Cobra GT500

2006 Ford Mustang GT Convertible Review
MODEL: Ford Mustang GT Convertible
ENGINE: 4.6.liter V8
HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 300 hp @ 5,750 rpm/320 lb.-ft. @ 4,500 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 5-speed manual
WHEELBASE: 107.1 in.
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT: 187.6 x 73.9 x 55.4 in.
TIRES: P235/55ZR17
CARGO VOLUME: 13.1 cu. ft
ECONOMY: 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway/12.9 mpg test
PRICE: $32,365 (includes $625 destination and delivery charge)

To all the people in the northeast, I apologize. The rain and subsequent flooding that hit in early October was my fault. You see, I scheduled the Ford Mustang GT convertible for that time frame, and as constant readers will remember, almost every time I have a convertible scheduled, it rains. Since this is a special convertible, we had special rain.

I had been looking for the Mustang convertible almost from the day the coupe version was announced. We were promised a rag top at that time; it just took longer for me to get behind the wheel of one than I expected. We were supposed to have the car in the summer, but it had to go back for repairs or something, and the car was pulled. So I was glad to get it, even though October weather is often iffy. Little did I know. There were other scheduling problems that limited seat time, but I had enough time behind the wheel to know this was a special car.

The GT is powered by a 4.6-liter, three-vales-per-cylinder V8 that delivers a healthy 300 horsepower. Granted, a V8 engine of this size could be expected to generate more power than this, but I think it’s enough power for this car that weighs a tick under 3,500 pounds. There was plenty of power to move the Mustang to illegal speeds very quickly. And the roar from the V8 made all the teenage home hot rod builders with their Japanese minicars that make noises like angry bees green with envy. This was a real roar.

Engine power reaches the rear wheels through a five-speed automatic transmission. I have to confess that I was slightly nervous about the manual. I drove last year’s GT and the year before’s Cobra, each with 5-speeds, and didn’t like them because of the gearbox. I thought the gearboxes used in those cars was notchy and hard to shift. The 2006 5-speed, however, is a pleasure to use. It is still a serious gearbox that requires the driver to shift it properly (and not get sloppy choosing the gears), but there’s far less of a chance that you’ll find first instead of third when you’re downshifting, and that’s a comfort in a car like this.

2006 Saleen S281 Mustang
MuscularMustangs.com, PA - According to an article on Edmunds Inside Line Saleen will be introducing a few upgrades to it’s S281 Mustang lineup for 2006. These include horsepower increases, a special new moonroof, and a speedster edition.

More Horsepower
Probably the most important upgrade to potential Saleen buyers is the increase in horsepower for the 2006 model year. With the new Z06 Corvette, and Shelby Cobra GT500 being released with extremely high horsepower numbers it only makes sense that buyers are going to be looking for a hp increase across the board. To combat this Saleen is increasing the power in their mid range Mustang, the S281 SC (supercharged), to 435hp. An increase of 35hp over the 2005 model’s 400hp output. Although this number is far from the Z06 Corvette’s 505hp, it takes a nice lead over the standard Corvette’s 400hp rating. On another note, although this number seems to be close to the Shelby Cobra GT500’s rating of “over 450hp” the reality of it is that the GT500 will likely be putting out closer to 500hp. So the main question is, which will buyers go for? The extremly slick styling, and superior handling of the Saleen SC or the grunt of the GT500? I guess only time will tell, but then again Saleen still offers the option of their “Extreme” model with an estimated 500hp for those looking for that grunt and styling.
For 2006 the standard S281 will get a 5hp increase to 330hp from last years 325hp rating. Nothing overly spectacular but every little bit counts.

Cool Tops?
Not sure if that is an assumed name until the product is released or if that will be the actual trademark, but regardless Saleen will be offering a “Cool Tops” line of moonroofs which will extend from the windshield to back window. Until we see one we can only guess it will be somewhat similar (don’t quote me on this, its pure speculation) to the Porsche Targa glass roof albeit not as large.

Saleen Speedster
For the convertible buyers there will be a Speedster edition. Just like previous years the Saleen Speedster will add items such as a (likely body color) tonneau cover and light bar to the standard Convertible.

Pricing
Up from last years $39K price tag the ‘06 S281 3 Valve will be $42,281. Also up from last year the S281 SC will be $51,102 (convertible: $55,989) which puts it higher than the standard vette’s price tag of $43,800, and lower than the Z06’s $65K.

