2000 (M) FORD PUMA

The Ford Racing Puma was originally unveiled by Ford at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show, originally dubbed the ST160 as the planned power output was meant to be 160PS. The ST160 concept then transformed to become the Ford Racing Puma as we know it.

An extract from a new report regarding the ST160 unveiling at Geneva ‘Powering the new body is an uprated 1.7-litre Zetec SE engine producing 160bhp (hence the name) at the front wheels. This unit began life with 125bhp in the regular Puma. To extract more power Ford have added new camshafts, a reworked inlet manifold and a sportier exhaust system. As this car weighs only 1040kg the performance should be invigorating. Holding it on the road are the race-derived chassis settings. Complimenting those huge tyres are new springs and dampers, uprated Alcon brakes and a limited slip differential. This is obviously a serious enthusiast’s car. As if that needs to be emphasised Ford have revised the already funky interior (Ford call it “New Edge”) – adding aluminium pedals, Sparco seats and Alcantara trim. It is not quite clear whether Ford will produce this car. Having sold 47,000 Pumas since its 1997 launch one would assume that there will be sufficient demand

From that extract we immediately know that some of the planned additions never made the cut such as the aluminium pedals and limited slip differential (although this was an optional extra when the car was ordered)

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Power output was also down from the planned 160PS to 153bhp, whether this was the fundamental reason the ST160 name was dropped or not is still unknown, however it must have gone some distance as the uprated springs fitted to the Eibach suspension has 160ST printed on the coils.

The Ford Racing Puma (also know as the FRP) was designed and created by Ford Racing to be a limited run of just 1000 examples (500 for the UK market and 500 for Germany)

Ford Germany quickly decided against selling the Ford Racing Puma in Germany due to strong competition from other manufacturers leaving just 500 examples to be produced for the UK market only making the Ford Racing Puma one of the rarer special edition Ford models.

Customers would order a standard Ford Puma and opt for the Racing Puma kit. A standard Ford Puma was then delivered to the Tickford factory in the UK where a team of specialists completed the conversion to Racing Puma specification.

The Ford Racing Puma featured a modified version of the 1.7 Zetec-SE engine pushing out 153bhp.

The bodywork was changed to give it wider front and rear wings, with the track increased and the rims upgraded to 17″x7.5J which housed large Alcon 4 pot calipers and discs, with disc brakes to the rear.

The interior was also transformed with Sparco bucket seats finished in blue Alcantara trim, which was also used to trim the rear seats and door cards. This version was only made available in right hand drive to the UK market, with all 500 cars produced in Ford Racing Blue.