ATB differential and tougher driveshafts, alongside WRC-width suspension arms, Sachs…

TECH SPEC MK3 FOCUS RS ENGINE 2261cc turbocharged four-cylinder 16-valve DOHC EcoBoost with alloy block and head, 9.4:1 compression ratio, cast iron crankshaft, twin-independent variable cam timing (Ti-VCT), timing chain drive, Honeywell twin-scroll turbocharger, high-pressure direct fuel injection, redesigned intake, Bosch MEDG17-14 engine management, large-bore exhaust system with twin-exit tailpipes TRANSMISSION Four-wheel drive with Getrag Ford Durashift MMT6 six-speed manual gearbox, electronically-controlled AWD system incorporating Twinster rear drive unit, and Dynamic Torque Vectoring SUSPENSION Front: MacPherson struts, uprated coil springs (33 per cent stiffer) and anti-roll bar, electronic shock absorbers with two modes (normal/track 40 per cent firmer), revised knuckles, uprated bushes; rear: independent control blade multi-link system, reinforced subframe and connecting rods, electronic dampers, uprated coil springs (38 per cent stiffer) and anti-roll bar, electronic stability Control (ESC), torque…

BEST BUYS CONCLUSION CONCLUSION WHAT WE THINK £500-£1000 PUMA Jason says: “I think the Puma will be a future classic, but right now they are a brilliant buy on a budget. I had one back in 2005, it’s a cracking little car with a perfectly balanced chassis. What it lacks in outright power, it more than makes up for with brilliant handling.” £3000-£5000 FOCUS ST(225) Dan Williamson says: “Who doesn’t love an ASBO? Okay, the image ain’t great, but everything else about the ST225 is perfect for the price. It’s practical, it’s quick, it begs to be driven hard, and that five-pot rumble is addictive. Just don’t go without a remap. £10,000-£20,000 MK1 FOCUS RS Ade says: “The Mk1 Focus RS offered the chunky styling that arguably every Focus…

#PRINTMYFORD See your very own fast Ford in full printed glory! Ever wanted to see your car appear in all its glory in the printed pages of a Ford tuning magazine? Well, if so, all you need to do is ask! Simply email us, or post a picture of your car on our Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram pages and add the hashtag ‘#printmyford’, and each month we’ll choose our favourites and print them in this aptly named feature. Alternatively, drop us an email with a couple of pics, a full spec list of any mods and upgrades, and a few details about your time with the car to fastford.ed@kelsey.co.uk with the subject heading ‘print my ford’ and we’ll pick our favourites for a slightly more detailed review each month too.…

FORD’S 4X4 MACHINES THE STORY OF… FORD’S 4X4 MACHINES From Capri to Mk3 Focus RS, Ford has utilised four-wheel drive to create some truly special Blue Ovals throughout the years. Graham Robson looks at the highlights Words GRAHAM ROBSON Photos FORD PHOTOGRAPHIC ARCHIVE The next time a pub bore insists that Audi was the first to win anything in motorsport with four-wheel-drive cars, please make sure you correct them. You know that Ford was there well ahead of the rest, with fearsome four-wheel drive rallycross Capris back in 1969. It took time (and stuffy regulations didn’t make it easy) for Boreham, then M-Sport, to repeat the dose, but nowadays we expect all similar sporting cars to have such a sophisticated system. So, Ford of Europe and four-wheel-drive cars have been…

ROUSE SPORT 304R ROUSE IN DA HOUSE As if sharing the name of a BTCC legend wasn’t enough, Graham Rouse bought one of the super-rare, super-special Sapphires to carry the tag too Words BEN BIRCH Photos JASON DODD Let’s get something straight. The owner of this lovely Rouse Sport 304R bears no relation to BTCC legend Andy, and he didn’t change his name by deed poll to match his car. That would be odd, and a little bit sad if we’re honest. No, Graham has always been a Rouse and his car that you see on these pages was a completely spontaneous purchase rather than a lifelong unicorn hunt. “Actually, I’ve been a classic Jag man all of my life. I still own a Mk2 Jag and have restored and…

2021 SHOW DATES The Ford show scene is the best in the business – check out some of these cracking events coming up soon… Let’s start this issue with a bit of positivity. Of course, nobody knows for certain what’s around the corner with regards to the coronavirus pandemic, but let’s not assume the worst. Instead, let's try to focus on the positives – starting with a huge number of fantastic events that are already pencilled in for the year ahead. Some of these provisional dates may well be forced to changed, and there's almost certainly going to be a slightly different feel to some events. But after a year of sitting on the sidelines throughout 2020, Blue Oval owners are chomping at the bit to get out there and…

BEST BUYS PUMA 1.7 £500 TO £1000 PUMA 1.7 Ignore the overinflated new Puma crossover – the original Puma coupé is a fast Ford icon and certified classic of the future. And, while similar low-budget Blue Ovals have recently seen substantial price hikes (ST170s have doubled in value over the past couple of years), the compact sportster still languishes in old-banger territory. But why? The Puma’s girly image is to blame. Combined with the availability of a low-power 1.4-litre engine and a habit of rusting to dust, the little Ford’s charms have so far failed to capture collectors. But that’s their loss, because Pumas are a hoot to hustle along any British back road thanks to an SVE-tuned chassis and – in Fast Ford’s choice, the 1.7 – a revvy…

