Tags: A.J. Foyt / Bruce McLaren / Dan Gurney / FIA Cobra / Ford GT / Ford GT40 / GTX1 / Holman & Moody / Kar-Kraft / Ken Miles / Le Mans / Neil Ressler / Roy Lunn / Shelby American / Shelby Cobra

ROY LUNN: GODFATHER OF THE FORD GT40!

- Minggu, 27 Desember 2015 No Comments

Ford GT & Cobra owners, racers and Roy Lunn’s friends and family gathered at the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club in Sarasota, FL to celebrate the legendary engineer and designer, known as the Godfather of the GT40. His accomplishments led to Ford’s domination of international sports car racing in the mid-late-1960s.

 On June 19th, 2016, racing enthusiasts, friends of the Blue Oval, automotive journalists and historians, and the Ford Motor Company, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of what is probably the most iconic event in auto racing history. It was on June 19th, 1966, when three GT40 Mark II-As, raced by Bruce McLaren & Chris Amon, Ken Miles & Denny Hulme and Ronnie Bucknum & Dick Hutcherson crossed the finish line, respectively - One-Two-Three - to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans and change the face of International sports car racing.



“I want to congratulate you on your creative role in the historic Ford victory at Le Mans and winning the World GT Championship,” Don Frey, Ford vice-president and general manager, in a letter to Roy Lunn, (above with Neil Ressler and with FIA Cobra), dated June 28, 1966.

It was the first-ever Overall win for an American carmaker, above, and the first of four consecutive wins of the world’s most prestigious race. In 1967 a Mark IV J-6, driven by Dan Gurney & A.J. Foyt, took the win and, in 1968 and 1969, a singular early GT40, raced by Pedro Rodriguez & Lucian Bianchi and Jackie Ickx & Jackie Oliver, respectively, made it three and four in a row. For the first time, America and Ford had dominated International road racing.



Ford’s GT40, Mark IIs and Mark IV were designed, engineered and developed under Roy Lunn’s direction at Ford’s Skunk Works, Kar-Kraft. Lunn was manager of the Advanced Concepts Group. Roy Lunn with first big-block (427) GT40 MK II in 1965 at Ford's Dearborn Proving Ground, below.

Martyn Schorr, Chronicles Editor, Ford GT owner and author of FORD TOTAL PERFORMANCE, which includes details of Roy Lunn’s career at Ford and Kar-Kraft and the history of the GT40, organized the Tribute.

“Not only do I feel appreciative and honored today to share this occasion with my wife Jeannie and my family, but also overwhelmed by the incredible display of power outside: Ford GTs and Cobras. It really is a Show of Force and I’m so happy to be a part of it,” said Roy, right.



Neil Ressler, a retired Ford engineer and vice-resident and former head of Advanced Vehicle Technology, attended with his Ford GT. He was chairman of Jaguar Racing and Cosworth Racing in 1999 and involved in the mid-engined GN34 Concept sports car which evolved into the 2005-2006 Ford GT, the spiritual successor to the GT40. He retired in 2001 after 34 years and returned to be join the Ford GT Team.



“I wasn’t going to miss this wonderful opportunity to meet Mr. Lunn, and relive some of those glory days of winning at Le Mans,” said Neil below, with Roy Lunn.

Roy Lunn will be 91 years old in April and has started working on his
fourth book about the environment, sustainability and future cars. “I’m
looking forward to finishing my new book and celebrating the 50th
anniversary of the win at Le Mans with my family and friends on June
19th next year.” 

The Show Of Force included nine Ford GTs, including a rare GTX1 and CP4 (Confirmation Prototype 4), the seventh prototype built. Nine Cobras, including a vintage FIA Cobra built by AC Cars, rounded out the loud and colorful field!

PHOTOS: Howard Mintz, Gary Jean, Ford & Roy Lunn Archives.

Tags: Bill Ford / Martyn Schorr / Shelby American / Shelby GT350R / Shelby Mustang

SHELBY GT350R MUSTANG: ONE FOR THE ROAD!

