Engine in the Caterham that ended on BaT on 08/14/25

[rick r]

Hello,

 

Please accept my apologies in advance for what might be a stupid question from a newbie:

 

There was an auction for a Caterham, which ended yesterday with reserve not met: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1974-caterham-seven/

 

Various comments to the auction state that the engine is a "DOHC Ford 2.0 L Zetec SVT"

 

However, the ad copy says that the engine was "sourced from a Mercury" - model and year unknown. 

 

Now, as far as I can tell, no Mercury ever came from the factory with anything other than a regular 130 hp engine. From ChatGPT:

 

Mercury's only Zetec-powered models in North America were:

• Mercury Cougar (1999–2002) — used the standard 2.0 L Zetec (130 hp), not the SVT version.

• Mercury Tracer (mid-90s) — used earlier versions of the 1.8 L and 2.0 L Zetec in some trims, also without SVT upgrades

 

And in the auction's comments, the conclusion about the rebuild of the engine in 2004 seems to be that it was rebuilt to factory specs.

 

So what do people mean when they call the engine an "SVT" - how did it go from 130hp at the factory to 185hp like the seller says in the comments, and how can one tell just by looking at it?

 

Any thoughts highly appreciated...

Edited August 15 by rick r

[Vovchandr]

Without reading comments or reading too much into it, I can see that the engine pictured in the car is indeed SVT. (Tell tale valve cover).

 

I think confusion might have come from the fact that Contour had a VCT engine and people might get those confused by similarities of lettering. 

[Vovchandr]

Just read comments and took a look at the car. Not surprised it didn't meet reserve. The car looks like a solid $30-$35k car. 

[theDreamer]

SVT stands for Special Vehicle Teams and is one of Ford's performance groups. I’m familiar with this engine in the 2002 Ford Focus SVT. Unfortunately when I look up the remanufactured engine part number it comes up as information no longer available. However, the close up of the head casting number (image #305) verifies it is a SVT DOHC four valve head. So I would believe it to be the higher horse power engine. How close to the rated numbers is another matter.  

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a15138020/ford-svt-focus-first-drive-review/

[Taber10]

Thanks for posting that article.  I didn't much read C&D back then, as R&T seemed more on topic for me.

 

I have had my Caterham 7 since 2007 with the SVT from a 2003 Focus.  There was a member here, I recall "TurboFocus1" that had WAY more good information on the SVT than I had found anywhere.  It was also a hot topic on the Ford Focus Forum as I recall.

 

The solenoid that drives the "variable intake timing" is very rare and expensive so there are some "Delete Options" for this feature.  You keep the dual channel intake manifold, the under-skirt oiling feature and better pistons, etc.  If you search this forum I think you can still find info on the SVT.

[pethier]

On 8/16/2025 at 7:23 AM, Taber10 said:

Thanks for posting that article.  I didn't much read C&D back then, as R&T seemed more on topic for me.

 

I have had my Caterham 7 since 2007 with the SVT from a 2003 Focus.  There was a member here, I recall "TurboFocus1" that had WAY more good information on the SVT than I had found anywhere.  It was also a hot topic on the Ford Focus Forum as I recall.

 

The solenoid that drives the "variable intake timing" is very rare and expensive so there are some "Delete Options" for this feature.  You keep the dual channel intake manifold, the under-skirt oiling feature and better pistons, etc.  If you search this forum I think you can still find info on the SVT.

In my recent misadventure with oil pump damage on on a 1996 Contour engine in my Caterham, I picked up what purports to be a VCT engine from a 1999 Contour.  It has the electrical connection on the cam cover for the cam changeover.  I am unlikely to use this engine, since I also picked up what seems to be an identical 1996 Contour engine (without the headwork my ailing engine has had) to get me by for the remainder of the season..

 

I don't know how to test the solenoid or if there is a market for it.

Edited August 19 by pethier

[mrmustang]

On 8/15/2025 at 7:57 PM, rick r said:

Hello,

 

Please accept my apologies in advance for what might be a stupid question from a newbie:

 

There was an auction for a Caterham, which ended yesterday with reserve not met: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1974-caterham-seven/

 

Various comments to the auction state that the engine is a "DOHC Ford 2.0 L Zetec SVT"

 

However, the ad copy says that the engine was "sourced from a Mercury" - model and year unknown. 