Cobras returning for a week of cars and parties
If you hear the roar of powerful engines on Cape Region highways this coming weekend, it won’t be a flashback from last weekend’s NASCAR race.

For the second year, members of the Capital Area Cobra Club are bringing their replicas of Carroll Shelby’s famed racing machines to Sussex County for a fall gathering.

The owners and drivers, convening at Holiday Inn Express, will start arriving on Thursday with 35 cars expected and at least 70 people. Over the course of the next three days they will dine as a group at Big Fish, drive their cars on a day-long tour of Sussex County including a stop at the vintage car and airplane show at the airport in Georgetown, enjoy a barbecue at member Rob Burton’s Kings Creek home and finish with a Sunday brunch at the Starboard. In between, they will do what they love most: drive their Cobras, talk about their Cobras, and show off their cars to people naturally attracted to these speed machines.

“The most fun of these cars is the people who own them,” said Thom Lewis, who owns a 1965 replica Cobra with a big block Ford 460 horsepower engine. “They love to get together and have their parking lot parties with folding chairs and coolers and cars. They will be coming from all the cities around and from as far away as Ohio, Vermont, and Florida.”

Bob Burton knows why he likes his Cobra. “They’re fast, and, they’re the kind of thing we would have loved to have had as a kid but couldn’t.”

“They also stick to the road like glue,” said Lewis. “We drive them and we run them – we don’t just keep them in the garage.”

Rob Burton - Bob’s son – spent all winter with Lewis rebuilding one Cobra while adding another to his fleet. His new Cobra is an exact replica of the Shelby Daytona Coupe that Dan Gurney and Bob Bondurant drove to victory in the 1964 LeMans 24-hour race in France.

“I took this car to Cumberland, Md. last year for a national road rally and took a second place my first time out in my division. It was a great experience,” said Burton. “There were only six of these built originally and the owners still drive them over 200 mph – they’re worth $6 million apiece but they don’t care about that. They drive them like they’re dirt track vehicles,” said Burton. “They were built to run and that’s what they do. Shelby designed these to compete with the Ferraris and he beat them. Most of the originals are in England.”

Shelby built his first Cobras in the 1960s with the help of Lee Iacocca who was head of Ford at the time.

The Corvette Z06 starring in Woodward's Dreaming
The V-8 in this car is 7.0 liters big, 1.3 liters larger than the regular Vette’s. Its pistons are the size of your fists, and each cylinder can swallow two pints. It is nominally a small block due to the way it’s designed, but it has the 427-cubic-inch displacement of a big block V-8, pumping out 505 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. The engine runs though a limited-slip rear differential and a 6-speed manual gearbox. According to GM, the powertrain gets this car to 60 mph from rest in 3.7 seconds, which theoretically makes it faster than anything except a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, Porsche Carrera GT, or Ferrari Enzo. (Our acceleration figure came in a bit higher since we don’t use GM’s same testing method—they cut off the one-foot “roll-out” when launching, which in this case trims 0.2 seconds.) The car will also hoof it to a 198-mph top speed, due to its superior aerodynamics. But sitting in the car, revving it out to 7000 rpm, the numbers are meaningless and incalculable. All you hear is a sweet, whirring induction flutter, followed by a punishing, open-throttle kickback reminiscent of big-bore shotgun recoil—instant and jarring and very, very loud. Speaking of loud, when enough back pressure builds up in the car’s exhaust system, its vacuum actuated bypass valve opens up—if you’re driving behind the Z06, you can see the butterfly move inside the 4-inch exhaust tip—adding a psychedelic layer of aural awesometude to the proceedings. It sounds like the devil’s own Cigarette boat.

Montreal International Auto Show to be held January 20 to 29, 2006
MONTREAL, Oct. 19 /CNW Telbec/ - In the wake of its overwhelmingly
successful 2005 Show, the 38th edition of the Montreal International Auto Show
(MIAS) is revving its engines for more glory as the event runs from January 20
to 29, 2006 at Palais des congrès de Montréal. In 2005, 220,689 visitors
attended the MIAS, making it the most successful Show since it was moved to
this location in 2002.

Earth-friendly cars: AJAC’s Montreal unveiling!

As part of its special feature, On Route to a Greener Future, the 2006
MIAS will host the unveiling of the industry’s best new alternative power
vehicle, as selected by members of the Automobile Journalists Association of
Canada (AJAC). This unveiling is usually held in December in Toronto, but
because of the focus being paid on alternative energy during the 2006 MIAS,
the AJAC has decided to wait until January 19, 2006 to make its presentation
at the MIAS. Hundreds of journalists will attend this media-only day and car
manufacturers will present their Canadian premieres.