- Kamis, 20 Agustus 2015 No Comments

First all-new 2016 Shelby GT350R Mustang roars off the line at Ford’s Flat Rock assembly plant.

One of the most iconic performance Mustang nameplates of all time, the all-new Shelby GT350R roared off the line today at Ford’s Flat Rock Assembly Plant. The new GT350R Mustang is the most athletic Mustang ever, designed to tackle the world’s most challenging roads and racetracks while creating an exhilarating experience for the driver.

“This is a special day for all Mustang enthusiasts,” said Bill Ford, executive chairman, Ford Motor Company. “We have taken the GT350 formula to the next level of innovation, style and performance. Today the legend continues.”



For more information about the all-new Shelby GT350 and GT350R Mustangs, please visit

http://www.ford.com/cars/mustang/features/#page=Feature4

Tags: '63 Mercedes-Benz / Alfa / Cobra Daytona Coupe / Concours / Cunningham / Duesenberg / Ferrari / Mercury / Pebble Beach / Rolls-Royce / Shelby American

PEBBLE BEACH 2015: WHO WON WHAT!

- Senin, 17 Agustus 2015 No Comments

The complete list of 2015 winners, including the Best Of Show.

 BEST OF SHOW



1924 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A F. Ramseier & Cie Worblaufen Cabriolet 
Jim Patterson/The Patterson Collection, Louisville, Kentucky



Best of Show Nominees



1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Kellner Torpedo Phaeton

Doug Magee Jr., Wolfeboro, New Hampshire



1937 Delahaye 145 Franay Cabriolet

Sam & Emily Mann, Englewood, New Jersey



1953 Abarth 1100 Sport Ghia Coupé

Grant Kinzel, Calgary Alberta, Canada



MOST ELEGANT AWARDS



J.B. & Dorothy Nethercutt Most Elegant Closed Car

1932 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Figoni & Falaschi Pillarless Berline

Don Williams, Danville, California



Gwenn Graham Most Elegant Convertible

1937 Delahaye 145 Franay Cabriolet

Sam & Emily Mann, Englewood, New Jersey



Most Elegant Open Car

1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Kellner Torpedo Phaeton

Doug Magee Jr., Wolfeboro, New Hampshire



Strother MacMinn Most Elegant Sports Car

1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta

Jon Shirley,Medina, Washington

SPECIAL AWARDS



Alec Ulmann Trophy

1929 Hispano-Suiza H6B Hibbard & Darrin Cabriolet de VIlle

H. Hulsbergen, Freienbach, Switzerland



Ansel Adams Award

1923 Mercer Series b6 Sporting

Kirk M. Pumphrey, San Jose, California



Art Center College of Design Award

1955 Maserati A6G 2000 Zagato Coupé

Jack Croul, Corona Del Mar, California



Briggs Cunningham Trophy

1953 Cunningham C-5R Roadster

The Revs Institute for Automotive Research, Inc., Naples, Florida



Chairmans Trophy

1926 Renault 45MC Manessius Cabriolet de Ville

George F. Wingard, Eugene, Oregon



Charles A. Chayne Trophy

1902 Panhard et Levassor Type B1 Saloon

Merle & Peter Mullin, Oxnard, California



Classic Car Club of America Trophy

1931 duPont Model H Merrimac Sport Phaeton

Richard Riegel, Bedford Hills, New York



Dean Batchelor Trophy

1951 Mercury 1CM Bob Hirohata Custom Coupe

Jim and Sue McNiel, Orange, California



Elegance in Motion Trophy

1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Touring Spider

The Keller Collection at the Pyramids, Petaluma, California



Enzo Ferrari Trophy

1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Scaglietti Berlinetta Competizione

