But the cosmetics are still what makes this one-off car something special. Ford's turned this $80,000 Shelby into KITT thanks to a sweet-looking black-on-black paint job, the addition of 20" Shelby "Super Snake" wheels, 90% tinted windows all-around and of course, the Auto Indulgence 15" LED "Knight Rider" security scanner lightbar. Sure, it's all stuff you can buy off the rack — but when combined together, it makes this "King of the Road" look bad-ass.

But what's great about this customized Shelby is when the novelty of cruising around in KITT wears out, and you've turned the lightbar off, you remember you're still driving a Shelby GT500KR. That said, there's now even greater incentive to pull to a stop, shift into first and floor it. Because when you do, your world shrinks into a tunnel of motion with only a pinpoint of clarity ahead, wild-eyed narration provided by an unnatural banshee wail emanating from the supercharger. You watch, almost from outside of your body, as time dilates and you are no longer subject to the rules of physics. You feel as though this motor will pull the stars from their places in the heavens. And then the rev limiter brings it all back to reality.

A sideways grin spread across my face as my autonomic nervous system registers how close I just came to some form of fiery death. The manic rush, instead of acting like a deterrent, plays a powerful stimulant, and you do it again, and again, and again.

That's because the GT500KR is a much better car than its predecessor, the Mustang GT500. The GT500 is a mean and nasty car, operating at the limits of the chassis — it's twitchy, overpowered and hard to live with. Driving it always makes you feel like you're toeing the line of control, even when toting the groceries. To be perfectly honest, the notion of driving a GT500 with more horsepower was, at the outset, mildly terrifying. But the GT500KR is much more refined — the extra power is met with a much better suspension thanks to upgraded KR-only dampers, springs and shocks. All of it works together to provide a far more confident drive than the GT500. No more skipping across expansion joints at speed on a sweeping freeway corner, only planted, firm and predictable driving over the bumps and potholes of Michigan roads. But, then why the taken-to-the-limits feeling? It's because that added confidence is underscored with the notion that instead of being more controllable, the razors edge has just been raised to a new and more frightening level.

In spite of this knowledge, you smile like any man charming a Cobra; resigned to the danger, but addicted to the exhilaration of it. It doesn't matter if the car handles incredibly well for a solid axle design on a heavy car with monster mill, it doesn't matter if the interior has no upgrades over a standard 'Stang, it doesn't matter that the windows are tinted so dark you strain to see headlights in the night because none of that changes the mechanical the wail of obscenities the supercharger hurls at you as it takes over your world.

People point. They stare. The silent back and forth sweep of the red light draws the questions of curious passers-by. Camera phones are wielded, friends are called over and disbelief removed. But in the face of the crushing power of this car, the tight hold that childhood memories maintain over the aura of KITT shrink, and become insignificant as you pull runs — again, and again, and again. The show may be in need of some "Turbo Boost," but this GT500KR has all the boost we need.

Photo Credit: Alex C. Conley

Speaking of stems and seeds, here's a shot from the Alameda High 1984 yearbook, showing the cheerleaders sitting on a new Corvette at the local Chevrolet dealership. Yet some folks feel compelled to celebrate 80s nostalgia. Thanks to Rognbrow for the tip!

And it's the dark horse by a nose! Yep, this here is the new 2010 model pony. Douglas Gaffka, chief designer for the 2010 Mustang, says of his steed:

"We lifted the head to make the pony more proud, tipped the neck into the wind to give it a feeling of greater speed and better balance... It’s more chiseled and more defined and looks more like a wild horse... It’s more realistic in terms of proportion to an actual Mustang.”

How this will translate to the look of the actual car remains to be seen. [via Ford]

Here it is fan-boys, this is a photo we've waited patiently to see for what seems like an eternity. This photo of the threesome of new muscle cars from Detroit is the first time the 2010 Chevy Camaro RS, a 2009 Ford Mustang CS and a 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 have all been captured in the same photo. Yes, we traveled a great distance, risked a great deal and received quite a mouthful from one snarling PR person in order to bring you this first shot of the trio. Although well worth it, at least one staffer on site wasn't as happy to have a picture of Chevy's new muscle car taken as we'd hoped he would be. Whatever. Credit Ford and Dodge for being pleased as punch to welcome back the Camaro to the muscle car war block in the best way they know how — by letting us rev the engines of their latest entries hard outside San Diego's Hard Rock Hotel. They would have preferred to do a burnout, but there were too many law enforcement officers around. Check back later on tonight for the full story, complete with video as we show just how hot these muscle car wars are getting! Many thanks to the Craig from Streetfire, Garage419 and Ned Hepburn!