BEST BUYS MK7 FIESTA ST(180) £5000 TO £10,000 MK7 FIESTA ST(180) You don’t need to be a Ford fan to love the ST180. In fact, the Mk7 Fiesta ST is almost universally praised as the best small hot hatch of all – and when you consider the competition, that’s an impressive feat. Renowned for its sharp performance, immense tuneability and remarkable reliability, the ST180 is now extremely affordable – and capable of making huge power without major mechanical modifications. Even the official 180bhp figure is a misnomer, because the ST’s little 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine packs a 197bhp punch of 15-second overboost on full throttle. Launched in January 2013, the ST180 was designed to be a full-on driver’s car, boasting lowered suspension, a revised rear beam, modified steering knuckles, sharpened…

BEST BUYS SIERRA RS COSWORTH £30,000 TO £50,000 SIERRA RS COSWORTH Whether you’re a fan of fast Fords, classic Fords, flame-spitting race monsters or concours show machines, the Sierra RS Cosworth has something for everyone. With tail-happy rear-wheel drive handling, 150mph performance, massive motorsport heritage and that wild rear wing, the original three-door Cossie is still a head-turning Blue Oval icon – 35 years after it was launched. Unveiled in December 1985 (available in 1986), the RS Cosworth was designed with one aim: international competition success. Touring Car racing regulations required Ford to build 5000 production models, so the firm teamed up with Cosworth Engineering to create a turbocharged two-litre powerplant, pushing out over 300bhp in race form. Detuned to 204bhp for road use, the Cosworth YB engine was…

WHERE TO BUY In the past few pages, you’ve seen that there are plenty of options for buying a fast Ford, no matter what your budget. But now you know which fast Ford you want, the next question is ‘where do I buy one?’, and again there isn’t one answer that fits all. For the lower-priced models, you’ll find plenty for sale on sites that are cheap or free to advertise (makes sense; you wouldn’t want to pay a fortune to advertise a car you’re selling for a few hundred quid), so don’t discard places like Facebook Marketplace, Facebook owners’ groups and selling pages, or online auction sites like eBay. As you’d expect, they will be awash will all sorts, from half-decent and tidy examples through to the dregs of…

STEEDA MUSTANG LEGENDS REBORN Sandicliffe Ford and Steeda join forces to create a modern interpretation of a fast Ford icon. The resulting 720bhp Steve McQueen Edition Bullitt Mustang is a true big gun Words PRO-MOTIV Photos CHRIS WALLBANK A whopping $3.74 million was the price reached at auction for the original 1968 Ford Mustang GT driven by Steve McQueen in the film Bullitt. When the gavel came down, the Dark Highland Green coupé became the world’s most valuable Mustang. The movie’s defining ten-minute chase sequence and the Mustang’s association with the original King of Cool immortalised the car in popular culture. And over the past 20 years, Ford has capitalised on this by releasing three Bullitt special-edition Mustangs (in 2001, 2008 and 2019), each with upgraded hardware and features inspired…

FF TECH TUNER’S CHOICE This issue we ask Airtec Motorsport for their favourite upgrades for the Mk2 Focus ST The Mk2 Focus ST was an instant hit when it burst onto the fast Ford scene back in 2005. Tuners and owners loved the performance potential of the Volvo-sourced five-cylinder, and were equally as quick to exploit it. The ST’s popularity has never wavered, and it’s still one of the most popular model s at any Ford show or event today. Over the last fifteen years we’ve seen ST tuning progress massively; indeed it’s now possible for cars to produce more than three times their 222bhp factory output. But it’s not always the headline-grabbing upgrades that make the biggest difference, which is why we spoke to Airtec Motorsport – who have…

ALL ABOUT GEARBOXES We take a closer look at the inner workings of a gearbox to see what does what and how it all comes together Words JAMIE Photos JON HILL Gearboxes are complicated bits of kit, and they’re not all that easy to understand. But without one you wouldn’t get very far at all. They are complicated pieces of engineering, which some say has the biggest effect on a car’s performance (there’s a reason race teams change their gear ratios every single time the car goes out on track). Get it wrong and the car will be almost undriveable. Get it right, though, and you can turn even a standard motor into a real flying machine. Most fast Fords come with suitable ratios for fast-road use straight from the…

What's New NEWS See what s going down in the world of fast Fords... MOTORBASE PERFORMANCE NEW OWNERS Anew chapter awaits Motorbase Performance in the British Touring Car Championship following the acquisition by Shaun Hollamby and Pete Osborne. Long-time Team Principal, David Bartrum, steps aside after a phenomenally successful period; Bartrum started Motorbase in 2004 and has enjoyed widespread success in BTCC, British GT and Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain. The team has claimed 109 podiums and 34 outright wins in the BTCC since joining the grid in 2006. The squad will continue to run under the Motorbase Performance banner along with its core operational staff, including experienced Team Manager Oly Collins working alongside AmD’s Technical Director Rob Tickner, and will remain operating out of its workshop in Wrotham, Kent.…

