Mustang News

Billy Johnson, driving the No. 61 Roush Performance Mustang Boss 302R, led the final 18 laps to win Friday’s Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series BMW Performance 200. Johnson’s victory with teammate Jack Roush Jr. gave Roush’s father, team owner Jack Roush, his first GRAND-AM victory at Daytona International Speedway.The margin of victory over second-place Charles Espenlaub in the No. 48 Fall-Line Motorsports BMW M3  was 1.061 seconds. Espenlaub’s teammate Bryan Sellers was third in the No. 46 BMW. Twenty-five of the race’s 58 laps were run under a total of six caution flags. The race began on a wet surface, which dried as proceedings progressed. And in the end, things played in the Roush team’s favor.

“I think pretty much the first hour and a half was a close moment,” Roush Jr. said of the racing. “There’s opportunities to have incidents at any moment in time, especially at the beginning of the race, it was really sketchy.” Roush also talked about his relief of finally finding success at Daytona. “My sense of joy is getting out of here in one piece and getting a good start to the year. We did not have much luck here the last two years.”

The Ford Mustang Boss 302R started off the 2012 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge season in the best way possible with the Roush Performance teams qualifying 1-2 at the season opener at Daytona Speedway. Shelby Blackstock, driving in only his second season for the Roush Performance team, put the No. 51 Starstruck Entertainment Boss 302R on pole with a time of 1:57.523, . This is the first time that Blackstock and fellow driver Jade Buford have captured the top qualifying position, and they will also be going for their first win in tomorrow’s race.

Filling out the front row is the No. 61 Roush Boss 302R, with Jack Roush Jr. turning in a fast time of 1:57.661. Roush Jr. and teammate Billy Johnson are no strangers at being at the front of the pack, although they haven’t had much luck at Daytona in the past two years. The pair didn’t finished the race in 2011 and 2010 and have had to make up points later in the season.

The Grand-Am season kicks off this week at Daytona, and we’ll be paying close attention to the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge to see if the Mustang Boss 302R can finally topple the BMWs. One in particular to watch is the No.61 Boss 302R of Roush Performance driven by Jack Roush Jr. and Billy Johnson who finished a close second this year. In addition to running at the front of the pack, the two will also likely stand out thanks to the new bodywork fitted to their car (Ford Racing tells us that they retro-fitted last year’s race car). Roush just posted a few photos of the re-skinned Boss at Daytona during today’s practice and qualifying sessions, and the bodywork from the 2013 Mustang is easily noticeable on the front and rear of the car.

You can get a closer look at the updated Roush Performance Boss 302R in the gallery below, and let us know whether you like the new car or the old car better.

The lucky guys over at Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords have just published a new story on their inside access to the development of the 2013 Shelby GT500. We earlier showed you a similar story from Road & Track, but while that article focused mostly on the handling improvements developed on the Nürburgring, this story from MM&FF goes into detail about how Ford has made the 2013 Shelby GT500 even faster at the dragstrip.

Similar to our overview of the new supercharged 5.8-liter V8, MM&FF gives a nice overview of the engine changes to the Shelby GT500 for 2013. What really interested us, though, are the details regarding the all new launch control system. An advanced version of the one featured in the 2012 Boss 302, the launch control system allows the driver to set a specific launch rpm, and combined with an advanced traction control system will allow the car to launch with virtually no slip. MM&FF got to experience the system at work and says that “after seeing the system in action, we can report that it performs at the level of even the best quarter-mile hot shoes.” That’s saying something, since editor Evan Smith is an experienced drag racer capable of getting the fastest times out of any car.

The numbers are in, and Galpin Ford of Van Nuys, CA had laid claim to the highest volume Ford Mustang dealership in the country for 2011. Normally Galpin’s customizing shop, Galpin Auto Sports, is the one in the news, but the legendary Ford dealership also plays a major part in the Mustang industry. This past year Galpin sold a total of 663 Mustangs, which far exceeded the next closest dealership who managed to move just 269 Mustangs.

Galpin didn’t just lead the country in Mustang sales, though. They managed to hold onto their title of the best selling Ford dealership in the world for the 22nd year in a row, selling 6,630 new cars in 2011. “To accomplish what we have in these tough economic times speaks volumes for the hard work our enthusiastic sales team and all of the support employees at Galpin Ford put forth to make this a great year, just as they’ve done for the past two decades,” sadi Galpin Motors Vice President Beau Boeckmann. “Ford has given us amazing products to sell; every launch has been a major success including the Focus and Explorer. We know customers have many choices when making these large financial decisions and we’re proud that so many of them have entrusted us with their business.”

