Build idea: realistic SVT TBird.

[XR7-4.6]

I would try to graft on less of it and keep the existing ovals/slots in the bumper stock

 

[dDUBb]

So what's everyone think? That kind of look? I can try to shop something together later

Do what you think looks best. At this rate you're already deviating from the SVE / SVT formula.

 

[LukesCougar]

i kind of like the look of the grafted bumper cover. Im curious how everything lined up under the fender

 

[Wile E. Coyote]

Do what you think looks best. At this rate you're already deviating from the SVE / SVT formula.

Which I'm not trying to do. I want ideas and feed back. Ideas I've gotten so far are round fog lights, side skirts, and some sort of change to the rear bumper.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I'd like to think that my car is pretty close to what it could've been. To me the most distinguishing SVE items are the engine, the hood, the brakes and those Cobra R rims. On the SVE they were 17's but I think 18's are a must.

It's worth noting that in 1996 or 1997 when the SVE Tbird was built the SVE Tbird made "power in excess of 300bhp". Most cars today are well in excess of that.

• Big engine
• Supercharged
• Power in excess of 300bhp (My car is actually in excess of 400bhp)
• Larger dual exhaust
  
• Cobra brakes (In the front)
• 2 Step cowl hood
• 18" Cobra R Rims

I think the focus on that front bumper is unnecessary and over rated.

The only other "Must haves" that I supposed an SVE should have would be a manual transmission.
After having driven several modern cars with paddle shifters on the steering wheel that would be my personal preference. A modern muti-speed auto with paddle shifters would be the icing on the cake for me.

 

[Wile E. Coyote]

Here's another alternative:
We know John Coletti was running SVT at the time. Do we know any other names? Like designers and engineers around that time?

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Here's another alternative:
We know John Coletti was running SVT at the time. Do we know any other names? Like designers and engineers around that time?

Well, there's also Jerry W., who the J-mod is named after.

 

[dDUBb]

If were talking superchargers; it sounds like a Super Coupe.

Off the shelf parts for 95-97 era ..

Legit Cobra engine mirrors the Mustang too much. I dont believe it would have used the Cobra intake manifold; or at least the plaque may have been different.
Cobra brakes would have been used; but possibly without the Cobra name on the calipers. This is not a Cobra Bird.

I'd imagine the original design was more along the lines of 97 Mark style DOHC; not entirely sure the cowl hood was necessary at that point - that may have been to accommodate the supercharged setup - in other words .. we dont know exactly which engine is under the hood at the point in time when the "SVE postcard" photo was taken. It's obviously the same red one and nobody has ever seen the other 3 mules as the story goes. But its not an official SVT; so you wouldnt see that anywhere until it made the cut.

Eibach springs were on the mules .. it was lowered a small amount; that's kind of the norm around here anyways. It wasn't exactly the stiffer suspension we get with cut SC springs. So that's sort of open ended as to what may have ended up in final form.

 

[XR7-4.6]

I'd like to think that my car is pretty close to what it could've been. To me the most distinguishing SVE items are the engine, the hood, the brakes and those Cobra R rims. On the SVE they were 17's but I think 18's are a must.

It's worth noting that in 1996 or 1997 when the SVE Tbird was built the SVE Tbird made "power in excess of 300bhp". Most cars today are well in excess of that.

• Big engine
• Supercharged
• Power in excess of 300bhp (My car is actually in excess of 400bhp)
• Larger dual exhaust
  
• Cobra brakes (In the front)
• 2 Step cowl hood
• 18" Cobra R Rims

I think the focus on that front bumper is unnecessary and over rated.

The SVE had a one tier cowl hood, and there’s no real telling what it would have had had it been massaged by the stylists for production to clear the intake(IF it used the Cobra intake)

Also it was intended to be NA, the supercharger came after the program was dead

The only other "Must haves" that I supposed an SVE should have would be a manual transmission.
After having driven several modern cars with paddle shifters on the steering wheel that would be my personal preference. A modern muti-speed auto with paddle shifters would be the icing on the cake for me.

Blech.

 

[Zep5.0]

The mustang Cobra was 305 HP, so I'd bet it would have had that. No chance they'd have allowed the T-bird to make more power than the mustang, imo. I do think they would have done something to the bumper. I would graft less of the Cobra bumper so you don't have the bulge under the plate bracket ( not that your putting one on). Plus you can hide the grafting better if you do it underneath instead of the face.

Year bumper needs something, but not much. I feel it would flair like the SC did in 95, but not much.

I personally don't know if a hood would have made production. A lot of cost for low production. Maybe the rounded bulge like a Cobra had? The red car above was clearly an afterthought as the paint doesn't match.

 

[Wile E. Coyote]

I just spent the last hour trying to to find some sort of contact info for guys who working with SVT around that time, including John Coletti. Haven't found anything yet.

