Cobra GT500

Ford SVT Vehicles Boost Company's Image
Autochannel - Jul 20, 2005 The GT500, which will be released next summer, is the newest entry from sold more than 145,000 performance vehicles, including the Mustang Cobra

At a time when competition between car companies is fierce, industry analysts say image is everything.
And nothing helps to bolster a company’s image more than an eye-catching, high-performance vehicle, according to Jim Hall, vice president of Industry Analysis for Auto Pacific.

“Every Mustang that goes down the road is an advertisement for Ford,” he said. “It’s hard not to see a new Mustang in traffic. And the Ford Shelby GT500 is going to be that on steroids.”

The GT500, which will be released next summer, is the newest entry from Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT). Since its inception in 1993, SVT has sold more than 145,000 performance vehicles, including the Mustang Cobra, Mustang Cobra R, F-150 Lightning, SVT Contour and SVT Focus.

While SVT products add to the company’s bottom line, Hau Thai-Tang, director of Advanced Product Creation and SVT, agrees that their true value extends beyond direct profits.

“SVT high-performance products improve the company’s image and create a halo effect for the rest of the Ford lineup,” he said.

Randy Anderson of Anderson Ford in Clinton, Ill., is a performance enthusiast and an SVT dealer. He says his dealership has seen an increase in other vehicle sales as a result of SVT products.

“We have had a lot of new-to-Ford customers who bought SVT products from us and then came back down the road and bought an Explorer or Expedition or other Ford vehicle,” he said. “It’s been phenomenal. SVT had more front-page coverage in magazines like Car and Driver and Road and Track than we’ve had in history.”

Technorati Tags: Mustang Cobra, GT500, SVT

Racing Legend Puts Stamp of Approval on Ford's Newest Mustang
GotMustang -

Employees at the AutoAlliance International (AAI) plant in Flat Rock, Mich., were a little star-struck recently when car and racing legend Carroll Shelby stopped by for a rare visit.

“This is the next best thing to being next to God,” said Samuel Crawford, who works in the body shop at the plant. “I’ve always wanted to meet Carroll Shelby. I’ve followed his career from an early age. In my life, I never thought I would have the chance to get this close.”

Shelby, 82, visited the plant to meet and thank the people who worked to build the Shelby Cobra GT500 prototypes.

“One of the most important things about building anything is the people who build it,” said Shelby. “I want them to know that their work is appreciated and that they’re the backbone of this company.”

Shelby recounted stories of his early days growing up in Texas, his lifelong relationship with Ford Motor Company and his passion for sports cars. There was complete silence in the room as he spoke. Clearly, the group was mesmerized.

“These are the kind of things that make it all worthwhile,” said Beth Calhoun, vehicle line specialist, Vehicle Operations, referring to Shelby’s visit. “The long hours, the late nights, the dedication — this brings it home.”

“This is a great chance for the people at AAI who have worked so hard on this car to meet Shelby and get to know the man who inspired the product,” said Hau Thai-Tang, director, Advanced Product Creation and SVT. “He’s been very much engaged from the beginning not only in terms of providing design input, but really helping to inspire the team to understand what the Shelby name stands for and what it means in the marketplace.”

In many ways, the Shelby Cobra GT500 is very reminiscent of the 1968 Shelby Cobra, and that’s no accident.

“You’ll see a lot of physical resemblances like the hood execution with the two scoops, the front grille and the body stripes down the middle as well as on the sides of the car,” said Thai-Tang. “All of those things are inspired by the original Shelby Mustangs.”

Under the hood, the GT500 will be equipped with a 5.4-liter DOHC supercharged V-8 engine, producing an extraordinary more than 450 horsepower and more than 450 foot-pounds of torque.

“This is going to be the best Mustang ever,” said Thai-Tang. “The GT500 is going to be the most powerful Mustang to ever wear the Ford, SVT or Shelby badges.”

Shelby recognized the success of the Mustang and predicts an enthusiastic response to the GT500 when the car is launched in the fall of 2006.

“We’re selling more Mustangs now than we can make,” said Shelby. “The company needs a spark plug like that to give it some morale. We’re going through some hard times. And I hope just about the time that trails off a little bit, which we know it will someday, the GT500 is going to give it another kick in the pants.”

Shelby signed hats, books and posters before taking a tour of the plant. His influence on the automotive industry have led some to describe him was “living legend.”

“I’m not a legend. I’m just a lucky country boy who loved what he did and was fortunate enough to be able to do that all my life,” said Shelby.