 

Now, as far as I can tell, no Mercury ever came from the factory with anything other than a regular 130 hp engine. From ChatGPT:

 

Mercury's only Zetec-powered models in North America were:

• Mercury Cougar (1999–2002) — used the standard 2.0 L Zetec (130 hp), not the SVT version.

• Mercury Tracer (mid-90s) — used earlier versions of the 1.8 L and 2.0 L Zetec in some trims, also without SVT upgrades

 

And in the auction's comments, the conclusion about the rebuild of the engine in 2004 seems to be that it was rebuilt to factory specs.

 

So what do people mean when they call the engine an "SVT" - how did it go from 130hp at the factory to 185hp like the seller says in the comments, and how can one tell just by looking at it?

 

Any thoughts highly appreciated...

I would be paying more attention to the head casting number then the actual block, although, logic would dictate that the engine, if actually a donor, would tell you more about the specs of the entire engine below. 

 

In this case: 2M5V-6F093-AB

Q6PHA (shown in pic 238 on the auction)

 

Which comes back as the SVT style head used 2001-2004 on the 2.0L Ford Zetec engine. Figure 170hp, 140ft/lbs torque

 

I hate paying "buyer fees" and would have gone to the $26,600 I mentioned in the auction knowing what the buyer fees would have been. Surprised the seller did not reach out to me afterwards, but that is fine too, as what would I do with both a RHD (202-210hp sourced from Caterham as a stage 1 engine) and LHD Zetec SV, probably want to sell the RHD and keep the LHD so SWMBO would drive it. 

 

 

Edited August 19 by mrmustang

[rick r]

All British cars in the US should be mandatory RHD!

[mrmustang]

1 minute ago, rick r said:

All British cars in the US should be mandatory RHD!

I've had my fair share of RHD vehicles over the years, my current Caterham and my earlier series 1 Lotus 7, a TR5, and a Sunbeam Alpine.....Plenty of LHD versions as well, they were all fun...........The hunt for me is half of that, as I truly love the hunt, but when it comes time to sell, I despise that side of the equation.

 

Good luck on your search.

 

 

[pethier]

51 minutes ago, mrmustang said:

 

Which comes back as the SVT style head used 2001-2004 on the 2.0L Ford Zetec engine. Figure 170hp, 140ft/lbs torque

What's the URL for looking that up?

[theDreamer]

1 hour ago, mrmustang said:

I would be paying more attention to the head casting number then the actual block, although, logic would dictate that the engine, if actually a donor, would tell you more about the specs of the entire engine below. 

 

In this case: 2M5V-6F093-AB

Q6PHA (shown in pic 238 on the auction)

 

Which comes back as the SVT style head used 2001-2004 on the 2.0L Ford Zetec engine. Figure 170hp, 140ft/lbs torque

 

I hate paying "buyer fees" and would have gone to the $26,600 I mentioned in the auction knowing what the buyer fees would have been. Surprised the seller did not reach out to me afterwards, but that is fine too, as what would I do with both a RHD (202-210hp sourced from Caterham as a stage 1 engine) and LHD Zetec SV, probably want to sell the RHD and keep the LHD so SWMBO would drive it. 

 

 

Funny, I posted this very info last Friday; “…the close up of the head casting number (image #305) verifies it is a SVT DOHC four valve head. So I would believe it to be the higher horse power engine. How close to the rated numbers is another matter.”

I guess I should have included the image as you did to get people’s attention.

As for buyer’s fees I tend to agree with you. They claim it’s the price you pay for the auction site to (supposedly) vet items, the sellers and bidders. I’m being particularly nasty here as many have suspected that not all is done fairly and above board on these auction sites. I now know for a fact that sellers have been known to hold multiple accounts or have friends bid to up the price. In the case of no reserve items they will buy it outright if it doesn’t reach the sellers expectations. By “buy” I mean they will pay the buyer’s fee but the ownership will never change hands. It is a small amount to pay when compared to the huge loses if they let it go too cheaply.

[mrmustang]

1 hour ago, pethier said:

What's the URL for looking that up?

Ford Focus related news group(s)

Edited August 19 by mrmustang

[mrmustang]

1 hour ago, theDreamer said:

Funny, I posted this very info last Friday; “…the close up of the head casting number (image #305) verifies it is a SVT DOHC four valve head. So I would believe it to be the higher horse power engine. How close to the rated numbers is another matter.”

