ECU Chips
For those who are looking for an upgrade that’s as inexpensive as possible but still provides noticeable improvements, Mustang performance chips are the way to go. These chips are directly installable and can be inserted in under an hour, even with a novice at the helm. For under a hundred dollars, you can purchase and install the chip, as you won’t need to worry about professional installation for this simple-to-install piece. And if you don’t care about the time expense or the monetary cost, you will care about the performance results. With up to 60 extra horsepower possible using a chip, as well as enhanced fuel economy and a more rapid 0-60 acceleration time, you simply need to spend less than you would to replace your mp3 player. Just remember: Mustang performance chips are only installable on cars equipped with air intake sensors, which didn’t gain prominence until the early-to-mid 1980s. If you own a Mustang from before that time, the options below will be better suited to your vehicle’s performance needs.

Supercharger and Turbocharger Kits
A Mustang turbocharger or supercharger can bring your vehicle greater speed, power, and efficiency, just as with a chip, but it’s going to cost you significantly more. For a few thousand dollars, you can get a turbocharger capable of boosting your car’s horsepower by up to 400 horsepower, though that cost doesn’t include the need for any professional installation help should you require it. Superchargers will be less expensive, but also less powerful. Still, if money is no object, these performance gains are tremendous, and both types of equipment can actually be paired with performance chips for even greater results.

Alternatives
If ECU chips and turbo kits aren’t the answers you were looking for, there are other upgrade types to consider as well. Air dams and spoilers can improve your Mustang’s aerodynamics and reduce wind resistance, while even something as simple as properly inflated tires can reduce unnecessary fuel waste. Whether you decide to install lighter fiberglass body parts or simply buy a more powerful engine, you can always modify your vehicle’s performance capabilities to your specific driving needs.

December 3, 2010, Lenexa, KS:

The new Cog Race Kit features a rugged billet aluminum bracket and tensioner pulley, cog crank pulley and is designed around a proven, 50 mm dedicated cog drive belt. The bracket can mount a wide range of ProCharger supercharger models, including the F-1D, F-1, F-1A, F-1C and F-1R, which carry HP ratings of 1,000 to 1,300 HP. The Cog Race Kit also features a large, front-mounted air-to-air intercooler and a legendary ProCharger race bypass valve.

It’s not too often original Shelby GT500′s come up for auction in Australia but that is just what happened in October at the Shannons Motorclassica Collector Vehicle Auction in Melbourne. The car in question was 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 in Nightmist Blue with White Le Mans stripes and Black Deluxe interior.

The car is well documented and registered with the Shelby American Registry and has a build number 00500, and was delivered through Hi – Performance Motors Inc California to a Mr John Marshall, who leased the car from the 20th of March, 1967.

The Mustang was converted to Right hand drive after arriving in Australia early in its life circa 1969 and from there went on to a small number of owners until it landed with the present owner who acquired the car in November 2006 and undertook further improvements to improve the quality and drivability of the car, which included a correct date coded 428 Big Block engine, featuring twin 4 barrel carburettors, correct distributor, new alternator and new shock absorbers with alloy Cobra Le Mans valve covers and Air cleaner.

The car sold at auction for a tidy $AUD195,000 which equates to about $US187,000. Check out the Shannons site for more info on the car.

[Shannons]

Take a really good look at these photos. Yes, it is a Ford Mustang station wagon and doesn’t look quite good. This is not a factory wagon as Ford never produced any and so many custom builders produced their own including this example from eBay

Jalopnik.com explains. “The story goes that in 1966 Italian coach builder Intermeccanica built a Mustang station wagon for advertiser Barney Clark and designer Bob Cumberford which showed up in many car magazines of the day. Supposedly Ford had a Mustang wagon in design stages around the same time but scrapped the program shortly after the Intermeccania cars appeared. The Intermeccania cars are often mistaken for a factory concept.”

This example is not an Intermeccania car but does look quite good and went for $11,100. The car’s particulars include: 302 Engine with approximately 9000 miles, Edelbrock 4 Barrel Carburetor, Edelbrock Torker 302 Intake Manifold, Street TRack Cam, Electronic Ignition, Super Duty 4 Row Radiator and a Cobra Dress-Up Kit.

