The first-generation Ford Focus was…a car. That’s about all we can say about Ford’s first foray into a worldwide economy car. It was cheap, not entirely ugly, and did we mention cheap? While the latest Focus has a much more premium appeal and a true performance variant in the Focus ST, not even SVT’s magic could do much to turn the first-gen Focus into anything but an economy car with racing seats.
Leave it up to Ford Racing Performance Parts and McLaren Development to build a truly worthy performance Focus. This one of just two V8-powered, rear-wheel drive Focus rally cars is up for sale on driver-source, and can be yours for a shade under $80,000.
Unveiled at the 2004 SEMA Show, this Focus Rally Car does away with the Zetec four-cylinder engine in favor of a 5.0 liter “Cammer” engine making an estimated 420 horsepower. Backing this engine is a 5-speed manual transmission and a Ford 9-inch rear end, providing some serious oomph that was once lacking in the Focus lineup.
The whereabouts of the other V8 rear-drive Focus are unknown, and it is presumed to have been destroyed by Ford, meaning this is a one-of-one build. It was more than just a show car too, as Ford used it in drift exhibition matches to tease all the Focus fan boys who desperately wanted to buy this wild ride. Now you have a chance to do that, if you can come up with $79,500.
At that price, it might be cheaper to just build one yourself.
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