"DailyTurismo" (thedailyturismo)
08/14/2013 at 13:01 • Filed to: Daily Turismo
1
46|
"DailyTurismo" (thedailyturismo)
08/14/2013 at 13:01 • Filed to: Daily Turismo | 1
| 46 |
The first generation Ford Festiva was a subcompact econobox designed by Mazda and equipped with a small 4-banger powering the front wheels...until some nutjob decided to put a V8 into this one. But what can only be described as the best of Frenchxican tradition, this Festiva is mid-engined and front-wheel-drive.
The Festiva (named for the Spanish word for festive) was built in Japan by Mazda and in Korea by Kia and available with a variety of Mazda 1.1 to 1.3 liter BJ series 4-cylinder engines. Needless to say, it was extremely slow when new, until a Citroën Traction-Avant fan picked up a used Festiva and shoved a Chevy V8 into the middle and hooked the power up to the front wheels. Find this !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! for sale in Woburn, MA currently starting bids on ebay for $2,000 with zero bids and 5 days to go. Tip from Cory.
Under the hood is a prominent radiator, fuel cell and suspension parts, with only the tell-tale remnants of a differential up front to let you know something is wrong. Pop the rear hatch and you are greeted with what looks like a radial engine exhaust setup in front of a mid-mounted V8. The seller describes the setup as mid-engine mated to a TH350 trans and using a BMW center diff to put power into modified front CV axles. That funny looking exhaust setup involves a cable actuated exhaust diverter valve mated to a simple side exhaust or twin top exit truck style exhaust pipes.
Those twin top exit pipes aren't always extended through the roof flapper valves, and are raised/lowered by a system of electric window motor/mechanisms. Perfect for impressing your neighbors with un-muffled awesome and then lowering/silencing them to pickup your date at her parents house.
Inside the cabin is all business (it should be really loud...) and while the fixed sport seats look relatively comfortable, the exposed silicon coolant hoses running under your passengers legs should be a good substitute for the defunct heater system.
They say money can't buy happiness, but I dare anyone to NOT smile while driving this car...
See a better smiles per mile factory? email us here:
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
Photo credits; ebay.com
Originally posted as !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .
simpleisbest
> DailyTurismo
08/14/2013 at 14:27 |
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This makes the Shogun version of the Festiva look tame.
Autolegend86
> DailyTurismo
08/14/2013 at 16:59 |
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A Peugeot 306 Maxi saw this thread and walked out laughing hysterically at the slowness.
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DailyTurismo
> DailyTurismo
08/14/2013 at 17:03 |
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Hey Patrick, thank you for the FP bump! Also, I've never done any redditing before, but I created a reddit for this piece with a title that I should have used on the post.
This V8 mid-engine front drive 1988 Ford Festiva is a pinata full of hornets...but I'd hit it.
Still trying to get the hang of reddit...still stuck in a web 1.0 mindset...
kids these days...
get off the lawn!
boost_retard
> simpleisbest
08/14/2013 at 17:06 |
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At least the Shogun is RWD.
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TDIDriver
> DailyTurismo
08/14/2013 at 17:09 |
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This is so wrong...
But oh so right!
sammyjay
> DailyTurismo
08/14/2013 at 17:09 |
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Exhaust stacks on a gas engine are horrendous. Even on the Lil' Red Express. This is non-negotiable.
UKGTR335
> DailyTurismo
08/14/2013 at 17:09 |
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The first line of the Ebay add is classic . . .
I recently got this car but my wife was not amused and reluctantly i am putting it back up for sale.
I would love to know how the discussions between the husband and wife went leading up to and after the purchase of this vehicle.
Kazoku_
> DailyTurismo
08/14/2013 at 17:14 |
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Love me some Festiva. It's, hands down, one of the best cars I've ever had. I can't imagine driving it with this setup, though. Insanity!
apeshapedman
> DailyTurismo
08/14/2013 at 17:16 |
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This thing is nuttier than squirrel shit.
Hart88
> DailyTurismo
08/14/2013 at 17:18 |
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That thing is going to eat a LOT of 12" tires.
Also_Ran
> Autolegend86
08/14/2013 at 17:18 |
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Indeed. The normally aspirated, front wheel drive car that finished on the overall podium at three rounds of the WRC.
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DailyTurismo
> UKGTR335
08/14/2013 at 17:18 |
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I'm sure he blamed it on his toddler .
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
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DailyTurismo
> Hart88
08/14/2013 at 17:19 |
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No problem, they are $12 on sale at your local tiremart!!
Mercedes Streeter
> DailyTurismo
08/14/2013 at 17:28 |
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Mid-engine, front drive...and smoke stacks?
This is the ultimate sleeper. And at such a bargain price! $2,000? Oh sweet Jebus!
TotallyThatStupid
> DailyTurismo
08/14/2013 at 17:29 |
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How is this NOT worth $2k?! It's almost ATM money.
Alex9876
> Autolegend86
08/14/2013 at 17:30 |
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That was GREAT. Thanks for posting.
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Mercedes Streeter
> DailyTurismo
08/14/2013 at 17:42 |
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Too bad they'll be bald less than an hour after you fit them...
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DailyTurismo
> Mercedes Streeter
08/14/2013 at 17:48 |
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I wonder if you could mount some solid fork lift tires on the front...they should last considerably longer...