The reserve was not met on the auction so it’s unsure if the car has found a new home but one thing is for sure this unique custom Mustang will turn heads on any camping trip away. Check out ebay for more pictures.

[eBay]

Earlier this month the Classic Recreations team ventured to the 2010 SEMA show in Las Vegas to make good on an announcement owner Jason Engel made a year before at the same event. In 2009 Jason announced plans to work with Shelby American on the first series of officially licensed 1967 Shelby Mustang continuation cars. This year however both Ford Motor Company and Cobra Electronics invited Classic Recreations to display cars in their respective booths. The car from the Ford display was also called out as an “Ultimate Street Car” when Optima batteries asked Engel to participate in the annual Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational (OUSCI) track shootout and television show at Spring Mountain Raceway in Pahrump, Nevada, the Saturday after SEMA.

“Having two customer cars in major booths at the SEMA Show was really a coming out party for the G.T.500CR,” Engel said. “We are in full production and have shipped Shelbys all over the world, but having vehicles in the Ford and Cobra booths, then being chosen to take part in the OUSCI was a great thrill for us. Everyone knows we can build a beautiful car – this was our chance to show that we also build a fast car with the performance and reliability of a modern supercar. I think we proved that at Spring Mountain Raceway and we were truly honored that the crew at Optima chose us out of thousands of vehicles on display at SEMA.”

Both cars on display at SEMA were 545 HP performance models, one finished in classic wimbledon white and guards blue, the other featuring a two-tone gloss and matte black paintjob. Both cars are powered by fuel injected, naturally aspirated, hand-built 427 cubic inch engines and feature Tremec overdrive transmission, modern coil-over suspension with rack-and-pinion steering, modern vented disc brakes, a custom handcrafted interior featuring Carroll Shelby signature seats, custom gauges, brushed aluminum trim, and five-point harnesses.

On the Saturday after SEMA closed, the white Shelby competed at the OUSCI in four competitions: autocross, road course, speed stop and engineering. As one of only three Fords in a field of 60 top-tier supercars, the G.T.500CR stood out and made an impression. When the tire smoke cleared, the Shelby finished in the top 20 on the road course.

“The G.T.500CR is meant to be driven,” says Engel. “Although the overall look is vintage Shelby, essentially this is modern sports car technology wrapped in vintage Shelby GT500 sheet metal. We had a blast watching the car do what it was built to do. Classic Recreations offers additional options on all our builds and next year we’re bringing out one of our supercharged, 780 hp “Venom” models with four-link rear suspension and we’ll really show them what we can do.”

The entire Optima event, from the pre-SEMA builds to the awards ceremony, was shot for a TV show, which will air in early 2011 on a US national cable network. For full event results, more information on the OUSCI results, TV show, participants, official rules and more, visit http://www.optimainvitational.com/.

Check out the video below from the OUSCI event. That Wimbledon White car looks amazing. I must say White on these cars looks fantastic.

PRESS RELEASE:

