Ford Racing’s 2008 Mustang FR500S – The assembly line Race car.
Why this car was built: This car is #56 of only 75 that were built. They were built by Ford specifically to be entered into the Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup. It is the first time in Ford’s history that they have produced a line of cars specifically for a race series on their assembly line.
The FR500S – Photo from Barrett Jackson
One unique thing about this car: This Mustang is unique in the fact that it has a passenger seat. Most racecars have only one seat, but this one carted around different celebrities and media personnel, so a second seat was needed.
Why they are auctioning this car off: Ford Racing & Capaldi Racing are auctioning this Mustang off at the Barrett Jackson Auctions, for the St. Jude’s Children Hospital of Memphis, Tennessee. All of the proceeds will be given straight to the hospital.
The 2011+ Mustang platform has already proven itself to be a hell of a performer, both on the street and at the track. Livernois Motorsports customer Todd Carlson has one of the cleanest examples we’ve seen to date, outfitted with a number of upgrades including a Livernois Motorsports engine and 2.9L Whipple supercharger. The best part? Todd drives this car every chance he gets, except for in the rain.
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.
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)
Ok now there’s no debating that I’m a two bit blogger with no car industry pull. So Chevy, Ford and Mother MOPAR aren’t dropping cars off for me to beat up or even just to test drive.
Nope, if I want to test drive a car I have to hope a friend buys one (and let’s me drive – given my rep it’s a tough sell) or I have to go to the dealership. I’ve drove 100 miles out-of-town to test drive a C6 Corvette. You really have to convenience the salesman you are serious and in this particular case I did and the salesman accompanied me out on to highway and on a remote entrance ramp allowed me to open it up. That’s rare, normally you are lucky if you get to travel a couple blocks and maybe a spirited lunch at a traffic light.
Ok enough whining.
At Barrett-Jackson the dealerships – well at least Ford and Chevy have a venue set up where you can actually test drive some of their latest offerings. The lines are long and you aren’t going to be able to drive the Shelby SuperSnake or Z06, but there are some good rides there. What’s more, you aren’t driving on a city street….yeah…you are driving on an auto cross track – short but effective.
So I got to drive the 2013 Mustang 5.0, 412 hp on this short track.
That did I think? That coming up in the next post.
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ROUSH Performance Set for GRAND-AM Season Opener at Daytona ROUSH Performance is ready for next weekend’s GRAND-AM season opener at Daytona where they’ll attempt to kick-start their 2013 season the same way they began their 2012 campaign – with a win! The team will enter a trio of Mustang Boss 302Rs – the No. 61 driven by Jack Roush Jr. and Billy Johnson, the No. 51 piloted by Shelby Blackstock and Joey Atterbury and the No. 49 for Roly Falgueras and Brian Ortiz. Cheer on ROUSH Performance and the rest of the Mustang Boss 302R contingent this weekend at Daytona!