Spooled
> DailyTurismo
08/14/2013 at 17:51 |
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UKGTR335
> DailyTurismo
08/14/2013 at 17:51 |
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Hmmm, my wife isn't due until December so if I want to pick up a Cooper S project car before then I'm going to have to blame it on the dog... Overall, I like this method of getting things that would normally be frowned upon past the wife. If I'm "just looking" at something on my iPad, and my child "accidentally" hits buy now, is it really my fault?!
bobrayner
> DailyTurismo
08/14/2013 at 17:57 |
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It's gloriously insane.
I NEED and MUST HAVE exhausts like that on my next car.
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Mercedes Streeter
> DailyTurismo
08/14/2013 at 18:03 |
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Hmmm...Mid engine, front drive, micro sized V8 offroad monster? ...with smoke stacks?
SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!!!
Frank Grimes
> DailyTurismo
08/14/2013 at 18:08 |
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That exhaust is stupid. But it might be a fun car if things were cleaned up.
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Autolegend86
> Also_Ran
08/14/2013 at 18:58 |
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Don't forget the cousin with the same engine.
BrianRad
> DailyTurismo
08/14/2013 at 19:41 |
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Steering that thing must be an adventure. A dangerous one
Sinanigans
> DailyTurismo
08/14/2013 at 19:51 |
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I'm so confused. I just don't know what to make of it... What do I make of it?
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DailyTurismo
> Sinanigans
08/14/2013 at 19:57 |
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You can make a bird or a plane or a hat...
dataPOG
> DailyTurismo
08/14/2013 at 20:04 |
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I don't see how anybody on the comments can call this a sleeper, I'm fairly certain every Jalop/gearhead knows when a SBC pulls up.
Joshamania
> DailyTurismo
08/14/2013 at 20:15 |
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Autocheck calls it a 1998 Ford "Other".
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Joshamania
> Joshamania
08/14/2013 at 20:15 |
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Er, '88 rather.
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ParkerArt
> DailyTurismo
08/14/2013 at 22:03 |
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*That used to be FWD hatchbacks...
*That were based on FWD hatchbacks...
PeyoteHorse
> DailyTurismo
08/14/2013 at 22:48 |
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My god, I wish I had the cash! That beauty is only 15 minutes away from me!
Whispering into the Wind
> DailyTurismo
08/15/2013 at 00:03 |
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Auntie Em! Auntie Em! It's a twister!
Nappe1
> DailyTurismo
08/15/2013 at 01:25 |
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First car of this kind, was most likely The Buick-Mini, which was built by British Vita guys in 1963-1964. Technically it has Buick Aluminium 3.5 liter V8 (which years later found it's way to Rover 3.5 litre and Range Rover, after Rover licensed the design and started to built it in England.) with shortened and reversed jag e-type drive shaft driving front wheels. Amazingly, This Mini had still rear seats (though very small ones) so the whole engine was located in boot, weight center being exactly top of the middle of the rear axle.
Driver reports say this Mini was awesomly impossible to handle, you can easily imagine why, as you have all weight in rear and front wheels spinning in front. :)
Shiftright
> DailyTurismo
08/15/2013 at 03:27 |
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In the lawn mower parts section...
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Shiftright
> Sinanigans
08/15/2013 at 03:28 |
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You make tire smoke....lost of tire smoke...and big smiles...and panties drop...OK, maybe not the latter
Taz1829
> UKGTR335
08/15/2013 at 04:33 |
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Either that is the truth about the wife or just an easy way out of owning a car, it could just be horrible to own.
I don't have a wife but on eBay, I do.
Supersi1985
> Autolegend86
08/15/2013 at 06:02 |
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Sadly for all, the BTCC 406 was far less successful than the Maxi, which is such a shame, given how it looked
GrnMtnBoy
> DailyTurismo
08/15/2013 at 06:57 |
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I'm at a loss for words...I do have to say the hide away stacks are um very interesting to say the least and I cant imagine this thing being any kind of acceleration friendly. I'm guessing a lane change is a throttle stab away.
TurnerVonLefty
> DailyTurismo
08/15/2013 at 08:03 |
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You're doing it wrong. See Leno's Ford ShoGun - Festivaspeed done right!
http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/at-the-garage/…
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Hysyde
> DailyTurismo
08/15/2013 at 10:32 |
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Not likely. I had too retire my beloved Festivas (I've owned 3 of them over the years) due to the fact I couldn't locate 12" tires for sale anywhere. I used scrap yard tires for a while before a decent supply was exhausted and thought about fitting compatible 13" rims before deciding the cars didn't warrant any further investment coupled with other repairs they needed.
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Hysyde
> DailyTurismo
08/15/2013 at 10:42 |
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I wonder how much of the torque steer is nullified by the use of the BMW diff up front (assuming it has equal length half shafts)?
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Hysyde
> DailyTurismo
08/15/2013 at 10:56 |
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Love the dual hand brakes for enhanced hooning!
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Hysyde
> DailyTurismo
08/15/2013 at 10:58 |
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It would've been cool if they had fitted a system similar to the exhausts to raise a fresh air intake scoop on the roof. It could maintain sleepyness while getting the SBC the cool air it craves. I doubt that Edlebrock air filter in the engine bay is doing it any favours....
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Hysyde
> TotallyThatStupid
08/15/2013 at 11:00 |
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If it was in my area I'd be running in it's general direction right now with money in hand....
SwedeMachine
> DailyTurismo
08/15/2013 at 14:01 |
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Two parking brakes?