2011 FORD SHELBY GT500 GOES LIGHTWEIGHT WITH ALUMINUM ENGINE, OFFERS ULTIMATE IN HANDLING * With 550 horsepower and 510 ft.-lb. of torque, Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT) delivers the new Shelby GT500® with a 10 horsepower increase; an all-new 5.4-liter all-aluminum engine is 102 pounds lighter than the previous cast-iron engine and uses Ford-patented plasma-coating technology * For 2011, Shelby GT500 offers EPA-projected improved fuel economy in city and highway from 2010, eliminating the gas guzzler tax * The addition of Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS), a new optional SVT Performance Package, enhanced convertible rigidity and a lowered ride height contribute to improved driving dynamics and handling DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 8, 2010 – Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT) engineers are taking high performance to a new level with the 2011 Ford Shelby GT500, resulting in a car that has an all-new aluminum-block engine, even better driving dynamics and handling, improved fuel economy and more horsepower than ever. “The SVT team continues to push the performance standards of the Shelby to even higher levels and better refinement,” said Jost Capito, director of global performance vehicles and motorsports business development. “All the changes we made reflect a desire for even better handling and outstanding driving dynamics – from weight savings to improved balance.” Weight savings, new technology headline all-new aluminum engine The 2011 Shelby GT500 is powered by an all-new aluminum-block 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 engine, which produces 550 horsepower and 510 ft.-lb. of torque, a 10 horsepower increase versus the 2010 model. The engine also is 102 pounds lighter than its predecessor, delivering a better power-to-weight ratio, improved fuel economy, acceleration, handling and steering precision.“Cutting weight to improve performance is a tradition among hot rodders,” said Carroll Shelby, founder of Shelby American. “It might not be as sexy as adding more horsepower or bigger brakes, but shaving pounds off of a car is the single smartest move you can make.” The new engine uses state-of-the-art Plasma Transferred Wire Arc (PTWA) liner coating, a process that applies a 150-micron composite coating that contains nanoparticles on the internal surfaces of engine cylinder bores, replacing cast-iron liners typically used in aluminum engine blocks. The Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation honored the inventors of the Ford-patented PTWA technology with the 2009 National Inventor of the Year Award. This is the first Ford application of the technology, and it offers improved overall performance and durability, along with functional benefits of reduced friction between piston rings and cylinder bores, improved heat transfer due to increased surface contact area and a weight savings of 8.5 pounds compared to a typical steel-sleeved aluminum block. A mechanical roughening process provides higher material adhesion for the spray coating. The PTWA process uses air and electricity to create a plasma jet of 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which melts a steel wire that is fed into a rotating spray gun. Using atomized air, the melted steel wire is blown into a specially machined surface of the aluminum-block engine cylinder bore. In the process of melting and applying the metal to the surface, the steel wire oxidizes, creating a composite coating consisting of both iron and iron oxide. “Ford’s Global Research and Advanced Engineering looks to all industries for advanced technologies – and this comes from aerospace. It’s the same technology you would find on aircraft engines,” said Glenn Jorgensen, SVT powertrain team leader. “We’ve invented a coating as a replacement for cast iron that delivers improvements in power and performance and fuel economy.”The new engine also has its roots in the iconic Ford GT. The new 5.4-liter engine is an evolution of the GT engine, with improved block structure through the use of a unique bulkhead chilled process and six-bolt billet main bearing caps. This new advanced engine will exceed Ford GT performance with its traditional supercharger technology. “The Ford GT has solidified itself as one of the world’s most coveted supercars. To make improvements to the engine from this supercar and make it available in a Mustang is impressive,” said Kerry Baldori, SVT global performance vehicle chief functional engineer. “The aluminum-block engine is robust and strong enough to produce the performance numbers and durability our customers demand.” Increased power and increased fuel economy The 2011 Shelby GT500 combines power and fuel economy into one impressive package. This 2011 Shelby GT500 will be the first modern Shelby without the gas guzzler tax, thanks to the EPA-projected 23 mpg highway and 15 mpg city it will deliver. This is up from 22 mpg highway and 14 mpg city for the 2010 model. The 5.4-liter V-8 achieves 80 percent of its torque between 1,750 and 6,250 rpm, giving the car a higher level of performance feel. A larger two-row intercooler for the supercharger system has 40 percent more cooling capacity, helping to make power more consistent in higher ambient conditions. Fuel economy gains come from the new 102-pound-lighter aluminum-block engine, EPAS and detailed aerodynamic changes to the underside of the vehicle. Dramatic performance upgrades New for 2011 is an SVT Performance Package for enthusiasts who want even more performance out of their Shelby GT500 for racetrack-ready driving dynamics. Complete with all-new Goodyear Eagle® F1 SuperCar G: 2 tires that SVT engineers worked directly with Goodyear to develop, the car is ready to race. The tires offer superb dry traction and precise handling, complete with a race-inspired high-performance tread compound. The optional package also offers unique styling, lighter wheels, a higher rear axle ratio and stiffer springs, and it is available on both the convertible and coupe. Data show the 2011 coupe with the SVT Performance Package is 3.0 seconds faster per lap than the 2010 Shelby GT500 on a 2.3-mile test track. Carried over from 2010, the 2011 Shelby GT500 features AdvanceTrac®, Ford’s stability control system with several options for performance. Calibration of the system for the 2011 Shelby has been uniquely tailored to each vehicle configuration (base or optional) to optimize the performance. SVT has worked very hard to make EPAS better than the outgoing hydraulic steering system. The addition of EPAS makes for a dramatic contribution to Shelby GT500 driving dynamics, with improved torque build-up and road feel that delivers quicker and more precise steering, increased effort on the racetrack or winding roads, and reduced effort in low-speed parking maneuvers. Slotted brake dust shields were added to improve brake cooling and handling, and a new pedal box improves clutch and pedal efforts even more. A lowered ride height of 11 millimeters in front and 8 millimeters at the rear provides a sportier attitude and improved handling. More engine sound, less road noise For 2011, Shelby GT500 also benefits from NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) improvements. Overall road noise is reduced by 20 percent versus the 2010 Shelby. Actions undertaken to achieve this improvement include additional sound-deadening material on either side of the instrument panel, additional sound absorption behind interior trim panels, and a rear wheel arch liner to reduce noise on gravel or wet surfaces – all resulting in the driver hearing more exhaust and engine sound and less road and air noise. The Shelby GT500 convertible model features enhanced structural rigidity, with lateral stiffness improved by 12 percent versus the 2010 model. The V-brace has been stiffened by adding gussets. The secondary crossmember also has been stiffened, while a front Z-brace has been added, connecting primary and secondary crossmembers. A-pillar stiffening foam has been added to increase rigidity. The structural improvements to the convertible gave SVT the opportunity to be more sport-oriented in the chassis tuning, without trading comfort. Along with the chassis and structural improvements, the 2011 model also will get standard 19-inch aluminum wheels. “One of the biggest changes for this Shelby is that the convertible acts and feels like a coupe,” said Jamal Hameedi, SVT chief nameplate engineer. “Before, they had a very different character, and the convertible is taking a big step in the sportiness and handling precision area, without degrading the ride.” GT500 gets a new exhaust for 2011, roaring with an even more aggressive sound than the 2010 model. The 2.75-inch exhaust with all-new tuning helped to deliver the additional 10 horsepower. Added convenience content New for 2011 is an optional glass roof, providing customers with a less expensive option than a convertible and without compromising the coupe’s versatility, headroom or climate-controlled environment. The specially formulated glass also protects interior fabric material from solar radiation deterioration and discoloration by reducing solar light transmittance. To help improve acoustics and interior quietness, the glass features a layer of vinyl that reduces noise, vibration and harshness. Other new convenience technologies include: * Standard HID (high-intensity discharge) headlamps * MyKey™ programmable vehicle key * Integrated spotter mirror * Fold-down rear headrests