Jalopnik Snap Jugdement: Considering we'll be seeing two all-new dedicated hybrids from Toyota, the formal debut of the 2010 Honda hybrid, who knows what from Nissan, and with the first fully-formed Chevy Volt revealed just a couple months earlier, the 2009 Detroit Auto Show is setting up to be a serious, next-gen hybrid battle royal.

More interesting to us, contrary to reports of the declining influence of the Detroit Auto Show and the rise of the LA Auto Show, is a trend of increasingly prominent Detroit unveils. Detroit will be showing off hybrids and meat-and-potatoes products — both at the forefront of consumers minds. While the LA Auto Show continues to feature lifestyle products like the Lexus LF-A and the Cadillac CTS Coupe. True, the 2010 Ford Mustang is dropping its top in LA, but that's to be expected given it's a convertible. Ironic, isn't it, that a state so obsessive about portraying itself as green gets mostly vain, luxury and low-volume while a city held up as the symbol of everything backwards in the auto industry displays the future? We think so.

[via DetNews]

Mustang enthusiasts,

The time has come to start talking about the new Mustang. But, we're not the ones that will be doing the talking!

We want to hear your stories, because we all have a story to tell about Mustang. What is yours?

Today, we launched www.the2010mustang.com which will be the home for the official countdown until reveal of the 2010 Mustang. We wanted to give you a first look at the website to help spread the news to Mustang Nation and the millions of enthusiasts that are waiting on the edge of their seats for any news about the new pony car.

The "Mustang Stories" contest begins on August 27th, so for now you just get a teaser of what's to come, but use the time wisely to think about your favorite Mustang story and be sure to come back and submit it for a chance to win your own 2010 Mustang.

Don't forget to also keep up-to-date on the latest Mustang news, including racing results, at: http://ford.digitalsnippets.com/mustang/

Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks.

[Source: Ford]

In '66, your new Mustang coupe cost $2,416 with a six-cylinder and three-on-the-tree. Add another 106 bucks and you got the 200-horsepower V8. The '66 Falcon coupe- essentially the same car under the skin- went for just $2,060, so Ford had a license to print money with the Mustang... much as they did during the more recent pickups-with-cupholders era.


2,488 pounds. That's the shipping weight on this car, which weighs about 188 pounds more than the "tiny" Toyota Yaris. But the old Mustangs were rattly and drafty, the radio had just one speaker (pointed at the windshield), and you could hear road noise! Our car-buying forefathers were tough!

Connor's class action is seeking damages of, get this, $11.8 million, or $1000 more per car than the value of all 200 cars sold. We're thinking Mr. Connor probably just didn't read the fine print well enough. That, or he just realized he bought a $58,000 Mustang — or maybe his wife just realized he bought a $58,000 Mustang. [Bloomberg]

The car with the overall quickest lap of the entire race was the 50th-place Superkak Racing '94 Mustang GT, with a time of 1:06.610. While there's some dispute about the legitimacy of their sub-$500 build (I believed their paperwork, my colleague on the LeMons Supreme Court didn't), you can't deny that this car was fast. Black-flag penalties brought Superkak Racing down to earth.


The Kudzu Kommandos' BMW 325e had the second-fastest lap, with a blazing 1:06.728. They finished 54th overall.


Third-fastest time was the Honda Civic raced by Team We-Todd. Time: 1:06.931, 28th place overall.


The anti-Obama-themed Hong Norr Racing CRX made it around CMP's track in 1:07.266, for the fourth-best time. They finished 30th.


The car known in the pits as "the rusty Miata," run by Team Hammer Down, scored the fifth-best time, at 1:08.160. Hammer Down finished 17th.

