Which Ford Mustang is most popular with thieves? [w/video]
Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Government/Legal, Ford
We'd guess a thief's favorite Ford Mustang is whichever one he happens to be hooning around in - ahead of either illegally selling it, stripping it for parts or falsifying its VIN to pass it off as a legit car. But the 'Stang that's attracted the most attention from this scourge of society is none other than the 2000 Mustang.
While we're not sure what it is about the venerable Ford pony car in that model year that's caused it to rise to the top of the inaugural National Insurance Crime Bureau "Hot Wheels Classics" report on Mustangs, we are finding the study to be compelling reading. Who knew that 411,155 Mustangs have been stolen since 1981? The report is similar to NICB's annual report on the most stolen cars, but focused on just Mustang thefts, with data dating all the way back to 1964. Apparently NICB got the idea to do a Mustang-centric report after being asked for data from MustangEvolution last year.
Even more interesting than the report, however, is that NICB has also posted a six-minute documentary about how it helped reunite a Shelby GT350 with its rightful owner some 25 years after the car had been stolen. While not exactly part of the report, the video is a pretty cool showpiece for the nonprofit group that investigates car theft and insurance fraud.
To read the full press release and check out the NICB's video, click past the jump.
Continue reading Which Ford Mustang is most popular with thieves? [w/video]
Which Ford Mustang is most popular with thieves? [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsHagerty predicts this year’s future classics
Filed under: Car Buying, Classics, Etc., Audi, Buick, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Jeep, Nissan, Porsche, Volkswagen
The world would be considerably less entertaining if we could all predict the future. Even so, the classic car gurus at Hagerty Insurance have cast a few chicken bones in an attempt to figure out which vehicles produced today might eventually turn collectible.
The company restricted entrants to hardware with a price tag of less than $100,000, so the list isn't populated with too many wild exotics. While vehicles like the Nissan GT-R Black Edition, Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca Edition, Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and Porsche 911 are low-hanging fruit, the list also featured a few surprises.
For starters, it begins with none other than the mighty Buick Regal GS. Hagerty says the vehicle is a win because it's the first Buick with a manual transmission since the fall of the Holy Roman Empire. The Fiat 500 Abarth also makes an appearance alongside an even hotter hatch, the Volkswagen Golf R. Of course, we're simply thrilled to see the sinister Audi TT RS make a showing. Hit the jump for the full list or view each vehicle in our gallery above.
Continue reading Hagerty predicts this year's future classics
Hagerty predicts this year's future classics originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsBarrett-Jackson 2012: $300,000 takes home 2013 Shelby GT500 prototype [w/video]
This beaten and battered 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 prototype is proof that you can buy just about any type of vehicle at Barrett-Jackson. The car was used as an SVT test car to develop the 2013 Shelby GT500, and was piloted at race tracks like Sebring Raceway and at Ford's Arizona proving grounds. Even Carroll Shelby himself had a stint in the car to test its merits.
From the look of it, the GT500 prototype is still in testing condition. There is plenty of dirt and grime still on the front of the car, and various wiring and diagnostic equipment are still inside the vehicle. Even so, the car is a piece of rolling history, and the bidding represented that. As an added bonus, the winner gets the opportunity to buy the first production 2013 GT500 from Ford.
The Shelby commanded $300,000 - all of which was generously donated by Ford to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. You can see our live photos of the car above or watch a video of its auction after the jump.
Continue reading Barrett-Jackson 2012: $300,000 takes home 2013 Shelby GT500 prototype [w/video]
Barrett-Jackson 2012: $300,000 takes home 2013 Shelby GT500 prototype [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 23:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsBarrett-Jackson 2012: Galpin Widebody Mustang nets $160,000 for charity
Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Ford
The time has come for the custom widebody Mustang from Galpin Auto Sports to find a new owner. Built by Galpin for industrial company SPX, this specially built Mustang features a hand-built body that widens the car by an incredible nine inches highlighted by PPG Candy Apple Red paint. Under the hood is a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 producing over 700 horsepower, and it has also been fitted with forged three-piece wheels, a custom suede interior, upgraded exhaust system and more.