When we got our new 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 project car (full story) we were sorely disappointed in the car's shifter feel.  It was by far the worst stock shifter we had ever used on a Mustang.  Each shift drained the enjoyment normally found when driving a new car.  Something had to be done quickly.

Unsure of whether or not it would fit our 2011 we went ahead and ordered Shelby's 6-Speed Shifter.  (Fortunately this unit will fit on a 2011, despite being labeled at the time of publication of this article with an application from 2007-2010.)

For the autmotive enthusiast the closest thing to heaven can be found amidst the glittering lights and spectacle that is the Speciadlty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) Show  in Las Vegas. Each year the world's largest collection of automotive aftermarket suppliers gathers to display their offerings. Gleaming under the lights of the Las Vegas convention center you will find displays of every imaginable bolt-on part, tool, or accessory you can imagine.

It is said that if you walk up and down every aisle of the show floor you will cover 26 miles!  Seeing everything at the SEMA show is virtually impossible, but this week we're going to do our best to bring you the hottest products we find.  So stay with us and follow along as we tour the show floor this week.  We'll do our best to bring you a glimpse of the spectacle that is the 2010 SEMA show!

It seems golfer Aaron Baddeley is a Mustang fan and he now has his own custom restomod, complete with his nickname in the paint to prove it.

Aaron’s dad Ron Baddeley project managed the resto with help from the team at Slamed Creations, taking inspiration from the movie, Gone in Sixty Seconds, to build a one-of-a-kind Mustang.

The team unveiled the car at the opening of Croydon Golf Courses’ back 9 as a surprise to all in attendance.

The car was soured in Australia and custom build from ground up. The car takes it’s stylings from Eleanor but is very unique and different, especially with the interior and custom dash.

Check out the VIDEO HERE. I wish my dad would build me a car as a gift!