Big Fork Holdings, LLC., Menlo Park, California



FIVA Prewar Trophy

1921 Stutz K Bearcat

Wayne Carini, Portland, Connecticut



FIVA Postwar Trophy

1956 Jaguar D-type Roadster

Roger Hoffmann, Point Reyes Station, California



French Cup

1939 Bugatti Type 57C Vanvooren Cabriolet

Margie & Robert E. Petersen Collection, Los Angeles, California



Gran Turismo Trophy

1952 Cunningham C-4R Competition Roadster

The Simeone Automotive Foundation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania



Lincoln Trophy

1933 Lincoln KB Dietrich Five Passenger Convertible Sedan

John P. Shibles, Sea Grit, New Jersey



Lorin Tryon Trophy

General William Lyon, Newport Beach, California



Lucius Beebe Trophy

1952 Rolls-Royce Phantom IV Hooper Sedanca de Ville

Ion Tiriac, Monaco



Mercedes-Benz Star of Excellence Award

1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Roadster

Miyabi Collection, Honolulu, Hawaii



Mille Miglia Pre-War Trophy

1939 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Touring Coupé

David B. Smith, Medina, Washington



Montagu of Beaulieu Trophy

1931 Invicta LS Carbodies Coupé

Richard & Susanne Stephens, Woodside, California



The Phil Hill Cup

1952 Ferrari 340 Mexico Vignale Spyder

Les Wexner, New Albany, Ohio



The Revs Program at Stanford Award

1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Kellner Torpedo Phaeton

Doug Magee Jr., Wolfeboro, New Hampshire



Road & Track Trophy

1965 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350

John Atzbach, Redmond, Washington



The Tony Hulman Trophy

1948 Talbot-Lago T26C Grand Prix Racer

Denis Bigioni, Pickering, Ontario, Canada



The Vitesse - Elegance Trophy

1946 Delahaye 135 MS Pourtout Coupé Aérodynamique

Neal & Susan Ryan, Smithtown, New York



CLASS AWARDS



Class A-1: Antique

1st: 1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Kellner Torpedo Phaeton, Doug Magee Jr., Wolfeboro, New Hampshire



2nd: 1910 Speedwell Model 10-L Burr Landaulet Town Car, Mike & Sharon Silvera



3rd: 1903 Thomas Model 18 Shelden Rear Entrance Tonneau, Ronald & Sandra Hansen, Fillmore, California



Class A-2: Pope

1st: 1912 Pope-Hartford 27 Pony Tonneau, Kirk and Ross Bewley, Sacramento, California



2nd: 1909 Pope-Hartford Model S Toy Tonneau, Chris Kidd and Barry Hon, Monrovia, California



3rd: 1904 Pope-Toledo Type IV Rear Entrance Tonneau, Gary & Sheryl Hunter, Arcadia, California



Class B: Vintage

1st: 1920 Stutz Series H Bearcat, Stanley & Merle Bauer, Beverly Hills, California



2nd: 1923 Mercer Series 6 Sporting, Kirk M. Pumphrey, San Jose, California



3rd: 1923 Duesenberg A Millspaugh & Irish Five Passenger Touring, Gregory & Claudia Vanley, Los Angeles, California



Class C-1: American Classic Open

1st: 1931 Chrysler CG Imperial LeBaron Dual Cowl Phaeton, Aaron & Valerie Weiss, San Marino, California



2nd: 1938 Graham Model 97 Saoutchik Convertible, Edgar Masters, Copake Falls, New York



3rd: 1936 Cadillac 90 Fleetwood Convertible Sedan, Dave & Linda Kane, Bernardsville, California



Class C-2: American Classic Open Packard

1st: 1934 Packard 1107 Twelve Convertible Victoria, Laura & Jack B. Smith Jr., Elkhart, Indiana



2nd: 1933 Packard 1005 Twelve Convertible Victoria, Jean & Don Ghareeb, Birmingham, Alabama



3rd: 1934 Packard 1108 Twelve Dietrich Convertible Sedan, Tony & Jonna Ficco, Wheat Ridge, Colorado



Class C-3: American Classic Closed

1st: 1930 Stutz MB Weymann Monte Carlo, Joseph Cassini III & Margie Cassini, West Orange, New Jersey



