Basil Green made only about 500 of these V8-engines Capris from 1970 through 1973.
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Monday, December 22, 2014
Listen To Ford's Flat-Plane Crank V8 Roar In The 2016 Shelby GT350
With more than 500 hp deriving from a 5.2-liter flat-plane crank V-8, Ford promises the new GT350 will be the best performing Mustang ever made. And with Dodge having unleashed the Challenger Hellcat and Chevy the Camaro Z/28, the GT350 needs to deliver.
In reality the GT350 will be
more refined than the Hellcat, and yet not as track-focused as the Z/28.
It may line up closer in numbers to that of the Camaro ZL1. While we
won't know for a while how well the GT350 drives, Ford has already
published a video showcasing how the car sounds: the results, as you can
hear in the video above, are pretty darn impressive.
Cross plane crank vs. flat plane crank
In a V-8 with a flat-plane
crankshaft, a pair of pistons raise and lower in concert, like two
four-cylinder engine banks bolted together. It’s called a flat plane
because the connecting rods of the pistons lie 180 degrees from each
other, rather than being offset 90 degrees as in a cross-plane.
Flat-plane cranks fell out of favor because the firing order creates harsh vibrations that have to be dulled with special weights or more expensive engine parts. Yet a flat-plane V-8 can rev higher and produce more power pound-for-pound, which is why it’s usually chosen for racing machines and modern supercars; every Ferrari V-8 is a flat-plane design.
Flat-plane cranks fell out of favor because the firing order creates harsh vibrations that have to be dulled with special weights or more expensive engine parts. Yet a flat-plane V-8 can rev higher and produce more power pound-for-pound, which is why it’s usually chosen for racing machines and modern supercars; every Ferrari V-8 is a flat-plane design.
With the 2015 Mustang GT's
engine note proving to be considerably quieter than previous GT's, and
the Ecoboost four-banger using BMW-style trickery to pump a more
evocative soundtrack through the speakers, the GT350 appears to be the
antidote we've been waiting for. Detroit never sounded so good.
Source: autos.yahoo.com
2016 Ford Explorer
New Engine, New Model, New Logo...
LOS
ANGELES — Ford on Tuesday showed off an update of its Explorer SUV —
new engine, new high-price deluxe model and the first Ford oval logo
that isn't blue.
The 2016 Explorer — displayed at a preview event for the auto show here this week and going on sale next summer — will be topped by a new Platinum version. It will be priced upwards of $50,000 — where no version of the renowned utility vehicle has gone before.
It's aimed at buyers who want something with more features and a higher-status persona than the Limited and Sport models currently atop the Explorer family.
Other models' base prices will be similar to today's, Ford said, but won't be announced until close to the on-sale date.
Explorer once was the best-selling SUV in the U.S., but — reflecting a wider trend — it has slipped behind smaller SUV's, such as Honda CR-V, which now is the best-seller, as well as Toyota RAV4 and Chevrolet's Equinox, an aging but well-equipped model. And, of course, Ford's own Escape.
Still, Ford sells about 200,000 Explorers a year, a considerable number.
Jim
Farley, Ford executive vice president who's been overseeing products in
the U.S and soon is heading for Europe to do the same there, said
Explorer is a key model because it is a touchstone for all other Ford
SUV's. "Explorer is the utility DNA for all Ford utilities," he said at
the preview.
And, he noted, it's been worth quite a bit of money to Ford since the first version — primitive by today's standards but shockingly refined at the time — hit the market in 1990 as a 1991 model. Ford's sold 7 million since then.
It was one of the first four-door, family-oriented SUV's at a time people were weary of minivans and the boring image they projected. The then-new breed of gentrified SUV's were roomy enough for families and had a hipper, adventuresome image. Sales zoomed.
The new Platinum model is for "box-checkers," Ford said — buyers who want everything, so check all the options boxes on the order form.
It comes with a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6, 20-inch-diameter wheels, satin chrome detailing, unique grille and LED headlights, dual power moonroof and the satin-finish Ford oval logo.
The last is no big deal outside the company, but it's a huge move for Ford. No other company vehicle has worn anything except the blue Ford oval logo. It's meant to signal special premium status for the new Platinum.
Big powertrain news is that the 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder that's been so well-received in the redesigned 2015 Mustang replaces the current Explorer's 2-liter four-cylinder as the gas mileage leader. The 2.3-liter will be offered with all-wheel drive, which wasn't available with on the smaller four.
