Looking for a new project car? Ford has plenty of options to choose from, covering everything from show stunners to stripped-out track hacks. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best Ford project cars available today…
When it comes to the best project cars, Ford is a brand with a strong following. From classic muscle cars like the Mustang to modern hot hatches like the Fiesta ST and Focus RS, the mighty Blue Oval offers a wide range of models that make great platforms for project builds and are always ripe for a spot of tuning or modification.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced car enthusiast, or if you’re looking to create an immaculate showpiece or a purposeful motorsport machine (or anything in between), there’s a Ford project car out there for you. In this feature, we’ll explore some of the best Ford project cars currently available.
Why Choose a Ford as Your Next Project Car?
Ford is one of the biggest names when it comes to aftermarket and performance tuning. With enormous potential coupled with a huge and supportive following, Ford project cars are perfect for beginners to seasoned resto veterans.
With a rich history of factory-tuned examples including true icons such as the Cosworth-badged Sierras and Escorts, and the Shelby-tuned Mustangs, it’s little wonder there’s a massive following of Ford fans who enjoy taking a once-humdrum everyday car and turning it into something really special.
Choosing a Ford as your project car will often provide an iconic and timeless vehicle, and it always guarantees huge smiles! So, let’s look at what we consider to be the very best Ford project cars.
Sierra, Sapphire & Escort RS Cosworth – The Legends
If you want a true fast Ford icon, then you won’t get any better than a Cosworth. And it doesn’t really matter which one – they all pack motorsport pedigree and are all insane amounts of fun to drive!
While the famous whale tail spoiler is instantly recognisable around the globe, it is that formidable turbocharged 2.0-litre YB engine that sets the Cossie apart.
In stock trim, it produces 200-220bhp, but over 800bhp is not all that difficult to extract. For most, a solid 400-500bhp is considered the sweet spot for a road car.
But all this power and kudos comes at a price. And the price is, err, the price! Gone are the days when you could pick up a useable Cossie for £3k and today you’ll need to allow somewhere near that just in annual running costs and maintenance/repairs. These days you’ll be looking at five figures to get into a semi-decent project, but you’ll have one of the fastest and most iconic Fords ever built.
Pros: Easy to tune, iconic status, motorsport pedigree
Cons: Cosworth tax! Parts don’t come cheap.
Mk6 Fiesta ST – Performance on a Budget
The Mk6 Fiesta ST is an excellent choice for anyone who wants a piece of fast Ford fun, but on a budget. The torquey 2.0-litre Duratec gives the Mk7 ST a distinctly old-school vibe these days It’s the classic recipe of oversized engine in an undersized car – much like the original fast Fiestas, the Mk1 and Mk2 XR2.
Being naturally aspirated means the Mk6 ST responds well to old-school engineering mods: exhaust and air filter are a must, and a set of lairy cams really work well too. That’s enough to see around 180-190bhp, and with a better inlet manifold, you can break the 200bhp barrier.
But if you want to take things further, you can literally bolt on significant power hikes in the shape of a supercharger or turbocharger conversion. We’ve seen supercharged cars kicking out well over 330bhp, and turbo’d STs producing closer to 500bhp!
Perhaps the best bit, though, is how tough the Mk6 ST is. It just laps up the abuse, and almost teases you in giving it some more. It’s the perfect track car for beginners.
With an excellent chassis and a raft of well-respected tuners to support the model, the Mk6 Fiesta ST can be whatever you want it to be. We’ve seen stanced-out show cars, drag cars, and plenty of pukka race cars. But for us, the Mk6 Fiesta is best served as a B-road bruiser; the nimble chassis and linear power delivery make for an exhilarating drive, every time.
Pros: Affordable, excellent handling
Cons: Finding a good one is getting harder, 200bhp-plus costs big bucks
Fiesta ST Mk7 – The Perfect Hot Hatch
If there’s one car that any hot hatch fan should own, the Mk7 Fiesta ST is it. It didn’t win all those motoring accolades for nothing, it really is that good. And now, with the earliest cars celebrating their 10th birthday, there are loads on the used market and are more affordable than ever. With prices starting at just £4000, the Mk7 ST really is the ideal Ford project car for many.