2nd: 1932 Packard 904 Deluxe Eight Dietrich Stationary Coupe, N. Gene & Sally A. Perkins, Greenwood, Indiana



3rd: 1934 Packard 1108 Twelve Dietrich Stationary Coupe, Samuel Lehrman, Palm Beach, Florida



Class D: duPont

1st: 1931 duPont Model H Merrimac Sport Phaeton, Richard Riegel, Bedford Hills, New York



2nd: 1929 duPont Model G Merrimac Special Sedan, Lammot J. du Pont, McLean, Virginia



3rd: 1929 duPont Model G Waterhouse Roadster, Kelly Kinzle, New Oxford, Pennsylvania



Class G: Duesenberg

1st: 1934 Duesenberg J Walker-LaGrande Convertible Coupe, Harry Yeaggy, Cincinnati, Ohio



2nd: 1934 Duesenberg J Walker-LaGrande Convertible Coupe, General William Lyon, Newport Beach, California



3rd: 1931 Duesenberg J Derham Tourster, Lee R. Anderson Sr., Naples, Florida



Class H-1: Rolls-Royce Prewar

1st: 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Brewster Special Permanent Newmarket, Orin & Stephanie Smith, Vero Beach, Florida



2nd: 1932 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Figoni & Falaschi Pillarless Berline, Don Williams, Danville, California



3rd: 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Brewster Newport, Peter & Marijane Thornton, Key Largo, Florida



Class H-2: Rolls-Royce and Bentley Postwar

1st: 1952 Rolls-Royce Phantom IV Hooper Sedanca de Ville, Ion Tiriac, Monaco



2nd: 1953 Bentley R-Type Continental H.J. Mulliner Sports Saloon, Destriero Limited, Monaco



3rd: 1958 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud James Young Coupé, G. Bradford Klein and Victoria Hansen, Los Angeles, California



Class I: Mercedes-Benz

1st: 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S Tourer, The Keller Collection at The Pyramids, Petaluma, California



2nd: 1936 Mercedes-Benz 500K Tourer, Thomas & Rhonda Taffet



3rd: 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Roadster, Miyabi Collection, Honolulu, Hawaii



Class J-1: European Classic Early

1st: 1924 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A F. Ramseier & Cie Worblaufern Cabriolet, Jim Patterson/The Patterson Collection, Louisville, Kentucky



2nd: 1932 Austro Daimler ADR8 Keibl Karosseriewerk Limousine, The Nethercutt Collection - Helen & Jack Nethercutt, Sylmar, California



3rd: 1929 Bentley 4½ Litre Vanden Plas Four Seater, Private Collection



Class J-2: European Classic Late

1st: 1937 Delahaye 145 Franay Cabriolet, Sam & Emily Mann, Englewood, New Jersey



2nd: 1939 Bugatti Type 57C Vanvooren Cabriolet, Margie & Robert E. Petersen Collection, Los Angeles, California



3rd: 1939 Bentley 4¼ Litre Park Ward Sports Coupé, Robert Mirvis, Los Angeles, California



Class K-1: British Prewar Sports Cars Early

1st: 1927 Bentley 3 Litre Vanden Plas Sports Tourer, Private Collection



2nd: 1926 Bentley 3 Litre Speed Model Vanden Plas Tourer, Christian Philippsen, Monaco



3rd: 1932 Invicta S Carbodies Tourer, Steve Hamilton, Carson City, Nevada



Class K-2: British Prewar Sports Cars Late

1st: 1937 Jaguar SS 100 Roadster, Jaime & Cecilia Muldoon, Guadalajara, Mexico



2nd: 1938 Alvis Speed 25 Offord & Sons Open Two Seater, James B. Sprague, Washington, NA



3rd: 1934 SS Cars SS1 Tourer, Colin & Anne Stewart, Blairgowrie, Scotland



Class L-1: Prewar Preservation

1st: 1906 Pierce Great Arrow 40-45 7 Passenger Touring, Leonard-Steven Schuster, New York, New York



