I just found this on AutoBlog.com....hope the link works. But if it doesn't, it's an article about a Saleen Windstar....yes, you read that right, a Saleen-modded Ford Windstar.
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/01/ebay-find-of-the-day-Saleen-Windstar-seriously/
Yeah, I remember reading about this in one of the MT/R&T/C&D type mags back in the day. More show than go as I recall, even with the S/C.
Also, owning a Windstar myself I can't image how that tranny is holding up when mine wouldn't even hold up with the stock engine.
alex
Reader
12/1/08 11:48 a.m.
I'd sport it.
Lose the spoiler, hood, chrome rims, and the 'hey, look at the douche in van' stickers, and that thing would be invisible on the road. Strip out the fancy interior and hermetically seal it all for resale, get those speaker boxes out of the way, and hell yeah, I'd use that thing for band gear and motorcycles.
Wonder what kind of power that blown V6 makes. Any guesses?
I wonder how much that conversion cost....any why Saleen wouldn't throw in some stainless steel bolts on their blower, or at least Zinc-cadmium plating? Rusty.
Oh..and I don't need James Taylor in my rearview mirror. Otherwise, it looks cool.
I could have guessed Tim Allen was involved!
Is that carbon fiber? On a minivan? The only mini-vans that were cool to me were the turbo Dodges.
You know your "concept" is in trouble, when THE most attractive shot is of the engine.
Osterkraut....my sentiments, exactly.
Osterkraut wrote:
I could have guessed Tim Allen was involved!
who else but Tim Allen would do this, seariously.
How cool would a mini van sports car for a daily driver be?
alex
Reader
12/1/08 5:00 p.m.
^ I'd help.
I try not to let little things like 'taste' and 'good sense' hinder me.
Tim Allen was going to have a full line of Saleen-built RRR components, but I don't think it ever got off the ground.
Was that a rear view mirror that played a continuous loop of James Taylor Live, or was he standing behind the van?
amaff
HalfDork
12/1/08 5:37 p.m.
pete240z wrote:
How cool would a mini van sports car for a daily driver be?
Like a MazdaSpeed3 motivated Mazda5?
amaff wrote:
pete240z wrote:
How cool would a mini van sports car for a daily driver be?
Like a MazdaSpeed3 motivated Mazda5?
I'd pay good money for that.
FYI the 2nd gen GM W body cradle bolts into a venture/montana/silhouette and the engine harness plugs right in.
link to turbo 3800 pontiac montana build:
http://www.w-body.com/forum/index.php?topic=71176.0
I have a Mazda 5 and it is already the most fun to drive micro van out there, with Mazdaspeed stuff on it, would make a great sleeper.
Chris
Rumnhammer wrote:
I have a Mazda 5 and it is already the most fun to drive micro van out there, with Mazdaspeed stuff on it, would make a great sleeper.
Chris
i hear that since its based on the mazda3, all the mazdaspeed3 suspension goodies will bolt right up
Alonso
New Reader
12/1/08 10:35 p.m.
Do what Renault did:
In 1995, Renault displayed a show car called the Espace F1 (created by Matra) to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the Espace and Renault's involvement in Formula One racing. It was based on a V10-powered Williams Formula 1 racing car with an Espace J63 body reinforced with lightweight carbon-fibre instead of the glass fibre of the standard model. The Renault-Williams engine powered it from 0–200 km/h (0–124 mph) in 6 seconds, and helped by the carbon-ceramic brakes, it did 0–270 km/h (0–168 mph) and back to 0 in under 600 metres (1,969 ft). This version of the Espace was featured in the driving simulator, Gran Turismo 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEDwfk8EYR0
Alonso wrote:
Do what Renault did:
In 1995, Renault displayed a show car called the Espace F1 (created by Matra) to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the Espace and Renault's involvement in Formula One racing. It was based on a V10-powered Williams Formula 1 racing car with an Espace J63 body reinforced with lightweight carbon-fibre instead of the glass fibre of the standard model. The Renault-Williams engine powered it from 0–200 km/h (0–124 mph) in 6 seconds, and helped by the carbon-ceramic brakes, it did 0–270 km/h (0–168 mph) and back to 0 in under 600 metres (1,969 ft). This version of the Espace was featured in the driving simulator, Gran Turismo 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEDwfk8EYR0
Holy berkeley that's awesome!
Did anyone else notice the small white VERY cool car in the corner of one of the photos?
I want that car very badly.
The Espace F1 is the only mini van I would own, very cool.
amaff
HalfDork
12/2/08 3:53 p.m.
that's WAY cooler than a Mazdaspeed 5... though slightly less attainable ;)