In 1999 Ford introduced North America to the Focus, the car that would replace the aging Escort as an alternative to the Japanese imports that dominated the compact market. Since then the Focus has gone through spurts of performance, first with the Focus SVT and now the 247 horsepower Focus ST. Save for a couple of rally cars though, Ford never dared to build a V8, rear-wheel drive Focus, leaving it up to people braver than us to undertake the task.

In Holland, Michigan on craigslist is a one-of-a-kind Focus that is the answer to a question nobody asked; what happens when you give a compact car a Mustang drivetrain? Borderline insanity if you ask us, and for $18,000 you’ll have a hard time justifying it to the Mrs.

The sheer feat of engineering required to convert a Focus from front-wheel to rear-wheel drive involves hundreds of man hours fabricating a driveshaft tunnel and room for the 8.8 rear end. Much of this is made possible with kits from Kuegel Komponnets, who are just crazy enough to manufacture nearly everything you need should you want to attempt this at home. Sway bars, coil overs, and a re-engineered engine cross-member are also part of the equation to get a V8 under the stock hood. If you prefer modular power over pushrods, Kuegel offers that as well.

We agree with the seller, this professionally-built Focus V8 is a real sleeper, at least until you turn the engine on, and with almost $28,000 invested (just in the car and parts) you’re definitely getting something of a deal. This is the kind of car that we imagine is enjoyable for awhile, but for the owner the novelty wore off. How long could you enjoy such a frankenstein compact?