2nd: 1927 Hispano-Suiza Type 49 H.J. Mulliner Sport Saloon, Dr. Marco Gastaldi, Monaco



3rd:  1904 Pope-Hartford Model B Rear Entrance Tonneau, Doug Magee, Jr., Wolfeboro, New Hampshire



Class L-2: Postwar Preservation

1st: 1956 Jaguar D-type Roadster, Roger Hoffmann, Point Reyes Station, California



2nd: 1956 Maserati A6G 2000 Frua Coupé, Jonathan & Wendy Segal, San Diego, California



3rd: 1965 Porsche 356SC Karmann Coupe, William E. "Chip" Connor, Reno, Nevada



Class M-1: Ferrari Grand Touring

1st: 1957 Ferrari 250 GT Pinin Farina Cabriolet Series I, Peter S. Kalikow, New York, New York



2nd: 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Scaglietti Spyder California, Marc Fisher, Greenwich, Connecticut



3rd: 1960 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Pinin Farina Coupe Aerodinamico Prototipo, Lee & Joan Herrington, Bow, New Hampshire



Class M-2: Ferrari Competition

1st: 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Scaglietti Berlinetta Competizione, Big Fork Holdings, LLC., Menlo Park, California



2nd: 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Alloy Boano Coupe, James H. Fuchs, Brookfield, Wisconsin



3rd: 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Scaglietti Spyder California Competizione, Audrey & Martin Gruss, Palm Beach, Florida



Class M-3: Ferraris in the Pebble Beach Road Races

1st: 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Pinin Farina Spyder Series I, Thomas R. Peck, Irvine, California



2nd: 1952 Ferrari 340 Mexico Vignale Spyder, Les Wexner, New Albany, Ohio



3rd: 1955 Ferrari 857S Scaglietti Spyder, Les Wexner, New Albany, Ohio



Class M-4: Ferrari Preservation

1st: 1964 Ferrari 250 GTL Scaglietti Berlinetta Lusso, Private Collection



2nd: 1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Pininfarina SWB Coupe, Rick & Angie Workman, Windermere, Florida



3rd: 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Scaglietti Berlinetta, John & Heather Mozart, Palo Alto, California



Class N: Designs by Carrozzeria Touring

1st: 1939 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Touring Coupé, David B. Smith, Medina, Washington



2nd: 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Touring Spider, The Keller Collection at the Pyramids, Petaluma, California



3rd:  1962 Pegaso Z-103 Touring Panoramica Coupe, Wicked Machine Works



Class O-1: Postwar Early

1st: 1953 Abarth 1100 Sport Ghia Coupé, Grant Kinzel, Calgary Alberta, Canada



2nd: 1946 Delahaye 135 MS Pourtout Coupé Aérodynamique, Neal & Susan Ryan, Smithtown, New York



3rd: 1950 Aston Martin DB2 Saloon, John Grono, Singapore,



Class O-2: Postwar Late

1st: 1954 Fiat 8V Supersonic Ghia Coupe, Marc Behaegel, Gent, Belgium



2nd: 1954 Fiat 8V Zagato Coupe, David Sydorick, Beverly Hills, California



3rd: 1957 Siata 208S Motto Spyder, Jan De Reu, Knokke, Belgium



Class O-3: Postwar Racing

1st: 1965 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, Kazuo Maruyama, Tokyo, Japan



2nd: 1955 Porsche 550RS Spyder, Ugo Gussalli Beretta, Brescia, Italy



3rd: 1959 Lister Costin Roadster, Jeff Lotman, Los Angeles, California



Class P: Postwar Cunninghams

1st: 1951 Cunningham C-2 Roadster, T. G. Mittler, Santa Fe, New Mexico



2nd: 1954 Cunningham C-3 Vignale Coupé, James W. Taylor, Gloversville, New York



3rd: 1952 Cunningham C-4R Competition Roadster, The Simeone Automotive Foundation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania



Class R: Mercury Customs

1st: 1951 Mercury 1CM Bob Hirohata Custom Coupe, Jim and Sue McNiel, Orange, California



2nd: 1949 Mercury 9CM Sam Barris Custom Coupe, John Mumford, Portola Valley, California



3rd: 1950 Mercury OCM Wally Welch Custom Coupe, Justin Mozart, Palo Alto, California



Class S: Shelby GT350 50th Anniversary 1st: 1965 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350R, John Atzbach, Redmond, Washington



2nd: 1965 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350 Prototype, Mark Hovander, Seattle, Washington



3rd: 1965 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350, Bobby Rahal, Chicago, Illinois



For more information about the Pebble Beach Concours, please visit http://www.pebblebeach.com/events-golf-tournaments/special-events/concours-delegance

Tags: '66 Shelby GT350 Mustang / K-Code Mustang / Mustang Trans-Am / Road Racing / SCCA / SCCA Group 2 / Shelby American / Shelby Mustang / Stephen Cox

BARN FIND: SHELBY GROUP 2 SCCA MUSTANG!

- Selasa, 05 Mei 2015 No Comments

Stephen Cox blogs about the sixteenth ’66 Mustang A/Sedan racer built by Shelby, 

but never raced.

Originally painted in Ford's familiar Wimbledon White, the car was loaded with go-fast equipment during a lengthy process when it was converted from assembly line stock into a professional racing machine. Like the fifteen cars that preceded it, a K-Code 289/271 small-block powered this Shelby Mustang. In reality, it probably had far more power than that since Shelby's small block Fords routinely registered well beyond 400 horsepower on the dyno.

The car would leap out of corners under acceleration. The Borg-Warner close-ratio four-speed transmission was linked to a 3.89 rear with Detroit Locker differential. The suspension was state of the art for 1966, including lowered front A-arms, front sway bar, with Pitman and idler arms borrowed directly from Shelby's ultra successful GT350R racecars. The factory black interior was mostly stripped, replaced by a racing seat with three-inch safety belts, an 8,000-rpm tachometer and a four-point roll cage.

Ironically, when the final Shelby SCCA Group 2 Mustang was completed in the late spring of 1966, it was delivered to its first owner but never raced. The car was repainted red, driven infrequently until 1977, and then unceremoniously put into storage. It was a dubious ending for one of the mightiest Trans-Am racers of its time. But at the same time, the odd career of this unemployed racecar is precisely what makes it so valuable today.

After sitting idly for 37 years, the Shelby Group 2 Mustang was given a detailed mechanical inspection last summer, followed by an extremely limited restoration. The oil pan was dropped and cleaned, the entire brake system was rebuilt, the tires were replaced and the engine treated to some head work. To preserve the amazing originality of the car, no further work was done. It remains as Shelby built it in 1966 and as driven by its first owner until the mid-1970s.



Such limited restorations are the latest trend in collector automobiles, offering several enormous advantages. Expenses are dramatically reduced. The history of the car is carefully preserved. And it's never too late to go back and restore the car to perfection if a future owner chooses to do so. But as they say, “it's only original once.”

The final Shelby Mustang Group 2 racer ever built now appears just as it was found in storage last summer after nearly four decades. The car will be publicly displayed for the first time at the upcoming Mecum auto auction in Indianapolis, May 12-16, where it will be offered for sale as one of the truly rare pieces of Shelby motor racing history.



Stephen Cox is a racer and co-host of TV coverage of Mecum Auctions (NBCSN), sponsored by: http://boschett-timepieces.com/ http://www.mcgunegillengines.com/

Tags: '15 Mustang GT350 / Carroll Shelby / Ford Racing / Mustang Racing Legends / SCCA / Shelby American / Shelby GT350 Mustang / Shelby GT350R

’15 SHELBY MUSTANG: ‘R’ IS FOR RACING!

- Selasa, 28 April 2015 No Comments

Ford pays tribute to Carroll Shelby’s original GT350 Mustang and builds 37 track-ready competition GT350R models.