The Mustang Boss 302 is no stranger to being compared to others on track, although generally the comparisons are done at race courses in the United States like Car and Driver’s recent “Lightning Lap” at Virginia International Raceway. The latest test, though, was done by German car magazine Sport Auto at the legendary Hockenheim circuit and the list of competitors included the likes of Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche, Mercedes and BMW.

While many might think the Boss 302 would be outclassed by cars two or three times its price, those familiar with Ford’s racy pony car know that this is what it was made to do. At the end of the day the Boss 302′s lap time of 1:13.2 was only bested by the 560 horsepower BMW M5, beating out supercars like the Audi R8, Aston Martin DBS and Ferrari California.

For those that have a Vortech or Paxton supercharger installed on their 2011+ Mustang GT, the two companies have announced a new 8-rib drive upgrade designed to prevent belt slippage for high-boost and racing applications. Part #4FQ116-001, the 8-rib drive upgrade allows for maximum belt traction and stability for racing and hard driving while remaining completely street ready and daily drive friendly. Drive conversion contains all necessary hardware and precision machined spacers to go right out of the box and onto the 5.0-liter V8 with existing supercharger systems. OEM quality replacement alternator pulley, water pump pulley, idlers and crank damper pulley are all included. A  drive pulley measuring 3.47″ diameter comes standard, with numerous other pulley sizes also available for sale separately.

Optional Supercharger Pulley Sizes (May also require alternate belt drive length):

MSN Autos recently named the 1967 Shelby G.T.500 the “ultimate muscle car.” The Shelby G.T.500CR-900S model starts with a legend, and injects it with modern supercar technology: a 770 horsepower supercharged engine, advanced multi-link race car inspired suspension, an opulent interior and modern turn-key reliability. It’s the newest car to come from Classic Recreations and it’s a monster.

Car and Driver has just published their annual “Lightning Lap” competition, and this year the 2012 Ford Mustang Boss Laguna Seca was among the contenders. Needless to say, the Boss 302 did extremely well with a lap time of 3:02.8, finishing first in its class (cars priced from $30,000 to $59,999) and easily beating out the Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 (3:09.4), the Dodge Charger SRT8 (3:10.1), the BMW 335is (3:13.8), the Volkswagen Golf R (3:14.0) and the Mini Cooper JCW Coupe (3:18.4). The Boss 302 finished fourth overall in the competition, only losing out to the Porsche Panamera Turbo S, the Nissan GT-R and the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.

Here’s what Car and Driver had to say about the 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca:

Car and Driver has just published their annual “Lightning Lap” competition, and this year the 2012 Ford Mustang Boss Laguna Seca was among the contenders. Needless to say, the Boss 302 did extremely well with a lap time of 3:02.8, finishing first in its class (cars priced from $30,000 to $59,999) and easily beating out the Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 (3:09.4), the Dodge Charger SRT8 (3:10.1), the BMW 335is (3:13.8), the Volkswagen Golf R (3:14.0) and the Mini Cooper JCW Coupe (3:18.4). The Boss 302 finished fourth overall in the competition, only losing out to the Porsche Panamera Turbo S, the Nissan GT-R and the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.

Here’s what Car and Driver had to say about the 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca:

The winner of the biggest sweepstakes prize ever in Hagerty Fantasy Bid history – a one-of-a-kind Ford Racing Champions Shelby GT500 Special Edition Mustang – was announced today after the last of the week’s 28 Fantasy Bid cars went over the block at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction. The lucky winner is Chris Cherryholmes of Tucson, Arizona, which is about 100 miles from the Scottsdale auction site, whose user name in the Fantasy Bidding was “Papcholmes.”

The ecstatic Cherryholmes, who calls himself a huge SPEED fan and regular Fantasy Bidder, had to call his wife to the phone when he received the call from SPEED to make sure nobody was playing a trick on him.

The fact that Alice Cooper owned this Mustang doesn’t really do anything for us, but we can really appreciate the fact that it’s a very clean 1965 Fastback. Just under 36,000 miles are on the odometer and was used by the rock star to occasionally go to dinner or to the golf course. In the end, the $51,700 price tag (after auction fees) is a pretty decent bargain for such a clean, low mileage Mustang. Plus, the new owners gets a set of golf clubs and a signed guitar.