ROUSH® STAGE 3™ SUSPENSION AVAILABLE TO ALL MUSTANG OWNERS WHO WANT TO PULL Gs

LIVONIA, Mich. (July 31, 2008) - One of the things that sets the ROUSH®
Stage 3™ Mustang apart from the competition is the road-hugging,
highly-tuned suspension package. Previously, this vaunted suspension
package was only available as part of a ROUSH Stage 3 vehicle build, but
now anyone with a 2005 to 2009 Ford Mustang can feel what a 1G lateral
skid pad rating can give you on the daily drive.

Developed by some of the top chassis engineers in the industry, the
ROUSH Stage 3 Suspension Package is the result of hundreds of hours of
testing and thousands of miles on both the street and racetracks across
the country. Tests, including slalom, lane change, skid pad, and were
performed on a wide variety of road surfaces to provide the best
combination of ride comfort and road handling. Data was captured and
evaluated using a DIVAS Data Acquisition System, the same equipment used
by the Ford vehicle engineers. Overall, it took more than six months of
non-stop research and development to create one of the finest
suspensions available today.

The complete kit includes springs, dampers, jounce bumpers and
anti-roll bars which work together in harmony and provide optimum
performance on the street or track. The suggested retail is $1,499.00
(part number 401761), and when installed will lower the car
approximately one inch for a more aggressive stance. All instructions
and necessary OEM-grade hardware is included.

The front anti-roll bar is more than 45 percent stiffer than the stock
unit and is a solid material, unlike most others on the market which are
hollow. This helps to significantly reduce body roll, and ROUSH takes
the additional step to forge and machine the bar ends so that all the
joints are parallel and surfaces match for joint integrity. The rear
anti-sway bar is also solid and is heavier to help balance the vehicle
and remove some of the understeer that is a characteristic of the
Mustang.

The twin-tube shocks have a unique valving and will keep the maximum
tire contact patch on the ground, even while driving over uneven
terrain. They were developed in part with an advanced 7-post shaker rig
like many of the NASCAR teams now utilize to hone their chassis setups.
Like all the metal components in the Stage 3 Suspension Package, the
shocks are powder coated for corrosion resistance. The springs
themselves are cold wound and made from high chrome silicone steel. They
are pre-set so they won't sag.

The ROUSH engineers paid particular attention to the bushings and
jounce bumpers, areas other companies tend to overlook. The bushings,
though stiffer than OEM, are a bit softer than other third-party pieces
which allows for more compliance over low speed bumps. There is a unique
spiral groove cut in the front and rear bushings which helps to keep the
grease in place and quiets the unit. The jounce bumpers were actually
designed to act as a spring assist, and are constructed from an
OEM-quality, micro-cellular material.

"ROUSH has always been known for being the best in powertrain
components, but we also have some of the most knowledgeable chassis
engineers in the auto industry on staff," said Jack Roush. "I
continually challenge them to design suspension pieces that offer
tremendous performance enhancements yet don't make sacrifices when it
comes to ride comfort. With the ROUSH Stage 3 Suspension Package they
have met this challenge, and even exceeded my expectations for what a
performance enthusiast would want on his Mustang."

The Stage 3 Suspension Kit works with any type of wheel combinations,
but for optimum performance it is suggested that the ROUSH RR03 forged
wheels (part number 402422) and ROUSHcharger™ be utilized as well. The
suspension was specifically designed with the weight of these components
in mind.

Now we're only left wondering when Ford comes out with a special "Knight Rider" edition F-150. Like the Harley-Davidson version, we're assuming the truck bed won't be big enough to hold KITT. Also, note the Shelby cobra that's part of the TV show's logo. We wonder how many ads Ford had to buy to get that level of a boa constrictor-like grip on the creative process? [Knight Rider]

Our sources tell us the reason the Giugiaro concept-based 'Stang is coming to LA is partly due to the lucrative convertible market represented by sunny California, but also because it offers Ford the opportunity to become the star of the show. Despite being located in the civilized world, LA is still eclipsed by Detroit's NAIAS, which sees a huge number of new models unveiled each year. By unveiling the Mustang in LA, Ford hopes to guarantee more coverage.

It also looks like we'll be getting three models at the unveiling, as described in Ford's press release:

• New Ford Mustang - coupe, convertible, and glass-roof models - in early 2009

No word on which engines we'll be seeing, but our fingers are firmly crossed for an Eco-Boost-equipped 300 HP 2010 Ford Mustang SVO.

