If you’ve read my posting for a while you’ll recall my trips to the great state of Kentucky and my trips to the place the worlds most recognizable car is assembled.
Yes I’ve taken the Corvette assembly plant tour more times than anyone I know, hell when I retired I’m going to volunteer to work the tour route in the plant. I love Bowling Green!!!!
The last time I visited they were building out the plant for the Chevy Volt and working on the new section for the C7 Corvette. These upgrades mean more work for the plant and those doing “God’s work” (LOL).
Well there is more. Corvette has had a program where the an soon to be owner of a new Corvette can pay to build the engine for his car in the Performance Build Center (http://corvetteblock.com/2011/11/performance-build-center-open-house/). That may be the coolest idea I’ve heard. Well this program is being moved from Michigan to the Bowling Green assembly plant.
I think that is great news!!!! You an build your engine, watch it installed in your car and drive it out of the factor!!!!!
The stripey new GSR secures a 150 hp increase from its predecessor, amping up power to the front wheels to 200 hp, enabling a sprint to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in just 7.3 seconds. With a top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph), power is made available to the wheels via either a 6-speed manual or DSG autobox. VW’s tried and true, turbo-charged 4 cylinder provides the go juice. And unlike the 40 year old’s 15-inch steel rim setup, the new GSR gets serious footing with black “Tornado” 19-inch alloy wheels and 235/40 rubbers.
I think they look “ok” and 200 hp ain’t bad in the little two door. Can’t owning one, however they are going to be limited to 200!!!
So after a little follow-up I found that the car was a promotion created by Ford and Autocraft. See below.
Lot 446.1 – 1969 Ford Mustang Convertible
Sale Price: $24,750
TMN Rating: 9
TMN On-Site Review: Other than a few body panel mis-aligns, presents nicely.
Seller Description: An extremely rare and most unusual Mustang, a “Rumble-Seat.” This particular package was a joint effort by Ford and Autocraft of Dearborn, Mich. The option was not shown on the Build Sheet or Ford Window Sticker because the conversion was done after assembly. It was a blossom-time sales promotion offered only during April 1969 to certain Michigan Ford Dealers. Documented by two different magazine articles it is still uncertain exactly how many were done. This Mustang is believed to be the only one in Meadowlark Yellow. This Mustang was built April 16, 1969 and delivered to Jack Dykstra Ford in Lansing, MI. It is a V8, automatic, power top, factory tachometer, power top, Rumble Seat. It has only 56,000 Miles.
With names like Rogue, Rebel and Marlin you have to imagine some monster power plants moving these hunks of steels across the face of the earth. So where they? Here is the line up.
The body styles ranged from stately station wagons to slick fastbacks. Some of the names are iconic like Rebel SST and Marlin.
1967 Rebel SST
Both nice cars and you could get them with the following engines.
First up was the Inline (straight) Six. This engine was has a cast iron block and overhead valuve. Displacement was 199 cid with a bore and stroke of 3 3/4 “x 3″. The compression ratio was 8.5:1 and producing 128 hp. It sported seven main bearings and topped with one of two single barrels carbs a Cater Type RBS or a Holley Model 1931C-3705.
From there you could graduate to the next level Inline Six. This one mirrored but with 232 cid displacement and a bore and stroke of 3.75″ x 3.50”. Compression ratio stayed the same and so did the carb options. However it did manage to squeeze out 145 hp.
Now you could get both of these in the other models, including the wagons, but the engine you wanted in your Rebel or Marlin was the V8.
This was an overhead valve cast iron block engine. It displayed 287.2 cid and have a bore and stroke of 3.75″ x 3.25″ and had a compression of 8.7:1. Five main bearings and hydraulic lifters topped with either two barrel Carter WCD or Holley.
Before we get to the drive, it’s worth noting that my daily driver is a base model 2007 Corvette 410 hp with a stage 3 clutch. This puts down a lot of torque. My other car is 1970 Mustang pushing out 300 hp and I dive that a couple times a week.
Last year, I drove the Ford Taurus SHO and that was a nice with plenty of pep. But I wasn’t ready for this years ride, 2013 Mustang 5.0.
The car manufacturers set up a small auto cross track, under a 1/4 mile in length, it had a starting line and brief straight way in to a “switchback” turn, another straight way combined with a moderate turn and than the finish.
You are sharing the track with mild-mannered cars, like a Ford Focus and Chevy Cruz and the Corvettes and Camaros of Bondurant School and the Super Snake and Shelbys. There is a lot going on.
So I hopped into the Mustang, along with a ‘handler’ ( he rides along) and we pull in to line behind two Bondurant Corvettes. This Mustang is the automatic version of the 412 hp 5.0 and it feels small and light (much different than my C6).
The handler gives me the nod and I hit the gas. The rear wheels spin for a second and the you can feel the 420 hp launch the car forward. I was at the switchback curve in about 3 seconds – didn’t notice the speedometer but the handler said ‘slow into..’ but I was in an out of corner. The Mustang had excellent handling at about 50mph in a tight turn. I told the handler I that I raced SCCA with my vette, but don’t think that made him any more comfortable. I finished curve and punched the gas and breezed through the short straightway and then the final curve at about 60 mph and a quick braking and done!
Ok…again, I’m no big time automotive journalist, but I know cars. So, here are my impressions of the 2013 5.0 Mustang.
Interior was much better than previous years and it felt like sports when sitting in the seat, much like my Vette. I’m not normally a automatic transmission enthusiast but this one shift smooth as ice on a professional hockey rink. It launched really well, didn’t fell like 390 ft lbs of torque, felt straight and although a didn’t notice the band of rubber it was sporting, it did feel grip well. The car felt stable going into the two curves and it was enjoyable.
With more horsepower than my Vette it still couldn’t match the quickness of my C7 (oh….Freudian slip) …um C6 with more torque and almost 500 less pounds ( 3350 vs. 3800 curb weight).
Over all I WOULD purchase a new Mustang – but something at the next level than the base model 5 liter. The Boss 302 (maybe in the Laguna Seca) or the GT500)