Whether it was the look and sound of the car or whether bidders were simply feeling generous, this attention-grabbing pony car nabbed a final bid of $160,000, all of which will be donated to benefit the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. You can see our live photos above, or hit the jump to watch a video of the car being auctioned off in case you missed it on SPEED.
Continue reading Barrett-Jackson 2012: Galpin Widebody Mustang nets $160,000 for charity
Barrett-Jackson 2012: Galpin Widebody Mustang nets $160,000 for charity originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments2013 Shelby GT500 development car to be auctioned at Barrett-Jackson for charity
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Ford
For the last several years Ford has partnered with Barrett-Jackson to auction off some very special vehicles for charity. Past cars have included the first production examples of the Shelby GT500KR and Shelby GT as well as special one-offs like last year's Grabber Blue Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca, all of which have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
For 2012 Ford is once again auction off a Mustang for charity, but this year's car is a little different. Up for grabs will be a 2013 Shelby GT500 development car used by SVT to hone the production 'Stang. This prototype was run extensively at Sebring and the high speed oval at Ford's Arizona proving grounds and was even driven by Carroll Shelby himself during the development process. The car has some unique features including a full roll cage and Recaro racing seats, but it will likely remain a museum piece as it can't be registered for road use.
You can read more about this unique 2013 Shelby GT500 going up for auction in the press release after the jump.
Continue reading 2013 Shelby GT500 development car to be auctioned at Barrett-Jackson for charity
2013 Shelby GT500 development car to be auctioned at Barrett-Jackson for charity originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments2012 Ford Mustang V6
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Ford, New Car Reviews
Cylinder-Envy No More
My first car was a used 1981 Ford Mustang. It was a complete piece of garbage, but it was the best I could do with $900 worth of hard-earned busboy tips. It only had one side mirror, the power steering fluid had to be filled every two weeks and there was a nail in the dashboard. I would have removed that last bit of nonstandard hardware, but whenever the Brown Bomber didn't want to turn over, touching the nail for luck seemed to work. But compared to my friends' cars, mine at least looked the fastest. Looks don't win at the stoplight, though, and my rust-colored 'Stang featured the double whammy of a 109-horsepower 2.8-liter V6 and an automatic transmission.
To say that my Mustang's powertrain was a disappointment could be the understatement of the century, but I wasn't the only V6-powered Mustang owner suffering from horsepower humiliation. It would be another 30 years before Ford would offer a V6-powered Mustang with anything more than mule muscle, but that's where we are today. The 2012 Mustang boasts a legit 305 horsepower, or more punch than the 4.6-liter V8 under the hood of the 2009 Mustang GT. I have no doubt that the 2012 Mustang is vastly superior to my 1981 shame machine, but does that 305 horsepower and a vastly improved rear-wheel-drive chassis make this Mustang one of America's great performance bargains? Hit the jump to find out.
Continue reading 2012 Ford Mustang V6
2012 Ford Mustang V6 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsMotorcycle vs. Car Drift Battle 2 debuts, someone called the cops
Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Ford, Motorcycle
We all know sideways is slow. Kicking the tail out and sending the rear tires blazing may take a heaping helping of skill, but it won't win you any races. That doesn't make it any less awesome, however.
Icon has gone through the trouble of crafting yet another drift battle between motorcycle and car, and this time, two specially built Triumph Speed Triple bikes throw down against a 550-horsepower Ford Mustang Cobra piloted by a fictional officer of the law. The trio commence tearing through the rolling hills of mythical High Plains County before facing off.
Admittedly, the drift scene isn't typically our bag of tricks, but this is one of the more entertaining videos we've seen in a good while. Between the bark of the FoMoCo V8 and the wail of the big-bore Triumph Triples, there's enough audio glory on hand to keep us up at night. Throw in some excellent tunes and better videography, and you've got us hooked. Watch the video all the way through to the end for some hair-raising outtakes, including at least one roll over. Hit the jump to check it out.