If I find something, Im hoping that after 30 years they would be open to talking about things that had been hushed on the project before. Like styling, the other cars, interior changes, and drivetrain.

 

[XR7-4.6]

If were talking superchargers; it sounds like a Super Coupe.

Off the shelf parts for 95-97 era ..

Legit Cobra engine mirrors the Mustang too much. I dont believe it would have used the Cobra intake manifold; or at least the plaque may have been different.
Cobra brakes would have been used; but possibly without the Cobra name on the calipers. This is not a Cobra Bird.

I'd imagine the original design was more along the lines of 97 Mark style DOHC; not entirely sure the cowl hood was necessary at that point - that may have been to accommodate the supercharged setup - in other words .. we dont know exactly which engine is under the hood at the point in time when the "SVE postcard" photo was taken. It's obviously the same red one and nobody has ever seen the other 3 mules as the story goes. But its not an official SVT; so you wouldnt see that anywhere until it made the cut.

Eibach springs were on the mules .. it was lowered a small amount; that's kind of the norm around here anyways. It wasn't exactly the stiffer suspension we get with cut SC springs. So that's sort of open ended as to what may have ended up in final form.

I would bet the plaque would've been changed, I don't think there'd be any Cobra references on it, I'd say if the cowl hood predated the supercharger it was probably to accommodate the 96-98 Cobra intake IMO. The Gen II Mark intake manifold is the same height as the later C head Cobra intake and I speak firsthand that the only way for that to clear the hood is to lower the K member which Ford wouldn't have done. OR they would have used the gen I (or cast Continental) intake to keep the lower hood profile.


The final styling is really a make how you interpret it thing, the SVE was in the engineering development stage, and this naturally would have predated the styling teams input, but it was canceled during engineering. We know roughly what the car would have been mechanically but I don't think there's a single person who was there that could say exactly how it would've looked had it been worked over by styling. My best educated guess is it would probably be similar to the SVT Contour in execution (bumpers and GFX)

 

[Wile E. Coyote]

I would bet the plaque would've been changed, I don't think there'd be any Cobra references on it, I'd say if the cowl hood predated the supercharger it was probably to accommodate the 96-98 Cobra intake IMO. The Gen II Mark intake manifold is the same height as the later C head Cobra intake and I speak firsthand that the only way for that to clear the hood is to lower the K member which Ford wouldn't have done. OR they would have used the gen I (or cast Continental) intake to keep the lower hood profile.


The final styling is really a make how you interpret it thing, the SVE was in the engineering development stage, and this naturally would have predated the styling teams input, but it was canceled during engineering. We know roughly what the car would have been mechanically but I don't think there's a single person who was there that could say exactly how it would've looked had it been worked over by styling. My best educated guess is it would probably be similar to the SVT Contour in execution (bumpers and GFX)

You know a lot of Ford things. Who was head of design at SVT in the 90s?

 

[XR7-4.6]

You know a lot of Ford things. Who was head of design at SVT in the 90s?

SVT didn't have a head designer, SVE would engineer the cars and if the program kept rolling they'd be handed off to Ford's normal design team, presumably with their blessing that the designers artistic flourishes wouldn't screw anything up. At that time the head designer would have been Jack Telnack who was the head designer for not only the first iterations of MN12s but the whole aero era of Ford

 

[Little Ice-Cable]

I just spent the last hour trying to to find some sort of contact info for guys who working with SVT around that time, including John Coletti. Haven't found anything yet.

If I find something, Im hoping that after 30 years they would be open to talking about things that had been hushed on the project before. Like styling, the other cars, interior changes, and drivetrain.

I have been on and off looking as well because I'm just so interested in this idea. I have even emailed a few people with no luck.

 

[dDUBb]

Two more thoughts ..

I remember there being something about the 1998 Thunderbird front bumper ( fog lights? ) .. and the only picture of that car has that part blacked out digitally. Might have something to do with something that came off the SVE project, but I'm speculating. I dont recall if fog lights were exclusive to the SC or available in LX trim also ..

Also; the 1998 hood. I've seen these with the F8 part number .. didn't notice any distinguishable differences when I looked at it; but for an updated part number, there had to be something more to it ..

Also; the 8th digit of the VIN would be unique to the engine type .. cant fake that.

 

[Wile E. Coyote]

SVT didn't have a head designer, SVE would engineer the cars and if the program kept rolling they'd be handed off to Ford's normal design team, presumably with their blessing that the designers artistic flourishes wouldn't screw anything up. At that time the head designer would have been Jack Telnack who was the head designer for not only the first iterations of MN12s but the whole aero era of Ford

looked him up. He's in his 80s by now, but still alive.

Edit: found his contact info. Not sure if I really want to bother an 88yo man with something trivial like this but I might write him a letter.

I'll have to look up how to address it lol