Bike-engined Fiesta - Barry Lynch - Issue 02/10

One of the unsung heroes of the Ford tuning world, Barry's Fiesta is quite simply a work of art. Rear-wheel drive Fiestas are nothing new, but when you custom-make a rear subframe, drop a nitrous'd Kawasaki 1200cc in the back and finish the whole thing off with perfect retro looks and factory levels of fit and finish, it's no wonder that this Mk1 has won so muchpraise. A non-Ford engine probably cost it more votes, but 3rd place in this competition is no mean feat.

SPEC IN BRIEF

Rear-mounted Kawasaki ZZR 1200 160bhp with 50bhp NOS, six-speed sequential gearbox AVO coilovers, Fiesta XR2/Sierra Cosworth brakes, 13" Compomotive MS alloys, full cage, digital clocks, custom rear space frame, rear-wheel drive

V8 Focus RS - Steve Scott - Issue 09/10

A stalwart of the Ford tuning scene, you can be assured that when Steve 'A1 RallySport' Scott decides to build a car, it will be a good one. This awesome Focus takes A1 RallySport's tried and tested Mk1 Focus rear-wheel drive conversion that has been put to such good use with various Cosworth YB conversions, and marries it to a barrel chested 5.0- litre Windsor V8. The result is a car that looks like a Mk1 Focus RS but sounds like an angry Nascar, and with Steve at the wheel, it's an absolute animal. And all because he fancied something a bit different.

SPEC IN BRIEF

370bhp 5.0-litre Ford Windsor 302 small block, Edelbrock manifolds, 650 Holley four-barrel carb, A1 RallySport rear-wheel drive conversion, A1 RallySport multi-point cage and carbon dash, Gaz coilovers all-round, Brembo six-pots

The Q-Plate - Jamie Going - Issue 08/10

Well it had to be didn't it? The car that graced the cover of our 200th issue of Performance Ford was always going to be a bit special, and they don't come much better than Jamie Going's incredible Escort. With a monstrous, turbocharged 2.0-litre Zetec up front, Formula One carbon brakes, a Hewland six-speed sequential, air-jacks and even an active rear spoiler, this Mk3/4 Escort is about as extreme as it gets. The full specification is massive, the car is a testament to the engineering talents of one of the most influential characters in the Ford tuning world, and we have a sneaky suspicion that it's going to take many, many years before we see another that can come close.

SPEC

ENGINE 2.0-litre Zetec block, WRC steel crankshaft, WRC steel con rods, JamSport-spec Cosworth forged pistons, adjusted compression ratio, Focus RS multi layer head gasket, JamSport-spec high-flow big valve cylinder head, JamSport rally cross cams, JamSport sodium filled valves, JamSport 2mm oversize solid lifters, JamSport double valve springs, WRC inlet manifold and plenum, four 660cc injectors, four 470cc injectors, WRC Inconel turbo manifold, JamSport-spec GT35 roller bearing turbo, Turbonetics external wastegate, Pace dry sump system, Formula One radiator and carbon fibre header tank, custom carbon fibre water pipes with Wiggins fasteners, electric water pump, custom aluminium boost pipes with Wiggins fasteners, custom large capacity front-mount intercooler, quick-release side exit exhaust system, coil-on-plug ignition system, JamSport-spec Gotech Pro-X ECU with fully sequential ignition and eight injector fuelling, fully mappable variable valve timing, launch control, full throttle gear change, JamSport lightweight engine loom with aircraft-spec quick-release connectors, two Bosch 044 fuel pumps, Fuel Lab fuel pressure regulator, lightweight aluminium fuel lines

TRANSMISSION Hewland six-speed dog sequential gearbox with custom ratios, plate-type limited-slip diff with custom ramp angles, Alcon tripleplate full carbon fibre clutch, JamSport paddle-shift system, Hewland gear linkage, Hewland custom driveshafts, JamSport hydraulic clutch system

SUSPENSION Front: JamSport-spec AVO inverted coilovers with custom spring rates, Sierra 4x4 front hubs with oversize wheel bearing, JamSport adjustable spherical top suspension mounts, JamSport rose-jointed compression struts, custom bladed anti-roll bar (still in development). Rear: JamSport-spec AVO inverted coilovers with custom spring rates, JamSport fully adjustable rose-jointed rear arms, rose jointed tie bars, custom bladed anti-roll bar (still in development)

BRAKES Front: 285x36mm carbon fibre Formula One rotors mounted on aluminium bells with titanium fasteners, AP Racing WRC four-pot calipers with titanium pistons, carbon fibre F1 brake pads, braided lines with dry break connectors. Rear: AP Racing two-pot calipers with 2WD Cosworth discs, braided lines with dry break connectors lightweight aluminium brake pipes, in-car adjustable bias pedal box, hydraulic handbrake

INTERIOR Adrenaline custom chromoly multi-point weldin roll-cage, AP Racing air jacks, Motordrive Kevlar seats, Willans six-point harnesses, carbon fibre floor plates, Race Technology Dash2, Race Technology DL1 data logger with inputs for all engine sensors, tyre pressure, tyre temperature, brake temperature, brake line pressure, GPS, lap times, Race Technology Video4 data overlay system with front, rear, driver and pedal cameras, LifeLine plumbed-in fire extinguisher, custom trip switch panel, electronic boost controller, mechanical boost gauge, wide band lambda gauge, gel battery, lightweight fuel cell, JamSport lightweight wiring loom

EXTERIOR Mk3 Escort shell resprayed in Imperial blue by Jez Bonner at Carrera Design, quickrelease Mk5 RS2000 front bumper, quad headlight conversion with HID bulbs, lightweight carbon fibre bonnet, JamSport Mk2 Focus RS carbon fibre bonnet vents, quick release front wings, S1 RS Turbo arches and side skirts, carbon fibre roof scoop, RS1700T tailgate with custom JamSport active spoiler, Mk4 Escort rear lights, Mk4 Escort heated front screen, 797kg (dry)