The 1.6-litre EcoBoost has been proven to put up with plenty of abuse and tuning (unlike other engines in the range) and we’ve seen cars producing over 400bhp on a stock bottom end. There are plenty of tuning kits that take power well over 300bhp, and in the responsive little Mk7 Fiesta, that’s a riot!
The Fiesta ST Mk7’s popularity ensures it has great aftermarket support. Everything is covered; wheels, tuning upgrades, interior mods, and even full-on wide-arch bodykits! That means you can quickly and easily bring your vision to life, no matter how wild and whacky you might think it is! The Mk7 Fiesta ST is not just one of the best Ford project cars you can buy, it’s simply one of the best cars you can ever tune!
Pros: Easy to tune, cheap to buy, great all-rounder
Cons: Pop and bang maps and tasteless mods make you look like a boy racer
Mk2 Focus ST225 – The Performance All-Rounder
If there’s one car that sums up modern fast Fords, the Mk2 Focus ST is it. Nicknamed ‘The ASBO’ by Jeremy Clarkson when it first appeared almost 20 years ago, it arguably single-handedly saved Ford’s dwindling reputation in the hot hatch market. It’s a truly great car.
Stuffing a Volvo-sourced, turbocharged five-pot under the bonnet created a true bruiser with 225bhp and 150mph capability. It was an instant hit, and a huge army of tuners were quick to exploit the excellent powerplant and fantastic chassis. And they quickly did.
And then, four years later, Ford launched the ST’s big brother – the RS. The fundamentals were the same, but now with pumped-up arches, anabolic styling, 300bhp, and a fancy new RevoKnuckle running gear to make full use of all that power. The good news for ST fans was that most of those tuning parts could be carried across to the ST too.
Today, the ST offers an affordable way into fast Ford ownership, providing daily drivability alongside track performance. The RS, meanwhile, is a surefire future classic and already proving to be better than money in the bank when it comes to investments.
Both models make excellent Ford project cars. They’re equally well supported by an amazing community of owners. Plus, either car will provide a blank canvas with strong aftermarket support, allowing you to customise however you wish. And both can make really, really fast cars.
Pros: Immense soundtrack, loads of power potential
Cons: RS is pricey, ST is seen as its ‘little brother’
Mk3 Focus RS – The Modern Hot Hatch
The Mk3 Focus RS is one fast Ford that captivated a whole new audience of car fans. Offering a return to four-wheel-drive for the first time since the mighty Escort Cosworth, and packed to the rafters with fancy gadgets – not least of which, ‘Drift’ mode! – the RS certainly makes for the perfect project car.
Sure, it’s a practical five-door Focus, so you could use it every day if you wanted to. But most aren’t. Instead, most are weekend warriors, track toys, or show queens – and in some cases all three rolled into one! That’s how versatile the Mk3 RS is. No wonder it’s one of the most popular buys on our list for the best Ford project cars.
Yes, there were a few teething problems when it was first launched, but don’t let those put you off – for more advice check out our Buying Guide. A well-cared-for RS will provide hours of fun, and that’s in stock trim. Start adding a few bolt-on upgrades from the army of tuners that support the fast Focus and you’re quickly looking at a 400 horsepower-plus weapon that drives like OEM. Add a big turbo and bottom-end build for a few extra grand and over 520bhp is yours to play with – and trust us, that’s enough to turn the already slightly manic RS into a truly unhinged animal on the road! On the track, it finally gives the Focus the power levels that excellent chassis and superb all-wheel-drive system deserve.
Pros: Incredible fun, huge power potential, everyday practicality
Cons: Expensive to buy, engine failure issues still scare some owners
Capri – Reliving the Fastback Glory
Hairy chests and dodgy perms at the ready, it’s time to get all Bodie and Doyle with one of the all-time best Ford project cars, the Capri. Rising prices of all old-school Fords mean the Mk1 and Mk2 models are now considered genuine classics, and not really project cars these days. That just leaves the Mk3 to play with. But that’s no bad thing – it’s arguably the nicest to drive, best to tune, and easiest to live with. What’s more, it means you can relive The Professionals every time you pop to the shops! It makes for a great project car!
