Shnack.com Mustang News

9 Million Mustangs and Counting

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:16:26 PST

The Mustang passed yet another landmark less than a week after its 44th anniversary on April 17 when production reached nine million units. The milestone Mustang, a GT Convertible, went to a dealership in Iowa for delivery to its lucky customer. As Ford's longest running nameplate, the Mustang had one of the best starts of any production car with over 22,000 sold on the first day and more than one million sold in the first two years. It's had its ups and down over the past 40+ years, but it's safe to say that the Mustang has enjoyed an upswing in popularity since its retro-restyle a few years back.

5.0L V8 Could Return For 2010 Mustang

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:50:01 PST

There is definitely a buzz in the air today with the news about the 5.0L V8 motor returning for the 2010 Mustang. According to Stuff.co.nz who interviewed Bill Osborne, President of Ford Australia, he confirmed a new 5.0L V8 is being developed and built in North America for the Ford Mustang. Osbourne also goes on to say that said engine is a possible candidate for the new Falcon being produced in Australia.

Sounds like he spilled the beans on the possible return of the 5.0 liter V8 motor to the Mustang in either the Mustang GT or some kind of limited edition Boss or Mach 1. What would the 2010 Shelby GT500 be, a supercharged 5.0L V8, we can only dream. Stay tuned for more news.

Source: Stuff.co.nz, mustangblog.com

Ford and Shelby to Build 2009 GT500KR Mustangs to Meet Demand

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:03:19 PST

DEARBORN, Mich., March 20, 2008 - To compliment the 1,000 2008 40th anniversary Edition Shelby GT500KR "King of the Road" Mustangs, Ford and Shelby Automobiles announce that an additional 746 units will be built for the 2009 model year to help meet worldwide demand of the supercar. Of that total, 571 units will be available for U.S. customers thus equaling the 1,571-unit production run of the original Shelby GT500KR. The remainder of the units will be for countries that did not receive 2008 models.

"The response to this car has been overwhelming, so I'm glad we can share it with more Mustang enthusiasts," said Carroll Shelby. "This car is really special to me and demonstrates that when Shelby Automobiles gets together with Ford SVT and Ford Racing, we can deliver a Mustang that will compete with the best in the world."

Like the 40th anniversary limited edition, the 2009 Shelby GT500KR will feature a 540-hp 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 with a Ford Racing Power Upgrade Pack, 3.73:1 rear axle ratio, short-throw shifter, and unique suspension tuning. Exterior design draws inspiration from the classic Shelby KR Mustangs and features unique carbon composite hood, wheels, and unique striping.

The unique 40th anniversary badging will only be featured on the 2008 special edition.

Motor Trend: Shelby GT Beats Roush And Saleen

Wed, 5 Mar 2008 17:46:24 PST

Shelby and Ford once again proved to be a winning combination when Motor Trend announced the champion of its "Pony Expressed" comparison test in its April 2008 issue. When the 2008 Ford Shelby GT Mustang was challenged on the basis of performance and value, the Shelby GT was chosen over the Roush Stage 2 and Saleen S281.

"The Shelby GT is a well-balanced, fun to drive machine that draws upon our experience of making Mustangs go faster," said Amy Boylan, president of Shelby Autos. "Every lesson we learned while earning our stripes over the past 46 years is built into these ponycars. The competition was fierce with three very good cars in this test, so I'm proud that the Ford Shelby GT has earned another victory for both Team Shelby and every Ford Shelby owner."

Boyd Coddington Passes Away

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:51:35 PST

Boyd Coddington, the renowned hot-rod innovator, died Wednesday morning. He was 63 years old. The cause of death has not been disclosed.

Coddington's creations won the coveted Grand National Roadster Show's America's Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) trophy a record six times. Coddington was known best nationwide from his involvement in the hit cable TV series "American Hot Rod." His cars have won the "America's Most Beautiful Roadster" award seven times. He is a mamber of the Grand National Roadster Hall of Fame, the National Rod & Custom Museum Hall of Fame, the Route 66 Wall of Fame and the Street Rod Marketing Alliance Hall of Fame.

He was named Hot Rod magazine's Man of the Year in 1988. One of his vehicles was also the only hot rod ever displayed on the cover of Smithsonian magazine.

Ford Recalls 2005-2008 Mustangs For Air-Bag Fix

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:48:55 PST

Ford Motor Co. says it is recalling 470,000 Ford Mustangs from the 2005-2008 model years to recalibrate how forcefully the air bag deploys on the front passenger side of the car.

Ford spokesman Wesley Sherwood says internal testing showed the air bag could injure a small, unbelted passenger. The recall was posted Wednesday on the website of the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Sherwood says there were no reports of injuries or accidents tied to the recall.

The Dearborn automaker will notify customers by mail in early March. Owners can take their vehicle to a dealer to have the air bag recalibrated to deploy at a lower force.

2005-2008 Mustang owners can go to the Ford Service Website and enter their VIN number to see if their car is affected by this recall.

Legislation Goes Up Against Muscle Cars

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 13:47:35 PST

As the deadline for gas friendly vehicles looms in the future, many states are taking the opportunity to pass legislation against muscle cars such as the Ford Mustang. It is bad enough that the V8 engine may be virtually outlawed thanks to new regulations, but states are also working to discourage drivers from keeping their existing muscle cars on the road.

Several states are considering passing high tax surcharges on vehicles that do not meet the upcoming standards for pollution levels. Even if you have an efficient V8, you may still end up getting penalized for it. Some states are planning a $2500 tax that will be in addition to any extra taxes passed at the Federal level. This could mean disaster for many muscle car owners who simply cannot afford to swallow that high of a penalty.

2008 Steeda QS6 Mustang

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 13:31:40 PST

The Steeda Q-Series of Mustangs underscores the commitment that Steeda Autosports has made to consistently deliver the best possible performance and value to the Ford performance enthusiast. Steeda Autosports has been in business nearly 20 years with no disruption, and with our major facility expansion currently underway, we are guaranteed to be your best source for exclusive limited edition serialized Ford performance vehicles and Ford performance parts and accessories for the foreseeable future.

2010 Ford Mustang Spy Shots

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:30:32 PST

Lots of images of the next Ford Mustang have floated around the 'Net for over a year now. From the Guiargio seen back at the LA Auto show to some forum-dweller's dreams, we can be a little more at ease (or as good as it gets right now) with some more spy shots of the new pony car, covered in camo.

It appears as though the car is going to get some mild updates to the front and rear, conducive to what we've been hearing. The blanketing camouflage does its job well hiding any other material changes. However, when focusing on the rear of the car, it seems as though there just might be a version of the popular ducktail spoiler everyone raves over.

GT500KR Production Begins

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:54:18 PST

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 11, 2008 - Automotive legend Carroll Shelby shares his 85th birthday with a new performance standout - the 540-horsepower 2008 GT500KR, which begins production today.

The GT500KR or "King of the Road" Mustang is the fourth limited-edition Mustang that Shelby Automobiles and Ford have brought to market since resuming their collaboration in 2001. It builds on the performance and success of the 500-horsepower Shelby GT500 - the most powerful production Mustang ever.

The new GT500KR will be available at select Ford dealerships this spring. Production is limited at 1,000 units.

"It is simply magic when Shelby and Ford team up and deliver products like the GT500KR," said Mark Fields, Ford's president, The Americas. "Collaborations like this have helped Mustang remain at the top of the sports car segment for 22 straight years - and running - and help inspire people who truly want and value performance."