• Welcome to the Contour Enthusiasts Group, the best resource for the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique.

    You can register to join the community.

My Contour: 1998 Black SVT E0, Build #2820

D

dbswanson

CEG'er
Joined
Dec 3, 2011
Messages
34
Location
Iowa
I have used this site for a number of years as my go-to for anything Contour related. However, this is the first time I've ever posted about myself or my CSVT on here. I've had it since March 2007, when my dad gave it to me. He bought it as his "mid-life crisis" car during summer of 2000. I drove it all through high school and some of college, often storing it during the winter. Here are a few photos I took the day my dad handed me the keys back in '07.

SVT 002r..jpgSVT 003r..jpgSVT 036r..jpgSVT 022r..jpg
 
2010/2011 school year, my freshmen year at the University of Iowa. We got 18" of snow in less than four hours. Needless to say, the car did not move for a few weeks.

IMG00054-20110202-1&.jpgIMG00056-20110202-1&.jpgIMG00062-20110202-1&.jpgIMG00058-20110202-1&.jpg
 
April 2012

April 2012

In April of 2012, I was rear-ended by a GMC Envoy. I was at a dead stop, brakes applied, waiting to turn left. The Envoy was going at least 30mph, driver obviously not paying any attention. The pic of the Envoy's front bumper shows the extent of its damage (a few scratches, missing license plate bracket). My SVT didn't fare quite as well. On the bright side, it did not effect her driveability or performance at all.

IMAG0012r..jpgIMAG0011r..jpgIMAG0020r..jpgIMAG0014r..jpg
 
The insurance agent deemed my car totaled, and seemed pretty determined to haul her off, giving me only about $1400. That was not going to fly with me. After about a week of being stubborn, I got around a $3700 settlement, and got to keep my wheels. Now for the rebuild...
 
SVT steps down from 'daily driver,' and the project begins...

SVT steps down from 'daily driver,' and the project begins...

After the accident, I purchased my grandparents' 2000 Lincoln Continental out of their estate. It's a great car, very comfortable, but definitely not as fun as the SVT, or as fuel friendly.

20120725_142754r..jpg

After hooking myself up with a new daily driver, the teardown began. Step one: the frame puller.

20120630_100523r..jpg20120617_132441r..jpg20120629_184102r..jpg
 
Tracking down a decent deck lid was fairly easy, but a decent available OEM SVT Contour rear bumper seemed almost non-existent. That is, until I started scavenging Ebay. It wasn't cheap, but it was in great shape overall.

20120630_143619r..jpg20120921_155223r..jpg
 
During the summer of the rebuild, my luck struck again. I work at the Ford dealership that was doing my body work, so I watched this happen. An older fellow backed the trailer hitch of his King Ranch F150 into my driver door and front driver-side fender. Back to the scrap yard..

20120731_114418r..jpg20120826_202221r..jpg

New door and fender. Painted.

20120921_155039r..jpg20120921_155051r..jpg
 
Instead of finding new quarter panel extensions, the guys in the body shop and I collectively decided that the originals could just be removed, reshaped, and reinstalled.

20120826_202144r..jpg20120826_202204r..jpg

20120921_155206r..jpg20120921_155214r..jpg
 
Finally Done

Finally Done

After a few months of headaches and late-night sanding, by fall of 2012 my CSVT finally was revitalized back to her former glory.

20130518_112615r..jpg20121012_184627r..jpg
 
New Wheels? Check.

New Wheels? Check.

Finally, after many years of delay, I decided to pull the trigger on some new wheels. I thought about aftermarket, but in the end I went with some NOS Focus SVT wheels, in an effort to try to retain most of her original SVT qualities. I think they make a HUGE difference.

20140228_075721r..jpg20140228_184044r..jpg

20140314_155545r..jpg20140314_133347r..jpg20140314_133634r..jpg
 
Modifications

Modifications

Bad photo, I know, but this is the most significant modification on the vehicle. Years ago, I installed a flip-screen head unit, all around Infinity Reference component speakers (connected to a Kenwood amplifier), Alpine subwoofer and amplifier. The amps are cleanly mounted to the rear seat backs, and have not had one problem with the system since I installed it. I also replaced the horn with a standard aftermarket one, and ordered/installed new leather on the shift knob. Other than that, and the new wheels, she is all stock.

IMAG0099r..jpg

20140317_214705r..jpg

Next on the list? A new engine wiring harness, as mine is starting to look scary, to say the least. A big thanks to svttour (Sam) for hooking me up, I'm pumped to get the package!

Possibly a Mirko splitter, down the road, if I can find one at a decent price. However, I am a little weary about functionality, with it being so close to the ground.

Also, I wouldn't mind an updated cup holder system. The originals are beyond worthless!
 
Man you were right on the phone you have kept up on this car. Im working on getting everything ready for you on the harness should only be a few more days.
 
The Contour's Lair..

The Contour's Lair..

This is where my SVT hides nowadays. In a warehouse behind my father's law firm. She's no longer my daily driver, and only sees daylight on nice days when I'm not away at school. In an effort to guarantee that she will never again be subject to daily driving, especially in the winter, I purchased my sister's old 1991 Honda Accord (only 97k miles!) to take to law school at Creighton in Omaha this fall. My Lincoln Continental will go off of insurance and sit along side the tour, as a backup daily driver (just in case the Accord poops out). The MKZ in the pic is my dad's.

20131007_094017r..jpg
 
Very impressive man! That car is crazy clean, wish I could have done the same sort of resto to my Spruce Green after it got rear ended by a Volvo, but she was going about 40mph and didn't hit the brakes until she had pushed me several feet forward and under a Jeep Cherokee. At least these cars are safe!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top