Buy Bullitt wheels from AmericanMuscle.com and have them
shipped for free in the lower 48 states. They have a huge selection of Mustang wheels and Mustang center caps available for your favorite models and
styles.
Ford Motor Company put the "5.0" back in the engine displacement department at the 2010 North American International Auto Show held in Detroit, MI.
Rick Ortlepp (Bullitt4204) and I visited Cobo Hall to take in the latest hardware for the 2011 model year.
Many IMBOC'ers know that the '08/'09 Bullitt infused its way into the 2010 update in terms of engine, suspension (although modified from Bullitt specs), and the rear differential gear set. These have made the '10 Mustang GT quite an enjoyable vehicle, but many of us like MORE in the engine department.
Enter the new "Coyote" 5.0L V8 engine - an all aluminum, dual overhead cam, 32 valve powerplant making 412hp at the peak when running on 91 octane fuel. It is the next generation of ZOOM for the Mustang, and what a great zoomer it will most likely be.
Rick and I spent a lot of time looking at all the features of the new 5.0L engine, hopefully some of which you can see in the photographs.
As has been posted here and on other forums, there is an extensive technical write-up on the engine in the March 2010 "5.0 Mustang" magazine. It's awesome that the title of that magazine will again reflect a production powerplant that enthusiasts will salivate over in their car.
We saw and took photos of two V8 Mustangs with the new engine - the GT and the California Special. In addition, there is a Mustang Club of America edition for the V6 model, which has a new 3.7L dual overhead cam V6 producing 305hp, almost as much as the 2010 GT's 4.6L V8. With 3 body styles (coupe, convertible, and glass roof), new colors, wheel options, a Brembo brake package with special 19" wheels for the GT, and a host of Ford Racing aftermarket parts available, the premier pony car got even better.
Take a look at the gallery, and then consider stimulating the Canadian or US economy (and your life) by ordering a 2011 Mustang!
What makes a great car show? Cars? Girls? Giveaways?
The AmericanMuscle.com Car Show it all, plus a $9,000+ to Homes for Our Troops Charity
MALVERN, PA (07/20/09)—Most car shows involve an hour of frantic polishing, followed by an hour of aimlessly walking the lot to check out the competition, and then finally, a good nap. But with 150 of the sweetest ‘Stangs ever to hit the road stationed door to door and bumper to bumper on every corner of the lot surrounded by more than a dozen top Mustang brands, each ready and eager to talk parts and performance, the 1st Annual AmericanMuscle Car Show and Charity Event was already set to be something different. Then add in a circling helicopter taking photos from 1,000 feet, a free dyno running from dawn ‘til dusk, free food and drink for all registered cars, more free stuff than you can carry in a mid-size sports coupe, and a slew of über-hot AmericanMuscle Girls strolling the lot, showing off their own fox bodies. Now that’s a car show.
Of course the central point of the July 19th event was the Best in Show competition. AmericanMuscle judges walked the lot all day long meticulously examining every show candidate. In the end, it was Tony Massimano’s fully-custom ’69 Mach 1 that took top prize. Here’s a list of the rest of the winners:
• Rick Bauman: President’s Choice Award: Torch Red ’05 GT
• Tommy Lee: Best ’05 to 2010 Mustang: Black ’06 GT Convertible
• Mike Baer: Best ’99 to ’04 Mustang: ’04 MystiChrome Cobra Convertible
• Donnie Huth: Best ’94 to ’98 Mustang: ’97 Cobra
• Rick Nagle: Best ’79 to ’93 Mustang: ’93 GT
In a day full of highlights, more than 1,000 showed up to walk and talk Mustangs, and show their support for Homes for Our Troops, a charity that buys or builds homes for disabled veterans. The goal for the day was to raise $5,000 for those that given more than we could ask while defending our freedom. But, when the day was done, and the money was counted, AmericanMuscle wrote a check for $8015 to its favorite charity. Adding to this number, the Garden State Region Mustang Club made an additional donation of $850, and an anonymous AmericanMuscle supplier also kicked in a check for $500, bringing the total donation to $9,365—a good day indeed.