Other highlights:
•Smart charging system via USB plugs. The two receptacles will put as much power into your phone, music player or other device as it can handle, as fast as it can accept it, Ford says.
•180-degree-view front camera, for a view of otherwise invisible traffic when creeping forward out of a sight-blocked space.
•Built-in washers for the front and rear cameras.
• An updated array of safety and driver-assistance systems, such as lane keeping and adaptive cruise control.
Source: usatoday.com
USA
TODAY's James R. Healey get an advanced look at the 2016 Ford Explorer
in advance of it's official worldwide unveiling at the Los Angeles Auto
Show. Video by Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY
The 2016 Explorer — displayed at a preview event for the auto show here this week and going on sale next summer — will be topped by a new Platinum version. It will be priced upwards of $50,000 — where no version of the renowned utility vehicle has gone before.
It's aimed at buyers who want something with more features and a higher-status persona than the Limited and Sport models currently atop the Explorer family.
Other models' base prices will be similar to today's, Ford said, but won't be announced until close to the on-sale date.
Explorer once was the best-selling SUV in the U.S., but — reflecting a wider trend — it has slipped behind smaller SUV's, such as Honda CR-V, which now is the best-seller, as well as Toyota RAV4 and Chevrolet's Equinox, an aging but well-equipped model. And, of course, Ford's own Escape.
Still, Ford sells about 200,000 Explorers a year, a considerable number.
And, he noted, it's been worth quite a bit of money to Ford since the first version — primitive by today's standards but shockingly refined at the time — hit the market in 1990 as a 1991 model. Ford's sold 7 million since then.
It was one of the first four-door, family-oriented SUV's at a time people were weary of minivans and the boring image they projected. The then-new breed of gentrified SUV's were roomy enough for families and had a hipper, adventuresome image. Sales zoomed.
The new Platinum model is for "box-checkers," Ford said — buyers who want everything, so check all the options boxes on the order form.
It comes with a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6, 20-inch-diameter wheels, satin chrome detailing, unique grille and LED headlights, dual power moonroof and the satin-finish Ford oval logo.
The last is no big deal outside the company, but it's a huge move for Ford. No other company vehicle has worn anything except the blue Ford oval logo. It's meant to signal special premium status for the new Platinum.
Big powertrain news is that the 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder that's been so well-received in the redesigned 2015 Mustang replaces the current Explorer's 2-liter four-cylinder as the gas mileage leader. The 2.3-liter will be offered with all-wheel drive, which wasn't available with on the smaller four.
Other highlights:
•Smart charging system via USB plugs. The two receptacles will put as much power into your phone, music player or other device as it can handle, as fast as it can accept it, Ford says.
•180-degree-view front camera, for a view of otherwise invisible traffic when creeping forward out of a sight-blocked space.
•Built-in washers for the front and rear cameras.
• An updated array of safety and driver-assistance systems, such as lane keeping and adaptive cruise control.
Source: usatoday.com
2014 Ford Taurus
We like—but don’t love—the Taurus. It comes with lots of comfort features, but interior space is surprisingly tight. Engine choices include the base 288-hp V-6 or an optional, turbocharged (“EcoBoost,” in Ford-speak) 240-hp four-cylinder that is overburdened by the Taurus’s weight. A 365-hp turbocharged V-6 powers the SHO, which also gets a firmer suspension and all-wheel drive. We might like the Taurus better if its mid-size sibling, the Fusion, wasn’t more impressive in nearly every respect.
- 22/32 mpg
- 7.4 sec
- 240 hp
- 110 mph
Click Here to review this post and view it's pictures.
Source: caranddriver.com
SHO 'Nuff
A Visual History of Ford’s Iconic Taurus SHO Supersedan
Born in an era when domestic front-wheel-drive family sedans were considered the antidote to fun, the Ford Taurus SHO was an odds-defying proposition from the start. Packing a five-speed manual and a Yamaha-engineered V-6 with glorious pipe-organ intake plumbing, the front-drive Taurus SHO answered a question that very few people had asked. But, boy, are we glad it happened. What follows is a brief history that serves as an explanation of why the nameplate means so much to so many.
Click Here to read this post and to view more pictures.
