Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
9/7/24 9:33 a.m.
feature_image

Sure, not every show car is a race car, but this former SEMA build features more than meets the eye.

This Ford Focus has been converted to a mid-engine layout, with its Zetec engine–also sporting a supercharger–sending power to the rear wheels.

Other notable features include a tubular rear subframe, roll bar and racing seats fitted with Sparco harnesses.

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TJL (Forum Supporter)
TJL (Forum Supporter) SuperDork
9/7/24 9:58 a.m.

Not a single photo of the rear engine setup available on the auction page? 

EchoTreeSix
EchoTreeSix New Reader
9/7/24 10:37 a.m.

In reply to TJL (Forum Supporter) :

That's the part I was most excited to see

TJL (Forum Supporter)
TJL (Forum Supporter) SuperDork
9/7/24 11:02 a.m.

In reply to EchoTreeSix :

Its literally the only reason I clicked the link.  I have no interest in buying it. Just wanted to see the guts. 
 

"here is a wildly modified focus!"

also

"here is some pictures of a basicly stock focus"

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
9/7/24 11:07 a.m.

I think I remember seeing this at the show back in the day. 

californiamilleghia
californiamilleghia UberDork
9/7/24 11:43 a.m.

Leno has one and has a nice video on his YouTube channel , 

 

te72
te72 HalfDork
9/8/24 3:36 p.m.

I love that it looks like it was built in the style of the early 2000's. There's a certain charm to it. Shame they couldn't be bothered to put pictures of the most interesting aspect of the car out there...

"It's mid engine, rear drive converted, we promise! What, you wanna see it? Uhhhh... sorry, we uhhh... can't show you. Steamed hams, you see?"

BA5
BA5 GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
9/8/24 5:33 p.m.

"A Zetec, WITH a supercharger, in THAT car, for THAT price, located entirely behind the driver!?"

"Yes!"

"Can I see it?"

"No."

brandonsmash
brandonsmash GRM+ Memberand Reader
9/8/24 5:38 p.m.

Wow, wirewheel really sucks at advertising to their audience. 

 

AhBNormal
AhBNormal Reader
9/8/24 5:49 p.m.

Well, interesting. 
First of all we can see that building in this vein likely has a poor cash ROI. So if you give a fig about what it will be worth down the road, build a Bimmer. If you don't expect to sell your build, ever, it can be quite freeing!


The impression is that this is not an auction but a disposal sale. 5K is not a lot of dinero for a functioning mid engine car. (But does it function?) With a supercharged Ford Motor in it one could buy it for the driveline and scrap the rest?

From the photos I can only wonder if this is a stillborn project that met an immovable complication or end of finances? It certainly wouldn't be the first. There are 3 behind the shop at Lavender Hill Farm. (Their owners' quit, it happens.)

Pete. (l33t FS)
Pete. (l33t FS) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
9/8/24 6:17 p.m.
BA5 said:

"A Zetec, WITH a supercharger, in THAT car, for THAT price, located entirely behind the driver!?"

"Yes!"

"Can I see it?"

"No."

The supercharger sounds like the Ford Motorsports kit for the SVT.  I used to have a customer who had an SVT with the supercharger.

I don't remember driving it, just that he brought it to us for some service because nobody else would touch it because it wasn't stock.

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
9/8/24 7:16 p.m.
te72 said:

I love that it looks like it was built in the style of the early 2000's. There's a certain charm to it. Shame they couldn't be bothered to put pictures of the most interesting aspect of the car out there...

"It's mid engine, rear drive converted, we promise! What, you wanna see it? Uhhhh... sorry, we uhhh... can't show you. Steamed hams, you see?"

It wasn't built in the style of the early 2000s. It was built in the early 2000s. 

te72
te72 HalfDork
9/10/24 10:47 a.m.
Keith Tanner said:
te72 said:

I love that it looks like it was built in the style of the early 2000's. There's a certain charm to it. Shame they couldn't be bothered to put pictures of the most interesting aspect of the car out there...

"It's mid engine, rear drive converted, we promise! What, you wanna see it? Uhhhh... sorry, we uhhh... can't show you. Steamed hams, you see?"

It wasn't built in the style of the early 2000s. It was built in the early 2000s. 

That was poorly worded of me, Keith. I was there back in those days, it was a nice nostalgia trip for me.

 

I also have a foggy memory that Ford had a kit to convert these to rear drive and stuff the Cobra V8 in them. Anyone else remember that?

Lof8 - Andy
Lof8 - Andy GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
9/10/24 11:26 a.m.

I didn't check the sale link previously, but there seems to be some engine pics there now

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