Summary: This is a special opportunity to own Alice Cooper’s Mustang with only 35,915 original miles. A great golf course car. The trunk fits Alice’s golf clubs well.

Last week we told you about this unique Shelby GT500 prototype that would be going up for auction. The car was used as a test vehicle to develop the 2013 Shelby GT500 and was driven at tracks like Sebring International Raceway and Ford’s Arizona proving grounds. Ford decided to put the car up for auction tonight at Barrett-Jackson, and generously donated the $300,000 to charity – the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. As a bonus, the new owner also has the rights to purchase the very first production 2013 Shelby GT500.

Summary: A special 2013 Ford Shelby GT500. All proceeds to benefit JDRF. Will be sold at approximately 8:30PM Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012.

This 1967 Fastback is likely the nicest restomod Mustangs here at Barrett-Jackson. Under the hood is a supercharged Shelby 428ci V8 with 763 horsepower mated to a 5-speed transmission. All of the body panels have been fabricated out of steel, and the interior is finished in custom leather. The car has just 95 miles since it was built and is in perfect condition? The price? More than a 1/4 of a million dollars.

Summary: Professionally built with numerous body modifications, all done in steel. Powered by a supercharged 763hp V8 with a 5-speed transmission, custom leather interior, side exhaust and 4-wheel Wilwood disc brakes. From the Jimmy Richardson Collection.

This is the second 1970 Mustang Boss 429 up for auction at Barrett-Jackson this weekend, with the first being a pristine Grabber Blue example. This car is just as nice, and its $220,000 price tag is evidence of that. The car has been professionally restored and is numbers-matching with all of its original parts.

Summary: Professionally restored with original parts with all numbers matching, dash plate, engine and transmission are correct. KK#2535 Grabber Green and very rare fuel tank vapor emissions system.

This 1965 Shelby GT350 might technically not be one of the nicest Mustangs at Barrett-Jackson this year, but it might just be the most interesting. The car was recently found sitting dormant in a barn with just 44,000 miles and still contains all of its original parts including the sheet metal and glass. The current owner has refreshed it somewhat to make it drivable, and we hope the next owner keeps it this way as well.

Apparently there were several others at Barrett-Jackson (with considerable more money) who were also very intrigued by the car, as it reached a final bid of $350,000, making the final selling price $385,000.

Back in 2010 a matching pair of Boss 302 Mustangs were given way to one lucky winner, with proceeds from the raffle donated to benefit the Healing Heroes Network. The current owner of the cars has decided to put them up for auction, though, giving someone else the chance to own the matching Mustangs. The 1969 model is one of 46 built with its options and features a restored engine, 4-speed transmission and Calypso Coral paint. The 2012 model is a one-of-one Patriot Edition Boss 302 and features the same Calypso Coral paint with painted black graphics, rear window louvers and unique graphics. The two were sold as a pair, with a final selling price of $203,500.

1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Details: Here is your chance to own a pair of multi-generational factory-produced BOSS 302 Ford Mustangs. Up for auction is this pair, an original restored 1969 BOSS 302 autographed inside and out by Trans-Am Racing legend Rufus “Parnelli” Jones and the Serial #1/1 “Patriot Edition” 2012 BOSS 302, a unique BOSS built by the Ford Motor Company specifically to match this ’69 BOSS. One of 46 built with its options, the 1969 BOSS 302 features a beautifully restored and fully operational 302cid V8 engine, Calypso Coral paint finish, 4-speed manual transmission, 3.91 rear axle, hood-mounted tachometer and aggressive BOSS styling such as the Trans-Am inspired rear window “sport slats”, quad headlights and “C” body striping. This car was fully restored before it was selected for the sweepstakes. The BOSS was then thoroughly inspected by Mustang Club of America judges for authenticity verification and then again reviewed by Dennis Mondrach, restoration licensing and performance parts manager for Ford. Then, at the 2010 SEMA show, the car was unveiled at the Ford booth and autographed on the “C” stripes and dashboard by Parnelli Jones, Indy500 and Trans-Am racing legend. The ’69 BOSS then sat on display at the Ford Motor Company World Headquarters in Dearborn, Mich. The car comes complete with its original 1969 rear dealer badge, original bill of sale showing matching chassis and engine numbers and has Marti Report.