ONE-OF-A-KIND MUSTANG AV8R TO BENEFIT YOUTH PROGRAM AT WORLD-FAMOUS AIRVENTURE 2008

DEARBORN, Mich., July 23, 2008 - The numbers tied to the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture Oshkosh are impressive, if not overwhelming - but there's one statistic especially worth eyeing.

Some 2,500 show aircraft and 650,000 visitors are expected at this year's meet, which runs from Monday - Aug. 3. An estimated 10,000 airplanes are expected to fly in to the airport in east-central Wisconsin. And here's the kicker: The event will feature one cool Ford Mustang.

A special one-of-a-kind AirVenture Mustang, the Mustang AV8R, will be unveiled on Sunday. The classic American car was named after the famous P-51 Mustang fighter, which played a key role in World War II as a bomber escort. Several P-51s are slated to be at Oshkosh, according to the show's web site, www.airventure.org.

The team at Ford Racing helped develop the aviation-inspired Mustang AV8R. Special features on the 2009 Mustang GT include a glass roof, which is a new option on Mustangs this year; special front and rear fascias; integrated spoiler; and Shelby GT500 wheels. Ford Racing's contributions include a handling pack (dampers, lowering springs, anti-roll bar kit and strut tower brace), supercharger and tuned exhaust that will generate 400 horsepower from the aluminum block 4.6-liter, 24-valve V-8 engine.

The Mustang AV8R is painted in Satin Silver matte paint with Black Gloss accents. The interior features distressed "bomber jacket" leather inserts and trim panels along with a "Bullitt" aluminum instrument panel appliqué and shift knob. It also has an appliqué autograph area for the aviation legends and notable enthusiasts scheduled to be in attendance, who include Edsel B. Ford II, Chuck Yeager, Jack Roush, Harrison Ford, John Travolta, Morgan Freeman and Jim Lovell.

Douglas Gaffka, the chief designer for the Mustang, took a restrained, modern approach for the Mustang AV8R.

"We chose anodized silver for the body sides and high-gloss black for the hood, which flows through the glass roof - it was almost like having a canopy," Gaffka said. "We also embedded the Air Force star in the glass."

Collectors can bid on the car. Perspective owners should contact Matt Miller at 1-800-236-1025 for details about the July 31 auction. Auction proceeds will benefit the EAA's Gathering of Eagles program, which helps provide scholarships for young people interested in aviation careers.

Donating the Mustang AV8R is the latest example of Ford's continuing commitment to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Last year, Ford donated two tickets to the finals of "American Idol," which sold for $16,500. Ford and Shelby Automobiles donated a Mustang Shelby GT-H in 2006, which sold for $250,000.

"The Mustang AV8R is the latest commitment from Ford in support of EAA's effort to build the future of aviation," said Tom Poberezny, EAA president. "This stunning, one-of-a-kind automobile will be a very special addition to our Gathering of Eagles fund-raiser, which supports EAA's aviation education and preservation work throughout the year."

Jalopnik Snap Judgement: Ford's going the same route as the 2009 Corvette ZR1 at Monterey, 2010 Jaguar XF-R and the 2009 Nissan GT-R at Goodwood with this "special" preview at the track. The only difference between the new Mustang and the rest of those "early preview" cars is the Mustang is a volume production car for Ford. That means, dropping it out at an event like this takes some measure of balls. We like balls on an automaker. However, we don't like over-processed "smooth" hip-hop when we're trying to hear engine noise. Just an FYI.

We've got the full press release below:

NEW 2010 FORD MUSTANG HITS TRACK DURING HISTORIC RACING WEEKEND AT ROAD AMERICA

* The new 2010 Ford Mustang, in camouflage, will pace the Wis. Ford is the sponsor of the Kohler International Challenge vintage race.
* Saturday is "Ford Mustang Day," meaning Mustang drivers and passengers can enjoy the festivities for free. This includes a dedicated "Mustang Corral" inside the front straightaway.

DEARBORN, Mich., July 17, 2008 - A sneak peek at the future Ford Mustang will help kick off the celebration of a historic Mustang racing win this weekend at Road America, the largest vintage car event in North America.