Source: caranddriver.com
Ford-For-All
These Are the 20 Best Ford Cars of All Time
The Ford Motor Company has been building cars since 1903. Through sheer longevity if nothing else, the carmaker is bound to have built some great ones over 111 years. They’ve actually built enough great cars that it’s tough to pare the list down to 20. Okay, not that tough; we’re not coal miners or forest-fire smoke jumpers. But it’s all a question of how you measure greatness. And, well, our final working criteria is wildly inconsistent, contradictory, and irrational. So here, and with apologies to the late, great Casey Kasem, is our countdown of the 20 Greatest Fords of All Time.
Click Here to read this post and view more pictures.
Source: caranddriver.com
2015 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost 4x4 SuperCrew
Ford's big aluminum gamble pays off.
Click Here to read this post at CarAndDriver and to view more pictures.
Source: caranddriver.com
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
1941 Ford Super Deluxe
This car is listed on Hemmings and is for sale. To read all about this complete restoration and view more pictures and contact information Click Here.
Source: Hemmings.com
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Ford Everest
Everest is on the move and catching attention from across the globe. Take a closer look:
Source: ford.com
A 1957 T-Bird Wagon
It's a photoshop Created from a Convertible! 1957 T Thunderbird.
Source: oldcars
Legendary Mustang-Engined South African Sleeper Heads To Auction
1970 Ford Capri Perana V8 to be offered by Silverstone Auct
The Ford Capri may have been just a blip on the radar in 1970s America — it was badged somewhat anonymously as a Capri and sold through Mercury here from 1970 till 1978 — but over in Europe, where it was built, it was a much bigger deal. The Cologne-built Ford Capri was the sportiest offering from the Ford Motor Co. in many world markets starting with the 1969 version, which introduced the bodystyle for which it would be best remembered. The quickest variants powered by the 2.8-liter Cologne V6 and the 3.0-liter Essex V6 were essentially muscle cars in family car package.Ford’s global reach assured that the Capri would be available in just about every market in some form, but it would be a country far from where the car was actually assembled that would see sales of the most powerful and exclusive version of this long hatchback coupe. South African tuner Basil Green would fit a 5.0-liter 302 Windsor V8 into the Capri’s long engine bay, giving birth to the Ford Capri Perana V8. One surviving example of this South African sleeper is headed to auction next month in the U.K.
Johannesburg-based Basil Green made a reputation for himself tuning European cars like the Austin Mini and the Ford Cortina before the word “tuning” came into use, and the debut of the 1969 Ford Capri provided a new canvas for his performance upgrades. The new chassis and the relatively generous size of the engine bay may have been designed for the V6 engine, but it was clear that an even larger powerplant could be adapted with some effort. That powerplant was the 5.0-liter Windsor V8 out of the Ford Mustang using a four-barrel Holley carburetor. Green’s versions used a Perana T4 Toploader manual gearbox. Green also modified the suspension in the Capris he sought to market, in addition to making a number of adjustments to the engines themselves that included alloy bellhousings, an alloy intake manifold, a strengthened driveshaft, and a large-capacity radiator. The result was a Capri that produced nearly 300 hp.
This particular example was purchased from inland South Africa recently, and is said to have received a nut and bolt restoration, including a bare-metal respray, that took place over the course of three years. The car is said to have had very little rust, though a number of body panels were replaced during the restoration, including the lower wings, rear quarter panels and driver’s side floor. The restoration also reportedly saw the replacement of a number of suspension components including the leaf springs, coilovers, and gas-adjustable shocks. The interior was also reportedly redone with a period basket-weave pattern on the upholstery. The Ford 302 V8 is claimed to have been rebuilt, receiving new pistons, rings, rod bolts and bearings, also benefitting from new Edelbrock carburetor fitted to a Boss 302 intake manifold.
Source: yourclassiccarnews.com
2015 Ford Focus ST: Tweaked For Your Pleasure
Do you want to know first hand what Ford has done to the 2015 Ford Focus St. Click Here to read the post in Car And Driver and to view their pictures.
Source: caranddriver.com
2015 Ford F-150: Cool Features, Functions, And Details
Read what Car And Driver have to say about the features, functions and details of the 2015 Ford F-150.
Click Here:
Source: caranddriver.com
2015 Ford F-150: Competitors Can't Hold A Magnet To The Latest F-Series
Read all about what Car and Driver have to say about the All-New 2015 F-Series and to view more photos.
