The first generation Ford Festiva was a subcompact econobox designed by Mazda during Ford’s time at the reigns, but built in Japan by Mazda and in Korea by Kia. It was available with a variety of Mazda 1.1 to 1.3 liter BJ series 4-cylinder engines and was extremely slow when new. Needless to say, some nutjob picked up one of these Festivas and shoved a Chevy V8 into the guts…but this one is truly for the insane. Find this 1988 Ford Festiva with Chevy V8 for sale in Woburn, MA currently starting bids on ebay for $2,000 with zero bids and 5 days to go. Tip from Cory.

No need to adjust your set – the images you are seeing are correct, the front wheels are doing an impressive burnout…which doesn’t fit well with the Chevy 350 V8 description – perhaps the seller described something wrong and this is a transverse front mounted Northstar or other Chevy V8… but seeing is believing…

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. Yup, in the best Frenchxican tradition, this Festiva is now mid-engine / front wheel drive. 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 silicone coolant hoses running under your passenger’s legs should be a good substitute for the probably defunct heater system.

They say money can’t buy happiness, but I dare anyone to NOT smile while driving this car…

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