2006 Ford Mustang
GotMustang - Jul 16, 2005 For 2006, Ford Mustang will offer customers more customization potential with the all-new fitted to a production V-8 Mustang since the 2000 SVT Cobra R model.

Since its dramatic 1964 introduction, Ford Mustang has been the icon of American performance with its bold style, brawny engine and rear-wheel-drive excitement, earning its place as the top-selling sports car for 19 years straight. For 2006, Ford is building on the clean-sheet 2005 design by offering a V-6 “Pony Package,” 18-inch wheels on GT models, a pair of new colors and , later in the model year, a darker aluminum interior upgrade option.

Mustang adds Pony Package to V-6 model
Auto123, Canada -

Mustang may be one of the most desirable new cars on the market right now and therefore hard to find, but Ford plans to keep rolling variations of the sporty car out to fan new fires of consumer interest.

2006 Ford Mustang with Pony Package
In time a couple of extra-hotrod models will be available, but for 2006 there’s a Pony Package with a V-6 and some go-fast and look-fast parts to deliver a more performance-oriented attitude.

There will also be four distinct wheel- and tire-combinations for the Mustang GT trim, including two all-new 18-inch sets complemented by unique suspension tuning.

Technorati Tags: 2006 Ford Mustang, Pony Package

If there was a 2005 SVT Cobra
StangNet.com, AL - Jul 25, 2005 The 2005 Cobra. But the car never came. Instead, Ford's Special Vehicle Team treated muscle car lovers with a new treat - the upcoming Shelby GT-500.

The 2005 Cobra. A car that Mustang enthusiasts were eagerly waiting for in conjunction with the release of the new 05 Mustang. But the car never came. Instead, Ford’s Special Vehicle Team treated muscle car lovers with a new treat - the upcoming Shelby GT-500. However, that car is still a good amount of time away. Enter Power Surge Performance, a company best known for pioneering SVT Lightning aftermarket performance, and modular vehicle performance and tuning.

2005 SVT Cobra - The car that never was…

Salvatore Mennella, main man behind PSP, decided to build his own version of the car. “The 05 Mustang was the hot new car of the year, and we needed to get into that market”, Sal says. “I wanted to get our own 05 test car, to develop tuning and performance products, but I also wanted to have a car that visually made a statement.” And what a statement it has made so far. The car was debuted to the public at the 22nd Annual McCarville Ford Mustang Showdown, in Long Island, NY.

Technorati Tags: 2005 Cobra, 2005 SVT Cobra

Driven by details
Chillicothe Gazette, OH -

“The reason why I own this car is the engine,” said James Young, 61, of Chillicothe, as he stood near his fully restored 1969 Ford Mustang Mach-1. “It’s not the ultimate Mustang engine - a Boss 429 - but it’s the next best thing.”

The candy-apple red prize-winning vehicle boasts a 428-Cobra Jet engine. It has enough power to be a beast when drag racing, although it has never seen a straightway since being purchased by Young in 1985.
In fact, the automobile, which placed first in its class in Saturday’s 23rd annual Bigger and Better All Make Show and Swap Meet in Yoctangee Park, never has seen a rainy day on the road.

“I drive a Hyundai everyday,” Young said as a testament to his dedication to the restored car. “The car will never go out in the snow and never touch the street in the rain.”

Keeping a close eye on what some may refer to as just a means to get from one place to another is not a foreign concept for fellow car enthusiasts.

When you spend an untold amount of time, money and energy into taking a car bought in 1976 for $800 and transforming it into a show piece worth thousands, you would more than understand.

A 1970 Mustang Mach-1 with a 351-cubic inch and 300-horsepower engine is not just a car, said owner Les Wolfe. It’s a member of the family.

“This car don’t start out as a show piece,” Wolfe said. “I bought it because of all the Mustangs out there, it is my favorite year. I always wanted one. When I had the chance to get one, I brought it home.”

Technorati Tags: 1969 Ford Mustang Mach-1

The origin of the world’s most sought after car
Wave Magazine, CA - Jun 15, 2005 The 427, featuring what became the Cobra?s signature tube frame and aluminum result in the design and production of the high-performance fastback Mustang.

Shelby’s first chassis, labeled the 260 Roadster, was air freighted without motor or transmission from the AC Cars factory of Thames Ditton, England in February of 1962. When it arrived at its first assembly garage in Venice, California, Shelby promptly dropped in a 260ci HiPo engine and Borg-Warner four-speed tranny, dubbed it “The Cobra,” then headed out to terrorize anyone in L.A. thickheaded enough to race him. A month later, the first production Cobra arrived at the New York Auto Show, where it wowed the automobile press and ignited the street racing youth of the time.