Click Here:
Source: Caranddriver.com
Ford Bronco
Remember the Bronco? Ford sure does—it’s been studying a Bronco replacement for years. Like the T-bird, the Bronco harks back to the past—in this case the original 1965 Bronco. The concept was designed as a basic utility vehicle, featuring a three-door layout and manual windows. If Ford green-lights the Bronco for production, it likely won’t get the concept’s 2.0-liter turbo-diesel four-cylinder or its nitrous-oxide injection system, but it could get the twin-clutch robotic PowerShift manual transmission, which uses two automatic clutches to smooth over jerky torque interruptions during shifts. Ford promises mass production of the transmission by 2010.
2016 Ford Fusion Spy Photos
Check out this post at Car And Driver and see the spy shots of the all new 2016 Ford Fusion.
Click Here:
Source: caranddriver.com
Click Here:
Source: caranddriver.com
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Mustang i-Phone 5 Case
Mustang Iphone 5 Case
http://amzn.to/1qA123W
Product Features
Made for Apple iPhone 5
AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, Virgin Moble and other carriers
All buttons are available for use!
Form-Fitting case designed to perfectly fit your iPhone 5.
To get this #Ford #Mustang item, click the link above! Happy shopping!
Source: Mustang - Pure American Muscle
AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, Virgin Moble and other carriers
All buttons are available for use!
Form-Fitting case designed to perfectly fit your iPhone 5.
To get this #Ford #Mustang item, click the link above! Happy shopping!
Source: Mustang - Pure American Muscle
Monday, November 3, 2014
2015 Ford F-150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew First Test
Click Here to read the review from Motortrend and to view all of the photo's.
Source: motortrend.com
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
The Hottest Selling Vehicle In America
1. Ford F-Series
September 2014 Sales: 59,863Change vs. September 2013: -1.0%
Sticker Price: $24,445 - $53,830
Invoice Price: $22,672 - $48,851
Fuel Economy: 17 mpg city, 23 mpg highway
Once again, the Ford F-Series, which includes the F-150, F-250 and F-350, has blown the competition away, with almost 60,000 units sold in September. No other vehicle came anywhere close to that number. The F-150 was slightly refreshed in 2013, adding some new features and tweaking the exterior. The F-150 is available in several distinctive trims. These include the XL, STX, XLT, FX, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum and the Limited. For the off-road extremist, the segment exclusive SVT Raptor is available and delivers both outstanding off-road capabilities and daily use characteristics.
Click Here to see the list of the top 15.
Source: aolautos
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Ford Torino Prototype To Display At Hilton Head Concours
If your driveway looks like a
sea of Blue Oval products, you pledge allegiance to the ’32 Roadster, or
have an effigy of Henry II in your alcove … you might want to check out
the upcoming Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance.
The event, which kicks off on
Nov. 1, will play host to a bevy of historic and rare automobiles,
including this drop-dead-gorgeous 1970 Ford Torino King Cobra prototype –
one of only two known to exist.
Back in the late ‘60's, NASCAR
was gripped by the legendary “Aero Wars” that saw Ford and Chrysler duke
it out with cars that for the first time didn’t look like your dad’s
new ride. Big wings and sloped noses began to find themselves affixed to
Chargers, Torinos, and Cyclones, which grew the fierce Ford vs.
Chrysler rivalry to unprecedented levels and lead to the inception of
the Torino King Cobra.
PHOTOS: Check out the big wing on this 1970 Dodge Charger Daytona RT
Inside, the prototype features
many of the typical trimmings that you’d find on any of its Ford
contemporaries, from the stock dashboard to the three-spoke steering
wheel, and an odometer that shows only 43,235 miles.
Sadly, it never would get its
day on the podium. Between new management at the top of Ford – company
president Lee Iacocca – and fresh NASCAR regulations designed to hamper
the aero cars, the duo of prototype Torino King Cobras were sold and
promptly forgotten about. That is until one of the rare cars was
discovered tucked away in a South Carolina field (the second found its
end in a scrap yard).
A pair of Ford fans plucked it
up and set about the difficult task of restoring the vintage muscle car
to near-mint condition, and we’ve got to say they did quite a bang-up
job.
Like it? You can make this rarer-than-rare Ford yours. The ’70 Torino prototype spends its days over at RK Motors Charlotte and will set you back about $550,000 – a small price to pay considering it’s the only one in the world.