Rust is always a killer on old Fords, but if you find a solid Capri pretty much all the mechanicals can be easily refurb’d or upgraded – making it an ideal beginner’s classic project car or even a first-time restoration.
Even the smallest 1.6-litre Pinto engine cars have a raft of tuning options available, and the monster V6s are capable of some decent horsepower. The best bit is all models look like sports cars and just love to go sideways for maximum thrills, and the Capri in general is supported by a huge enthusiastic, knowledgeable and friendly fanbase, so help is only ever a Facebook post or quick email away.
Pros: Classic coupe, rear-wheel drive skids, great beginner classic
Cons: Rust, rust, rust.
Focus ST170 – The Forgotten Gem
The underrated Focus ST170 stands out as a hidden treasure among Ford project cars these days. For years, ST170s have been the donors for engine swaps. But a tidy example boasts an ideal mix of power, sublime handling, and practicality. Today, the ST170 is a cheap project car, but as all the rotten and tired ones see their engine bays deprived of that fabulous VVT-equipped 2.0-litre Zetec motor, the remaining few will surely start to rise in value. Our advice – get one now before prices rocket.
The three-door is generally the preferred body style for project cars, but the five-door and estate versions are equally as capable and well-equipped.
The ST170 engine was seen as the ultimate evolution of Ford’s Zetec engine. It takes the 130bhp 2.0-litre to 170bhp thanks to a host of factory upgrades. That does mean extracting more horsepower becomes difficult, and quite pricey for every bhp you gain. A decent air filter and exhaust system are all you really need, and maybe a remap to sharpen throttle response.
Instead, you’ll want to concentrate your efforts on building on what makes the Focus such an awesome car to drive in the first place – its handling. A set of poly bushes is an easy way to improve the chassis, as is a set of matched springs and dampers. Coilovers are an option, but avoid race-spec upgrades and stick to those designed for the road. Brake upgrades are easy DIY project jobs, and so too is updating the stereo to a more modern head unit. An unrivalled combination of affordability and performance makes the ST170 one of the best Ford project cars available today.
Pros: cheap project car, easy to work on, excellent handling
Cons: Fighting off classic Ford owners to keep the engine in your car
S550 Mustang – The Iconic Muscle Car
The Mustang is one of the greatest project cars of all time. Its enormous success was based in small part on the huge customization and tuning options. And thanks to 60 years of continuous production, we’re pleased to say that tradition continues to this day. When the fifth-generation Mustang was launched it was immediately supported by a long and distinguished list of tuners. And, for the first time in the car’s 50-year history, it was available to buy in the UK.
With a history on the drag strip and circuit racing, it wasn’t long before a whole raft of performance upgrades were ready to bolt straight onto the S550 Mustang. It’s an obvious choice when it comes to the best Ford project cars.
A more day-to-day 2.3-litre EcoBoost version is available, and the USA got a V6 version too. But the one you want is the 5.0-liter V8 GT model with a manual gearbox. Everything from sensible street chassis mods, to massive supercharger upgrades is only a click on the internet and a wave of the credit card away! That’s what makes the Ford Mustang such a great project car. There are so many tuning styling modifications available, no two cars ever need to be the same!
Pros: Amercian icon, V8 power, loads of customization options
Cons: You’ll never drive past a gas station again!
Not a Ford fan?
Fast Fords can make for excellent project cars to buy but we get it, not everyone is a Ford fan. Fear not. If you’re more into JDM cars or drift car projects than Blue Ovals, make sure you check out our Best Honda Project Cars To Buy, Best Nissan Project Cars To Buy, and Best Toyota Project Cars To Buy features.
Or, for something more sophisticated, check out our Best VIP Style Project Car. Here you’ll find tips on choosing the most luxurious BMWs, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and even Rolls-Royce project cars!
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