Want to see the Cobra up close?
Read On…
Cobra Racing Events:

July 9:
Marina AutoX, Marina
www.norcal-saac.org

July 29-31:
San Jose Grand Prix, San Jose www.sanjosegrandprix.com

August 19-21:
Monterey Historics, Monterey www.montereyhistoric.com

August 27-28:
Infineon CART series, Sonoma www.infineonraceway.com
Cobra Car Shows:

June 18:
VMOA Car Show Cupertino
www.mustangassociation.com

June 25-26:
Concours d’Elegance, Palo Alto
www.paconcours.com

July 24:
Pony’s and Snakes, Danville www.bayareamustangassociation.org

July 14, 28 and August 11, 25:
Hot Summer Nights Car Shows, Danville
www.ci.danville.ca.us

Cobra Conventions

June 30-July 3
Shelby American Automobile Club, Fontana www.saac.com

This will be one of, if not THE largest ever gathering of Shelbys and Cobras in one place. More than 50 Cobras are expected to be on hand for a giant drag race at the California Speedway. The event also includes a Shelby swap meet, Cobra competition, auctions, seminars and a formal banquet.
Success came rapidly to Shelby-American, the auto company Shelby’s creation spawned. In its first year of production, the Cobra was already racing overseas at LeMans and by 1963 the company had produced six of the most coveted of all Shelbys: The Daytona Coupe, a hard top model (all other Cobras are open cockpit). Ironically, none of the Coupes sold when they initially came off the assembly line, nor did they fetch any buyers even after winning LeMans and capturing the 1964 World Manufacturer’s Championship (beating out six-time winner Ferrari in a victory so resounding that the humiliated Italian carmaker opted out of the 1965 GT III FIA season).

This Mustang Is Part Echo, Part Thunder
BusinessWeek - Jun 30, 2005 You're drawn to places like this when you're tooling around in a Torch Red Ford Mustang GT convertible on a hot summer evening.

Thoroughly redesigned for ‘05, the latest version harks back to the classic pony cars of yore, while delivering major bang for the buck

This Mustang Is Part Echo, Part Thunder

The other evening, I found myself having dinner at a place called Johnny Rockets, one of those retro burger joints with old-fashioned malteds, rock ‘n’ roll oldies blaring on the jukebox, and burgers the size of a catcher’s mitt. You’re drawn to places like this when you’re tooling around in a Torch Red Ford Mustang GT convertible on a hot summer evening. I mean, if this car doesn’t put you in a retro mood, nothing will. It’s just so satisfying to be able to sit in a booth by the window and watch people outside sidle over to the car and give it an admiring once-over.

The Mustang, of course, is an American icon, and sales of the latest version are booming: Ford (F ) is producing 192,000 Mustangs this calendar year, up from 112,000 in 2004. Yet, with sales up 47% through May, the main problem with the 2005 Mustang is getting your hands on one. Most of them are already spoken for, and dealers are starting to take orders for the 2006 model, which will hit the showrooms in August and September.

The good news is that the 2006 Mustang will be almost identical to this year’s model, a Ford spokesman says, though it’s not yet clear whether the price will go up. Place your orders now, anyway, if you want one.

POTENT COMBO. One reason the Mustang is generating so much excitement is that in the all-new 2005 version Ford did a wonderful job of updating and redesigning the car. The retro styling really turns heads. And the base sticker on the 2005 GT convertible is just $30,240 — and, even with numerous options my test model listed for $34,080. At that price, it’s hard to beat the new Mustang’s combination of style and performance.

Indeed, in my quest to find the ideal Midlife Crisis models — the ones with the excitement quotient to put some pizzazz in an aging baby boomer’s otherwise humdrum existence — the Mustang GT Convertible fairly jumped out and demanded to be included in the list.

The car is just so cool looking. With its relatively short front profile, it doesn’t really look much like the early Mustangs, the classic “pony cars” with the signature long sloping hood, short rear deck, and sculpted flanks. But the stubby rear end, the contouring around the rear bumper area, the slight suggestion of a prow in the hood — to say nothing of the galloping silver horse logo on the grille — all give the car a retro feel that strongly suggests Mustangs of the past.

Technorati Tags: 2006 Mustang, Mustang GT Convertible