Taking a green turn

In 2006, the MIAS is taking a sharp green turn as it deals with
environmental issues by reconciling the automobile’s position in relation with
the environment. This is why the Show’s On Route to a Greener Future segment
will act as a key backdrop for the introduction of ecologically-friendly
vehicles and conferences on alternative energy sources. This will also be the
gathering place for handy tips on fuel efficiency and conserving energy.
With the price of fuel on the rise and the pending implementation of the
Kyoto Agreement, the MIAS is aiming to become a reference source on
alternative energy and fuel conservation by offering the latest information to
visitors. And the MIAS will reward all visitors who have used public transit
to attend the Show on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, by offering a $2 discount
on the price of a single admission to the MIAS.

The Corvette Evolution

During the 2005 Show, the Mustang Evolution attraction proved extremely
successful. The 2006 Edition will see another type of evolution - the Corvette
Evolution! This special feature will allow visitors to go back in time and
follow the history of this fascinating vehicle by viewing the many different
types of Corvettes that have come off the assembly line over the years.

Catch the excitement of Tuning — again!

Visitors will, once again, be able to feel the passion of Tuning when
they take in another favourite special attraction - a collection of modified
and hammed-up vehicles. This is the third consecutive year of the Tuning
presentation. This year, the MIAS will present cars that captured the prizes
for best-modified vehicles during the annual competition held by Team SCP.

MIAS: it’s for the whole family!

This year, the MIAS will offer a revamped family package. From Monday to
Thursday, the price of admission will be $30 for two adults and two children,
while the price will be $34 between Friday and Sunday. The 2006 MIAS will also
offer various promotional events to cater to the whims of just about everyone.
The beautiful vehicles on display will no doubt capture the hearts of every
member of the family - both young and old. And once again, a free on-site
childcare service for young children will be available. The KIA Sedona
Childcare Centre will allow parents to visit the show at ease, knowing that
their kids are in the reliable hands of trained professionals.

The MIAS magazine - IT’S FREE!

Other new feature this year: the MIAS Official Magazine will be offered
free of charge to all visitors. This is the ideal guide for visitors who want
to know more about the products on display. “This year we want visitors to
fully take advantage of this publication and that is why we decided to make it
available for free,” said Norman Hébert, President of the 2006 MIAS.

For further information: Information: Denis Dessureault, Communications
Director, Montreal International Auto Show, (514) 331-6571 Ext. 232; Source:
Mathieu Beaudoin, Project Manager, communications, Montreal International Auto
Show, (514) 331-6571, Ext. 234

1969 Ford Mustang 428 Super Cobra Jet
428 Super Cobra Jet
1969 Ford
By Mike Mueller
October 2005 Page: 22

Although Dearborn designers fattened Lee Iacocca’s beloved Mustang for 1967 to make room for more potent big-block V8 power, the resulting 390-powered GT was no match for General Motors’ all-new pony cars as far as real high-performance was concerned. Both Chevrolet’s SS 396 Camaro and Pontiac’s Firebird 400 could leave the hottest ’67 Mustang in the dust with amazing ease, a stark reality that Ford engineers fortunately couldn’t stomach for long.

In April 1968, they retaliated by introducing a bigger, badder big-block, the famed 428 Cobra Jet, a hot-to-trot powerplant created more or less by mixing and matching existing FE-series V8 parts. Using a 428 FE passenger-car block as a base, Ford engineers added 427 low-riser heads and a cast-iron version of their aluminum Police Interceptor (PI) intake mounting a big 735-cfm Holley four-barrel carburetor. A 390 GT cam, PI rods, and 10.6:1 pistons went inside, while low-restriction dual exhausts completed the package, which was priced at $420.

Modular Engines Explained

As vintage Ford enthusiasts, many of us have been slow to embrace Ford’s newest engine technology–the 4.6 and 5.4 SOHC and DOHC Modular V-8 engines. We like the familiarity of the small-block Ford, the FE big-blocks, the Cleveland, the 385-series fat-blocks, and even the old Y-block V-8s. We grew up on rocker arms, pushrods, and real iron, and as a result, we’ve never published much on the Modular V-8 engine family.
But we’re into more progressive thinking these days at Mustang & Fords, which is now under the guidance and direction of Editor Mark Houlahan (whose most recent gig was senior technical editor at 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords), so it’s time to learn as much as we can about Ford’s newest generation of overhead cam V-8 engines. We visited Power Heads/Modular Racing in California for a look at Ford’s venerable Modular V-8. We also gave a shout to the Modular fanatics at Ford Racing, Sullivan Performance, and True Blue Performance to answer some of our questions.

