Ford's Special Vehicle Teams

SVO

In 1981 Ford formed the Special Vehicle Operations to develop performance parts closely related to Ford's racing programs.   They decided to build their own special model with a blend of American and European performance.  Ford was targeting the BMW 318i with the '84 SVO Mustang. 

They used off-the-shelf parts to keep costs down--like the TBird's 4-cylinder turbo engine.  Also found on the SVO were other hotrod items like an intercooler for the turbo, a Borg-Warner five-speed with Hurst shifter, Koni gas-charged shocks,  four-wheel discs, and  16-inch wheels.   The only other American performance car with 16-inchers was the Corvette.   Horsepower went from 175 in '84 to 205 in '85.  Production ended in '86 with less than 10,000 being built.

FRT

Yes, Ford Motorsport is renamed Ford Racing Technology or FRT.  Didn't anybody look at the acronym? 

Ford Racing Technology is the new name for Special Vehicle Operations. SVO develops high performance parts, manages Ford's involvement in racing.   SVO/Ford Motorsports parts are now known as Ford Racing Performance Parts.

SVT

What's commonly known as SVT is really two groups.  The Special Vehicle Team is marketing and dealer training while Special Vehicle Engineering (SVE) develops and builds the vehicles.  The earlier SVO group was more like SVE.  SVO did less of the marketing and training and wasn't nearly as successful as SVT/SVE.

Formed at the end of 1991 their first job was to counteract what would be the new, more powerful '93 Camaro/Firebird.   They did this with the '93 Cobra.  They also put together the F-150 Lightning pickup with a 240 HP 351 Windsor.  As with SVO earlier these vehicles had handling, braking and interior upgrades, also.

SVE has engineered the 1993-current Mustang Cobras, the '93, '95 and '00 Cobra R's, the '98-00 SVT Contour and the '99 Lightning.  SVE has also built the Boss Mustang, Super Stallion and GT90 project cars.

SVT is currently run by Tom Scarpello while SVE is headed up by John Coletti.

Team Mustang

Ford's development group responsible for all Mustangs, and the Cobra since 1996.
Team Mustang is headed up by Art Hyde.

The Cobra R's

SVT de-contented and added items from their parts bins and built race-only versions of the Cobra (as Shelby had done with the Shelby-R) to compete in IMSA and SCCA.  In '93 only about 100 were produced and they were mostly bought up by collectors rather than racers.  In '95 250 were built and sold only to those having a racing license.

The 4.6L DOHC

When the 4.6L became the Mustang engine in 1996 SVT/SVE came up with an all-alloy, double-overhead cam, four-valve per cylinder version.  Actually, in '93 Lincoln got a aluminum DOHC 4.6L rated at 280 HP. 

The all-aluminum Cobra engine is cast by Teksid of Italy (who also has Ferrari's F1 teams as customers).   Crankshafts are forged by Gertach in Germany.  The engine is hand assembled by special 2-person teams in Ford's Romeo, Michigan engine assembly plant. 

 SVT Mustang Cobras