 

I guess I should have included the image as you did to get people’s attention.

 

As for buyer’s fees I tend to agree with you. They claim it’s the price you pay for the auction site to (supposedly) vet items, the sellers and bidders. I’m being particularly nasty here as many have suspected that not all is done fairly and above board on these auction sites. I now know for a fact that sellers have been known to hold multiple accounts or have friends bid to up the price. In the case of no reserve items they will buy it outright if it doesn’t reach the sellers expectations. By “buy” I mean they will pay the buyer’s fee but the ownership will never change hands. It is a small amount to pay when compared to the huge loses if they let it go too cheaply.

 

Ebay was the same way, so yes, I get the "friends and family" bidding style. As for vetting cars and/or sellers, not likely, everything sold with the caveat of "as is, where is", BAT is just the intermediary type site and nothing else. 4 months and a few thousand dollars to get my 65 Tiger on the road safely after the last owner (11-13 months) did nothing but add gas, car came to me with 3 working brakes, a dry clutch master, and 1 gallon of gas in the tank. 7 year old plugs, wires, cap, rotor, same goes for fuel filter, and a shifter handle that came off in my hand forcing me to drive the car in 2nd gear the 3 or so miles to my home after it was dropped off by my enclosed shipping company. Improvements after that were for reliability and safety and on my dime. At least when I bought my 03 SV, I knew in advance (mostly) what I was getting myself into, and documented it here for all to see.

 

Bill

[pethier]

On 8/15/2025 at 6:57 PM, rick r said:

 

 

Mercury's only Zetec-powered models in North America were:

• Mercury Cougar (1999–2002) — used the standard 2.0 L Zetec (130 hp), not the SVT version.

• Mercury Tracer (mid-90s) — used earlier versions of the 1.8 L and 2.0 L Zetec in some trims, also without SVT upgradesspecs.

What about the Mercury Mystique?

[mrmustang]

4 hours ago, pethier said:

What about the Mercury Mystique?

standard 2.0L 130hp Zetec

 

[pethier]

1 hour ago, mrmustang said:

standard 2.0L 130hp Zetec

 

And therefore a Zetec-powered model Mercury had in North America.

[mrmustang]

9 minutes ago, pethier said:

And therefore a Zetec-powered model Mercury had in North America.

Knowing the casting number on the head, the "donor" aspect may not have been a Mercury after all, as the Mercury line did not have a SVT 2.0L Zetec powered offering, not in the cougar or Mystic lineup. Ford did with the Focus SVT for the 2001-2003 (or 2004) time period. Where the Focus and Contour did. Don't get caught up in the details being told to you as they were told to the last owner, as they may not be 100% accurate, in the case of the SVT engine, they are not.

 

Bill

[pethier]

4 hours ago, mrmustang said:

Don't get caught up in the details being told to you as they were told to the last owner, as they may not be 100% accurate

I know that one.

 

When I bought my first Caterham, the seller told me the rear axle was Marina.  I bought a Quaife diff and a set of 4.11 gears.  Nope.  The axle was Ford.  The vendors were wonderful; sending out the Ford parts and accepting the Marina parts with a minimum of hassle.

[mrmustang]

5 hours ago, pethier said:

I know that one.

 

When I bought my first Caterham, the seller told me the rear axle was Marina.  I bought a Quaife diff and a set of 4.11 gears.  Nope.  The axle was Ford.  The vendors were wonderful; sending out the Ford parts and accepting the Marina parts with a minimum of hassle.

So, did you buy the car off BAT?

[pethier]

1 hour ago, mrmustang said:

So, did you buy the car off BAT?

Not my first Caterham.  At the 40th-anniversary party weekend for Donnybrooke/BIR in 2008, Bob Cox told me that he had been to see a 1979 Caterham in Appleton Wisconsin.  He was very impressed, and recommended it to me.  I bought the car directly from the private party.

 

My present Caterham is a 1991 that I got off BAT in the late fall of 2022.  When I arrived at the law office of the seller in central Illinois, he offered me several Caterham cars.  I drove two candidates and chose to stay with the one from the auction.  So far I don't recall that I blame him for any misinformation on this car.