The Modular V-8 engine isn’t new. It was introduced in the ‘91 Lincoln Town Car 15 years ago. Then it appeared a year later in the redesigned ‘92 Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis. In 1994, it was introduced in the Thunderbird and Cougar; in 1996, it debuted in the Mustang GT and SVT Cobra. Early in 1996, the Modular V-8 found its way into the redesigned ‘97 F-series truck line; after that, the E-series vans, as both a V-8 and a V-10; then, the all-new Super Duty F-250/350, as a V-8 and a V-10.

The Modular V-8 is as deeply entrenched into the Ford psyche’ today as our pushrod V-8s were during the ’60s and ’70s. It is very much at home with Ford performance enthusiasts, and likely here to stay for a long time to come. For 2005, Ford has introduced its newest version of the Mod motor with a three-valve cylinder head and cast-aluminum cam covers. The three-valve head can be found in the all-new ‘05 Mustang GT on top of the 4.6 short-block, and the ‘04-’05 5.4 F-150 and Expedition. This head has made a huge difference in low-end torque, making the 4.6 and 5.4 V-8s snappier down low where it counts–at the traffic light.

Road Test: 2006 Dodge Charger R/T Meets 2005 Mustang GT
You’re a Chicago hitman in San Francisco for a job. You need a car; something that looks cool and will slink you up and over (sometimes way over) those notorious hilly streets–something like the sleek coupe Phil (Bill Hickman) drove in Steve McQueen’s 1968 film “Bullitt.” How about checking out a black, newly minted 2006 Dodge Charger R/T? Sure, it’s a four-door, but it’s got 350 horsepower and comes loaded with optional Daytona R/T goodies.

Cue the jazzy Lalo Schifrin soundtrack: Across the street from the apartment belonging to McQueen–er, Lieutenant Detective Frank Bullitt–is the corner grocery where he shops. “Fresh today,” the clerk says as Bullitt heads to the frozen-foods section for dinner. Bullitt is the essence of cool, never speaking an extraneous word and living a minimalist modern-day Dashiell Hammett hard-boiled lifestyle in Baghdad by the Bay.

Even as far back as 1968, San Francisco was ripe territory for European and Asian automakers. First, unlike Middle America, its large immigrant population is more open to foreign makes. And its city streets, with impossibly steep hills and narrow passages, are as tight on space as much of urban Europe’s. VW Beetles and Toyota Corollas take up much less real estate in crowded neighborhoods. In the ritzy environs, like Pacific Heights, even multimillion-dollar homes have driveways too tight and contorted for the average Buick Electra 225. Frank Bullitt was quietly showing off his muscle, guts, and independence by driving a long-hooded Mustang 390 V-8 in this city.

2006 Saleen S281 Mustang
MuscularMustangs.com, PA - Probably the most important upgrade to potential Saleen buyers is the increase in horsepower for the 2006 model year. With the new Z06 Corvette, and Shelby Cobra GT500 being released with extremely high horsepower numbers it only makes sense that buyers are going to be looking for a hp increase across the board. To combat this Saleen is increasing the power in their mid range Mustang, the S281 SC (supercharged), to 435hp. An increase of 35hp over the 2005 model’s 400hp output. Although this number is far from the Z06 Corvette’s 505hp, it takes a nice lead over the standard Corvette’s 400hp rating. On another note, although this number seems to be close to the Shelby Cobra GT500’s rating of “over 450hp” the reality of it is that the GT500 will likely be putting out closer to 500hp. So the main question is, which will buyers go for? The extremly slick styling, and superior handling of the Saleen SC or the grunt of the GT500? I guess only time will tell, but then again Saleen still offers the option of their “Extreme” model with an estimated 500hp for those looking for that grunt and styling.
For 2006 the standard S281 will get a 5hp increase to 330hp from last years 325hp rating. Nothing overly spectacular but every little bit counts.

The Corvette Z06 starring in Woodward's Dreaming
MPH Online, MI - Oct 13, 2005 A garnet-red 2003 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra and a silver 1998 Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am follow me onto the street, where we stage three abreast in front of