Continue reading Motorcycle vs. Car Drift Battle 2 debuts, someone called the cops
Motorcycle vs. Car Drift Battle 2 debuts, someone called the cops originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsGotta Have It Green 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 snapped getting comfy in Detroit [w/poll]
Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Ford, Design/Style
You've heard us gush about the Ford Mustang Boss 302 before, calling this 444-horsepower coupe "The pony car's best ambassador." Sadly, we have yet to drive the updated 2013 model, which includes, among other things, a reworked front fascia, improved front-end cooling, a more assertive front splitter and new paint and graphics options.
Among those new color choices is Gotta Have It Green, which reminds us somewhat of Porsche Emerald Green popularized on 911 models in the 1970s, albeit a bit flatter. Photographed here being jockeyed into place at Ford's Detroit Auto Show stand this morning, this is actually the second look we're giving you at Gotta Have It, though these photos are markedly clearer (and more numerous) than the ones we showed you back in November. We like the new reflective 'hockey stick' side graphic that replaces the boomerang U-shaped treatment of the 2012 model, but if we're being honest, we're on the fence about the pastel-like paint finish.
If you don't (like) Gotta Have It, there's also a new Impact Blue paint choice, along with School Bus Yellow and last year's Black, Ingot Silver, Race Red and Performance White. Unfortunately, we didn't spy either of the other new colors on Ford's Cobo Hall show stand while we were there for a preview this morning, but they could still make the scene before press days get underway next week.
Speaking of high-performance Mustang models, Autoblog has learned that rumors of the 2013 Shelby GT500 Convertible debuting in Motown are 100-percent false (as if to reinforce that fact, we spotted a 2012 model on a display stand). The most-powerful 'Stang droptop will debut this auto show season, though Ford wouldn't officially say at which show (we're thinking Chicago Auto Show).
So, now that you have a better look at Gotta Have It Green, does it live up to its name? Take our second-chance poll below and let us know what you think in Comments.
Gotta Have It Green 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 snapped getting comfy in Detroit [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible caught enjoying the weather ahead of Detroit reveal?
Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Spy Photos, Convertible, Performance, Ford
Detroit in January isn't exactly the proper place to go topless in a 650-horsepower tire smoker, but that doesn't mean rumors of the 2013 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 Convertible's impending debut at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show aren't accurate. And these spy shots prove that the car is very much ready for its big unveiling.
We're expecting the soft-top Shelby to pack the same 5.8-liter supercharged engine as its hard-topped sibling, which means the asphalt will be punished with those aforementioned 650 ponies along with 600 pound-feet of torque. For the coupe, that power equals a top speed of over 200 miles per hour.
So, here's the big question: Will the 2013 GT500 Convertible be the least expensive way to a wind-in-your-hair blast at supercar speeds? While we all ponder that question, let's all take a gander at the spy photos in the gallery above. And let's pray to the god of sunshine that the GT500 Convertible does indeed drop its top in the snowy climes of Detroit in January.
2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible caught enjoying the weather ahead of Detroit reveal? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible to debut in Detroit
Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Convertible, Performance, Ford
At the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, Ford officially put all other muscle cars - and even some supercars - on notice. The 2013 Shelby GT500 made its public debut, and while it doesn't look much different than the models that came before it, the huge change for 2013 lies under the hood: an all-new 5.8-liter supercharged V8 capable of sending 650 horsepower to the coupe's rear wheels.
Since the modern GT500's debut in 2007, Ford has always offered a convertible variant, and that isn't expected to change with this new 2013 model, especially since the rival Camaro ZL1 will be offered in both hardtop and droptop forms. According to TopSpeed.com, the GT500 Convertible will debut at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show in just a few weeks, packing the same 650-hp powertrain and - at least, we hope - some added chassis tweaks for structural rigidity. We can't even imagine trying to handle 650 supercharged horses through a willy-nilly rear end.
The only thing that isn't expected to carry over from the coupe is the GT500's 200-plus-mile-per-hour top speed. It may be possible to achieve this with the soft top in place, but we think the 200 Club will exclusively be reserved for the coupe and its sleeker shape.
Assuming the GT500 Convertible shows its face in Detroit, we'll have the full details in just two weeks.
2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible to debut in Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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