For more information, plus lots of photos and video on the 1st Annual AmericanMuscle Car Show and Charity Event please visit: http://blog.americanmuscle.com/
Founded in 2003, AmericanMuscle.com has raced to the top of the market as a leading online Mustang parts retailer with more than 500,000 customers to date. A true innovator in e-commerce, AmericanMuscle.com employs more than 80 staff at its 65,000 square foot facility in Malvern, PA, approximately 20 miles west of Philadelphia. www.americanmuscle.com
ENTHUSIASTS CAN ADD NEW FACTORY TRACK PACK FOR 2010 MUSTANG, INSTALL FORD RACING PARTS
2010 Ford Mustang GT
Factory-installed Track Pack option features upgraded suspension parts, unique tuning and special 19-inch Pirelli summer tires for enthusiasts seeking even more performance
Track Pack is available this summer on 2010 Mustang GT coupes with manual transmissions
Car and Driver magazine selects 2010 Mustang fit with Track Pack as best muscle car in comparison test versus Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger
Parts from Ford Racing's FR3 Handling Pack available for enthusiasts seeking even more – backed by warranty and available for self or dealer installation
DEARBORN, Mich., June 10, 2009 – The 2010 Ford Mustang, now in dealer showrooms, builds on a proud, unbroken 45-year heritage of Fast, Fun and Affordable with an all-new exterior design, available cutting-edge technology and performance enhancements pioneered on Ford's extensive racing and special programs.
One hallmark of Mustang's enduring popularity is the opportunity to customize this American icon. Enthusiasts who have personalized and customized Mustangs range from legends, such as Carroll Shelby, to professional drivers to hobbyists who enjoy a weekend at the track.
For those customers interested in more-aggressive performance, an optional factory-installed Track Pack is available this summer for 2010 Ford Mustang GT coupes with manual transmission. Ford Racing's FR3 Handling Package also is available for those enthusiasts who want even more aggressive suspension tuning and can be installed in their garage or at a Ford dealer. Car and Driver magazine recently declared a 2010 Mustang equipped with a Track Pack the winner in a comparison test against the new Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger, calling the body control of the Mustang with the Track Pack "astounding."
For decades, the Mustang has been the preeminent car in many forms of racing compiling victories and championships on road courses all over the world. In just the last few years Ford Racing's Mustang FR500C captured the European GT4 drivers championship (2007, 2008) and the Grand-AM KONI Challenge championship (2005, 2008).
"At Ford, we always apply what we learn at the track to the street," said Fritz Wilke, Mustang Performance/Enthusiast Manager. "The Track Pack and Ford Racing FR3 Handling Pack continue that heritage and give our performance customers great ways to have an even sportier experience in the 2010 Mustang GT coupe."
Packaged aimed at performance enthusiasts
Both the 2010 V-6 and GT models feature improved handling, but Team Mustang wanted to create a distinctive option package aimed at performance enthusiasts. Starting with the 2010 GT manual coupe, the engineering team was able to create a package that hits the sweet spot.
The first ingredient was to add a high-performance summer tire, and the 19-inch Pirelli P Zero P255/40ZR-19 proved to be an inspired choice for improved grip. Ford's engineering team then went to work on the underpinnings of the 2010 Mustang GT coupe, using Ford's proven technology from the Shelby GT500 program.
The front and rear stabilizer bars from the 2009 Shelby GT500 complement the Pirelli tires and help balance the Track Pack 2010 Mustang GT coupe front to rear. The struts and shocks were retuned for the increased capability of the new tire and stabilizer bar changes. The engineering team also spent significant time at the track to ensure the Track Pack was rewarding on the track and offered a balance of spirited driving and track prowess.
The roll gradient (how much the car rolls while steering) was reduced nearly 13 percent compared with the base 2010 Mustang GT. Damping was increased by 23 percent in the front and 8 percent in the rear in the low- to mid-speed compared to the 2010 Mustang GT.
"By reducing the roll gradient, the car stays flatter in turns," said Tom Barnes, Vehicle Engineering Manager, 2010 Mustang. "And when the car is flatter, the driver is more in command and more confident in what the car's doing.
"Great handling comes from great control. A driver's control of the vehicle is facilitated by information. This Track Pack communicates to the driver through the tires and suspension so well that is it easy to drive very quickly. It rewards smooth driving, while offering great capacity to cover driver error."
Looking at all areas for improvement
In addition to the hardware changes and extensive tuning, the Ford team also took a more holistic approach to improving the Track Pack Mustang.
"Handling is not just chassis," Barnes said. "Vehicle dynamics – how the Mustang responds under acceleration and braking – is important as well."
The solution from the powertrain part of the equation was to use a 3.73 limited-slip axle with carbon-fiber clutch plates.