WHAT'S NEW CLUB PROFILE ST170 OWNERS’ CLUB This month we catch up with Vicki Keeble to find out more about the ST170 Owners’ Club When was the club first founded? The club was started in October 2014; a few of us had been members of various Focus-based clubs, but there wasn’t anything that catered solely for the ST170 model. We were passionate about sharing our love for these models, so we decided to have a go ourselves. Our aim was to share our passion and knowledge with other owners, which we continue to do to this day. How many active members does the club currently have? The first night the group was created we had over 300 people join, and we have continued to grow ever since. The club currently…

BEST BUYS MK2 FOCUS ST(225) £3000 TO £5000 MK2 FOCUS ST(225) Every Ford fan should drive a Mk2 Focus ST. In fact, every Ford fan should own an ST at some time in their lives. The Focus ST225 – so-called due to its 225PS (222bhp) powerplant – is the epitome of a fast Ford. It’s cheap to buy, easy to live with, great to drive and capable of enormous power. Nothing else comes close. Launched in September 2005, the second-generation ST-badged Focus offered humdrum three- or five-door hatchback bodywork and a Volvo-sourced 2522cc engine. With a KKK turbo, the five-cylinder Focus growled its way to 60mph in 6.5 seconds and 150mph top speed. The suspension and brakes were uprated, and 18in rims rolled beneath a beefy bodykit. But the paintwork…

BEST BUYS MK3 FOCUS RS £20,000 TO £30,000 MK3 FOCUS RS Whether you’re addicted to the growl of a boosted five-pot Focus or dedicated to an old-school Cossie, it’s impossible to ignore the Focus RS Mk3 – and the possibility of putting one in your garage. Not just because it’s the best hot hatch ever to wear a Blue Oval. But simply because it’s a phenomenal car. Indeed, you don’t even need to be a fast Ford fan to appreciate the RS Mk3’s exceptional handling, its ability to hit 60mph in less than five seconds, or its 165mph top speed. And with prices for early cars as low as £20,000, the Mk3 RS is finally accessible to everyday enthusiasts – with 500bhp only a credit card away. The Focus…

FAST FLEET Check out what’s been going on with our projects this month… JAMIE FOCUS RS A flat battery meant the RS needed rescuing by the RAC this month. Jamie is now on the look out for a decent trickle charger system to keep the new battery in top condition for as long as possible. PAUL COWLAND MUSTANG V8 Paul’s been busy enjoying the new map on the Mustang, but has some spacers on order to be fitted soon. DAN FOCUS ST250 The Fondeo is back from Direnza and Dan’s no longer driving a BMW every day. Full update coming soon. HANNAH FOCUS COSWORTH Hannah’s keeping her fingers crossed that shows and events open again in 2021, as she can’t wait to get on track in the FoCos. MOTORBASE FOCUS…

EBC BRAKES’ MK7 FIESTA ST IT’S WHAT’S INSIDE THAT COUNTS This month, the guys from EBC Brakes focus on enhancing the interior of their ‘Ultimate Fiesta Build’ Mk7 ST… QUICK SPEC EBC Brakes Racing Apollo Balanced Big Brake Kit • Eibach Pro-Spacer Kit • Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres • Pumaspeed Stage 4 tune with X58EVO turbo • Forge BOV • Cusco Type RS LSD • ST XTA coilovers • Eibach ARBs • Ultra Racing strut braces • Powerflex bushes • Yiannimize vinyl wrap • Rota Recce alloys • Northampton Motorsport geo/alignment setup It’s fair to say that with 380-odd horses under its bonnet and its killer suspension and brake setups, our ‘Ultimate Fiesta Build’ is really starting to live up to its name. But there’s still a long way…

MK2 ESCORT TEENAGE KICKS Ever since he first saw a Cossie-powered Escort when he was 13 years old, Mikko Paajanen promised himself a similar car. The monstrous Mk2 you see on these pages is the realisation of that dream – all 836bhp of it! Words JAMIE Photos JAPE TIITINEN Cast your mind back to the early 1990s. If, like me, you’re old enough to remember those days, you’ll recall tripping over Mk2 Escorts everywhere; supermarket car parks, town centres, or, my personal favourite, the short-oval hot-rod and banger tracks. The UK was littered with the things. It was a similar story all across Europe, as owner of this rather special Mk2 and Finnish national, Mikko Paajanen explains: “They were totally worthless cars here in Finland. You could buy one for…

SECRET FORDS ACCESS ALL AREAS: FIESTA RS This month Steve looks at the Fiesta RS you always promised yourself… if only Ford would have actually built it The Fiesta RS remains a car that enthusiasts – and Ford – wanted for decades. Ford tried back in 1979 to make a Fiesta RS and is featured in Secret Fords, Volume One. It was all that one could wish for – except that it doubled the car’s price. A successful Fiesta RS needed to be profitable enough for Ford and special enough for enthusiasts to warrant the RS name. Nearly ten years later, Ford’s SVE team realised a window was about to open up. The old CVH engine was going to be fitted to the upcoming ’89 Fiesta and, with a little…