The original ’65 Shelby GT350 and GT350R, above, established Mustang’s performance cred on racetracks around the world. The all-new Shelby GT350, featuring the most powerful naturally aspirated Ford production engine ever, re-establishes Mustang as a world-class sports car. Only 100 Shelby GT350s will feature a 2015 model year designation before production switches over to 2016. Of these, 50 will be equipped with the Technology Package and 50 equipped with the Track Package.

“Fans of the Shelby brand are among the most passionate in the automotive industry,” said Henry Ford III, Ford Performance marketing manager. “To honor the passion of our fans for Shelby GT350’s 50th anniversary, a limited run of GT350 models will be built in 2015; these cars will be highly coveted by both Mustang and Shelby enthusiasts alike.”

In 1965, Carroll Shelby, above, with '66 GT350 Mustang and 427 Cobra, developed and sold an FIA-homologated  GT350R competition model. This race-ready Mustang took to tracks around the world, competing in the most prestigious races and against the stiffest competition there was. In addition to winning the Sports Car Club of America’s B/Production national championship in 1965, 1966 and 1967, the car entered races throughout South America and Europe, including the 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans.



There is heated debate among Shelby enthusiasts over how many ‘65 GT350Rs were originally built. While Carroll Shelby insisted two prototype cars and 35 production models were built, most records show only 34 production models received serial numbers. For 2015, Ford will make sure there is no confusion about the number of GT350R models constructed; 37 cars will be built in Carroll Shelby’s memory.



For more information on the latest Ford vehicles, please visit http://www.ford.com/new-cars/

Tags: Carroll Shelby / Ford / Mustang / Shelby American / Shelby GT350 Mustang

2015 SHELBY GT350 MUSTANG: LEGEND RETURNS!

- Senin, 17 November 2014 No Comments

All new GT350 Mustang comes standard with 500-plus horsepower V8, the most powerful naturally aspirated Ford production engine ever.

The original Shelby GT350 introduced in 1965 established Mustang’s performance credentials on the street and road racing circuits worldwide. It builds on Carroll Shelby’s original idea – transforming a great every-day car into a dominant road racer – by taking advantage of a dramatically improved sixth-generation Mustang to create a truly special high-performance car.

Ford engineers took an innovative approach with the GT350. Rather than develop individual systems to perform well independently, every component and shape is optimized to work in concert; balance is the key.



“When we started working on this car, we wanted to build the best possible Mustang for the places we most love to drive – challenging back roads with a variety of corners and elevation changes – and the track on weekends,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “Every change we made to this car was driven by the functional requirements of a powerful, responsive powerplant – nimble, precise handling and massive stopping power.”

Early in development of the GT350, it was decided a high-revving, naturally aspirated V8 engine would best suit a track-focused Mustang.



“The final product is essentially an all-new powerplant unique to GT350 – and one that takes true advantage of the new chassis dynamics of the Mustang platform,” said Jamal Hameedi, chief engineer, Ford Global Performance Vehicles.

Powering the GT350 is a 5.2-liter engine, the first-ever production V8 from Ford with a flat-plane crankshaft, an architecture typically found only in racing applications or exotic European sports cars. Unlike a traditional V8, where the connecting rods are attached to the crankshaft at 90-degree intervals, this design evenly spaces all crank pins at 180-degree intervals. The 180-degree, flat-plane layout permits a cylinder firing order that alternates between cylinder banks, reducing the overlap of exhaust pressure pulses. When combined with cylinder head and valvetrain advancements, this permits better cylinder breathing, further extending the performance envelope of the V8.



The result is the most powerful naturally aspirated production Ford engine ever, at more than 500 horsepower, with a torque peak above 400 pound-feet. The track capability is enhanced by the output characteristics of the engine – the 5.2-liter V8 features an exceptionally broad torque curve. Combined with its high-revving ability, the flat-plane 5.2-liter V8 gives drivers an enormous amount of performance and flexibility within each gear of the lightweight six-speed manual transmission. A standard Ford-tuned Torsen limited-slip differential optimizes cornering grip and straight-line traction.



The new Mustang platform is the strongest in the history of the brand, with torsional stiffness increased 28 percent over the previous model. That stiff structure ensures the suspension geometry remains consistent, even under hard driving on back roads and tracks. Front stiffness is further improved on the GT350 with a cutting-edge injection-molded carbon fiber composite grille opening and optional lightweight tower-to-tower brace. The front track has been increased while spring rates and bushings have been recalibrated all around, with ride height reduced compared to Mustang GT.

Due to the significant speeds the car can develop, the GT350 features the most track-credible brake system ever offered on a Ford vehicle in terms of absolute stopping power, fade resistance and brake pedal feel. The brakes are two-piece cross-drilled iron discs mounted to aluminum hats. At the front are massive 394-millimeter rotors clamped by Brembo six-piston fixed calipers with integrated caliper bridges, while 380-millimeter rotors at the rear utilize four-piston calipers. GT350 makes use of extra-stiff 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels – 10.5 inches wide in front, 11.0 inches in the rear – shod with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires with GT350-specific sidewall construction, tread face and compound.



Ultra-quick responsiveness to changing conditions is provided by the first-ever Ford application of continuously controlled MagneRide dampers. The dampers are filled with a hydraulic fluid impregnated with iron particles. When an electric current is passed through the fluid, a near-instant adjustment of the suspension performance can be made. With wheel position sensors monitoring motion thousands of times per second combined with other vehicle data, changes can be made to each corner independently every 10 milliseconds for optimum handling performance. This is a system designed not just to make the car handle better but to instill greater confidence in even the best driver.



 “Everything we changed on GT350 is purely functional-driven design, with the goal of improving the overall performance of the car,” said Chris Svensson, Ford design director, The Americas. “We optimized the aero shape of the car, and then fine-tuned what was left to increase downforce and cooling airflow.” All bodywork from the windshield forward is unique to this high-performance model and up to two inches lower than a Mustang GT.



The new aluminum hood has been lowered and sloped, compared to the base Mustang, tightly wrapped around the engine for the smallest possible aerodynamic signature. Front and rear aero elements have been balanced to work together on the track. The fascia has been sculpted to provide the aggressive lower front splitter with maximum pressure and a ducted belly pan delivers significant downforce. The hood outlet acts as a heat extractor while also reducing underhood lift at high speed.



At the rear, much of the engineering was focused on creating an aggressive functional diffuser doing double duty to increase downforce and provide cooling air to an optional differential cooler. A subtle lip spoiler across the trailing edge of the deck lid increases downforce without adding excess drag.

The athletic stance of the all-new Mustang is further accentuated with re-contoured aluminum front fenders to accommodate the wider front track and wider wheel arches. Front fender vents work with vented inner fenders to draw out turbulent air in the wheel wells and smoothly direct it down the side of the car. The forward-angled grille is designed with individual openings to draw air through the radiator, high-pressure engine air intake, cooling ducts for the front brakes and, optional with the Track Pack, an engine oil cooler and a transmission cooler.



Like everything else about GT350, the interior has been optimized for driving, beginning with the specially designed Recaro sport seats with a unique cloth. Hundreds of hours and many prototypes went into a seat that is both comfortable in daily driving and capable on the track. A flat-bottom steering wheel makes it easier for the driver to get in and out, and is more ergonomic on the racetrack. Gauges are upgraded to reflect the enormous performance capability of the car. Chrome and bright finishes have been reduced or eliminated to prevent sun glare that may distract the driver.



The advanced technology inherent to Mustang has been deployed for duty in the Shelby GT350. An all-new integrated driver control system allows selection of five unique modes that tailor ABS, stability control, traction control, steering effort, throttle mapping, MagneRide tuning and exhaust settings, depending on driver preference, to achieve maximum performance.



For more information on the latest Mustangs, please visit

http://www.ford.com/cars/mustang/