"The 3.73 axle allows for a more-responsive Mustang, especially at mid-range speeds," Barnes said. "The carbon-fiber plates allow a very robust architecture in terms of temperature and repeated hard driving on the track."
Performance® Friction brake pads, which better resist brake fade, are used front and rear. Both the anti-lock braking system (ABS) and AdvanceTrac were retuned to complement the advanced capabilities of the new tires and brakes. AdvanceTrac is standard on the 2010 GT coupe and can be operated in any of three modes: On, Off or Sport.
"The Track Pack covers all the bases," Barnes said. "The new tires give the Mustang more grip, we have a more-responsive acceleration, better brake linings that are more consistent over time and the car is tied down better because of the changes to the bars and the shock tuning."
"Track Pack has the grip, the handling and it has the 'go.' And it absolutely can be used as a daily driver. Track Pack offers the best of both worlds – great performance on the track or if you're cruising down the road."
Ford Racing's FR3 Handling Pack features components proven out on the racetrack. Included in the pack are dampers, lowering springs, sway bars and a strut tower brace.
"The FR3 Handling Pack is derived from our extensive experience with the Ford Mustang FR500C competing in the Grand-Am KONI Challenge and FIA GT4," said Andy Slankard, Engineering Supervisor, Ford Racing.
Enhancements from the FR3 Handling Pack include:
Ride height lowered by more than 1 inch
Increased spring rate by about 75 pounds to improve turn in and mid-corner performance
Front and rear sway bars stiffened to eliminate roll
Re-tuned dampers, increasing the compression and rebound
The Track Pack retails for $1,495 while the FR3 Handling Pack retails for $1,335.
Military Bullitthead "pulls the trigger" on a Bullitt
As a 12-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, new Bullitthead Jason (jshesbol) has been to more places than most of us can even count. Those places include the United Arab Emirates, Spain and currently Bogota, Colombia. But the place Jason can't wait to get to next is his own driveway in Hampton, Virginia.
In March, his wife traded in his much-loved 2003 Super Duty pickup truck for a shiny new 2008 Highland Green Bullitt, # 5229. When Jason comes home next month, it will be waiting for him in his driveway.
The road to a Mustang didn't come overnight for Jason. "I've owned a lot of vehicles, but loved Mustangs for as long as I can remember," he said. "After eyeing (a 2001 Bullitt) at a Ford dealership in South Dakota, I just couldn't shell out the cash." Then, in 2003 I was hot for a Mach I. 2005 brought the commercial that everyone remembers! In the past eight years I've taken a dozen Mustangs on test drives and again, couldn't seem to pull the trigger."
Apparently, though, Mr. McQueen popping out from that cornfield finally struck a nerve with Jason. "In October 2008 I deployed to the U.S. Embassy at Bogota, Colombia. I was extended to two rotations totaling eight months that will end next month. In March, I was trying to come up with something to commemorate my deployment and have a little fun with the money I had saved up."
Jason found #5229 online and the rest is history. "I couldn't get word to my wife and the dealer fast enough!" he said. So far he has only seen pictures of it, but his wife did call him during a test drive (she doesn't drive a stick), and Jason said he was able to "drool" over the sound of the exhaust.
His Bullitt awaits him, but not idly, according to Jason. He said he has some very trustworthy friends. "On a few occasions I have let buddies take their wives on dates and kids to church. They better not be 'breaking it in,' " he kidded.
In a little over three weeks, Jason will take the wheel of what we all know will be the thrill of his life. Until then, he'll continue doing what he's been doing up until now: "repeatedly watching every Bullitt video I can find and constantly checking IMBOC."
Yes, Jason has finally "pulled the trigger." And for that, we applaud him.
Finally. It's official. Spring is here and Bullittheads are yawning and stretching all across the country, eager to begin another season of cruising the highways and by-ways in their favorite ride. Just like blades of grass, green Mustangs (and black and blue) will be popping up everywhere. Auto shops will be abuzz with happy shoppers stocking up on detailing supplies of every kind. Mods will be flying off of store shelves fast than the stock clerk can fill them.
Before we know it, Summer will be here and the '09 Nats will not be far behind. Indianapolis is in for a rare treat. Hopefully, the local Indianapolis press will get wind of the event and cover it in their Sunday Auto Section. From far and wide, Bullittheads will converge on the city known for speed. This years Nats will be the best one ever!
So, awaken Bullittheads! Time to "spring" into action. Get ready for more fun in the greatest Mustang ever made. Happy motoring!
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