Source: autos.yahoo.com
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
F-150 Weight Savings
“This truck is tougher, smarter, and more capable. Customers can use the weight we took out and put it right back on those axles again the way they want to use it. The lighter weight also makes for a nimbler, fun to drive truck. So it benefits the truck all the time, not just when pulling an extra hundred pounds in the trailer.” – Pete Reyes
Source: Ford Motor Company
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
The Kennedy Presidential Limousine
What was the car's make and model?
The original car was a 1961 Lincoln Continental 4-door convertible.
Why was it called "X-100"?
X-100 was the code name given to the car by the Secret Service.
Who built the car?
Ford Motor Company assembled the car at its Lincoln plant in Wixom, Michigan in January 1961. Hess & Eisenhardt of Cincinnati, Ohio was responsible for customizing the car to function as a presidential parade limousine, literally cutting it in half, reinforcing it, extending it 3 ½feet in length, and making numerous other modifications. Ford Motor Company and Hess & Eisenhardt collaborated on engineering and styling. It debuted at the White House in June 1961. The car remained the property of the Ford Motor Company, which leased it to the Secret Service for the nominal price of $500 per year.
What did the car cost to build?
The car, as equipped at the Lincoln plant, would have retailed for $7,347. Custom built, the car cost nearly $200,000, according to Randy Mason ("The Saga of the 'X-100'").
What were some of the car's special features?
Special features on the 1961 limousine included:
- Removable steel and transparent plastic roof panels
- Hydraulic rear seat that could be raised 10½ " to elevate the president
- Massive heating and air conditioning system with auxiliary blowers and 2 control panels
- Dark blue broadcloth lap robes with gray plush lining and hand-embroidered presidential seals in special door pockets
- Four retractable steps for Secret Service agents
- Two steps on rear bumper for additional agents
- Flashing red lights, siren
- Blue Mouton rug in rear
- Indicator lights when door was ajar or steps out
- Two flagstaffs, two spotlights
- Auxiliary jump seats for extra passengers
- Two radio telephones
- Interior floodlights
What happened to the car after President Kennedy's assassination?
The X-100 was impounded for evidence in the weeks following the assassination on November 22, 1963. Soon after plans were made to modify the car in Cincinnati, Ohio and then return it to Washington D.C.
What was "Project D-2" or the "Quick Fix"?
Following the assassination of President Kennedy, a committee was formed (originally comprised of thirty people) of six people representing the Secret Service, Army Materials Research Center, Hess & Eisenhardt and Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company. The White House approved a plan for a revamp of the X-100 around December 12, 1963. Work was completed May 1, 1964 and extensive testing was performed in Cincinnati, Ohio and Dearborn, Michigan before the car was delivered to the White House in June. Costs have been estimated to exceed $500,000 and were shared by Ford Motor Company, some Ford suppliers and the federal government.
Basic elements of the revamp included:
- Complete re-armoring of rear passenger compartment
- Addition of permanent non-removable top ("greenhouse") to accommodate transparent armor
- Replacement of engine with hand-built, high compression unit, providing approximately 17 percent more power
- Addition of second air conditioning unit in trunk
- Addition of certain electronic communication devices
- Reinforcement of some mechanical and structural components, e.g. front wheel spindles and door hinges, to accommodate additional weight
- Complete re-trimming of rear compartment, eliminating damage resulting from the assassination
- New paint treatment, "regal Presidential Blue Metallic with silver metallic flakes that glitter under bright lights and sunshine" (May 1, 1964 report by Willard C. Hess of Hess & Eisenhardt)
The X-100 underwent major modifications again in January 1967. These were also completed by Hess & Eisenhardt and included:
- Revision of air conditioning system for greater cooling capacity
- Conversion of right rear door, which had been 1 13/16” bullet-proof glass, to drop-glass actuated by heavy duty power regulator assembly
- Reinforcement of deck lid with fiberglass to accommodate additional weight
- Stripping of entire car to bare metal in order to remove dents and repaint body
- Minor changes, such as addition of roof mounted grab handles
When was the car retired?
Although other presidential parade cars were built in 1968 and 1972, it was used occasionally by Presidents Johnson, Nixon, Ford and Carter. The X-100 remained in service until early 1977. The car is now exhibited to the public at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
Source: thehenryford.org
Images:
