Pony Cars

For some reason I keep pulling for Ford. It’s like rooting for the home team even though the Isotopes haven’t won a game in years. They keep dropping the ball on so many great automotive opportunities. But every so often something clicks and they put out a great car. Monkeys typing Shakespeare? Perhaps.

The latest mustang (solid rear axle and all) has interested me since the day it was launched. When Ford went racing with the FR500C and showed the mustang could run with the very best I was impressed. The car has always had great looks and great potential, but as it rolls out of the factory it struck me as a bit too soft, a little too friendly to the least common denominator. The drivetrain is great and responds to mods well, but the suspension was tuned by lawyers, not enthusiasts. Understeer and body-roll, woo hoo.

It seems like the monkeys have listened and now I’m more interested that ever. Have you heard they’ll be offering up a version of the Shelby GT-H for public consumption in 2007 badged as the Shelby GT? Same ford racing power and handling packs turning it basically into a club-racer, but with a Hurst short-throw 5-speed and a lower final drive ratio. And it looks absolutely wicked in black. If they can keep it priced right around $30,000 (and keep the dealers from price gouging the shit out of it, $20,000 markup on a GT500 anyone?) I would seriously consider trading in my WRX and going old-school muscle.

And did I mention it’s only a supercharger away from 462 horsepower?

I’d hold out for the Boss 302 but something tells me that it’s going to be priced between $35,000 and $40,000. For that much I’d be too scared to damage the vehicle to really drive it the way I want.