Enthusiasts will be part of a special public "debut" of the highly anticipated 2010 Ford Mustang, which will serve as the pace car for the vintage racing field throughout the weekend. The next-generation Mustang will be outfitted in a special "camo" package, keeping some key design cues secret until its reveal later this year.

The camouflaged future version of America's favorite muscle car will look right at home in Elkhart Lake, Wis., along with a 2009 Ford Mustang Bullitt and a 2009 Ford Fusion with a limited-edition "Blue Suede Package."

Saturday marks Ford Mustang Day at Road America featuring a "Mustang Corral" along the straightaway. Every Ford Mustang and its occupants will be admitted free on Saturday to the Kohler International Challenge presented by Ford.

"One of the key components of our program is to meet our customers face-to-face, and the Kohler International Challenge provides an excellent opportunity for Ford to interact with a group of dedicated, knowledgeable enthusiasts," said Robert Parker, Car Marketing manager, Ford Division. "Road America and the vintage weekend provides an opportunity for customers to get behind the wheel and for Ford to show off our new product line, while still highlighting the fact Ford has been involved in racing since the inception of our company more than a century ago."

While historic race cars will be gracing the famous race track, enthusiasts on hand also will be able to get behind the wheel of some of Ford's latest products at the Briggs & Stratton track located inside the Road America circuit. Ford will have the 2009 Flex, Escape, Edge, Fusion, Focus coupe and other vehicles available for consumers to test drive all weekend.

The 25th anniversary of the then-highly anticipated 1983 Mustang GTP debut and its rain-soaked maiden victory is the foundation forthe on-and off-track events.

The Mustang GTP car that won that day will be on display for the thousands of fans attending the event. The legendary car, an innovative racer that was the creation of Ford's then newly-formed Special Vehicle Operations (SVO), will be just a part of a significant Ford presence at the annual vintage event.

Also on hand during the weekend will be several Ford GTs, which will give hot laps on the legendary 4.048-mile Road America course. Fans can enter to win a Ford GT hot lap, which will be given away every hour, or laps can be purchased by making a $50 charitable donation to the Wisconsin Multiple Sclerosis Society or to the Vince Lombardi Titletown Champions foundation, which is raising money for youth sports programs.

The final component to the Ford Mustang celebration is on-track. Four Shelby Cobras will enter the Historic Grand Prix, and the Shelby drivers will wear vintage late 1960's racing attire. These Shelby entries mark the first time Shelby Automobiles has joined forces with Ford to race since 1968.

Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 228,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

(Hat tip to Mustang Evolution!)

Suitability Parameters:
Speed Merchants: Yes
Fashion Victims: Yes
Treehuggers: No
Mack Daddies: Yes
Tuner Crowd: No
Hairdressers: No
Penny Pinchers: No
Euro Snobs: No
Working Stiffs: No
Technogeeks: No
Poseurs: No
Soccer Moms: No
Nascar Dads: Yes
Golfing Grandparents: No

Also Consider:
• 2010 Chevy Camaro
• 2009 Dodge Challenger RT
• Dodge Charger Police Package
• Shelby Mustang 350-H
• BMW 335i Coupe
• Infiniti G37
• 1968 Ford Mustang 390 CID Fastback, Highland Green, no badges, dented in the front

Vitals:
• Manufacturer: Ford
• Model year: 2008
• Base price: $27,020
• Price as tested: $34,705
• Engine type: 4.6-liter V8
• Horsepower: 315 @ 6,000 RPM
• Torque: 325 @ 4,250 RPM
• Transmission: 5-speed Manual
• Curb weight: 3,590 lbs
• LxWxH: 187.6" x 73.9" x 55.5"
• Wheelbase: 107.1"
• Tires: P235/55ZR17
• 0 - 60 mph: 5.0 seconds
• EPA fuel economy city/highway: 15/23 MPG
• Jalopnik fuel economy: 18.4 MPG
• NHTSA crash test rating (Front/Driver Side/Passenger Side): *****/*****/****

Also see:
• 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt, Part One
• 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt, Part Two

Those kind of numbers are usually reserved for the elite, which explains the car's $80,000 price tag, plus whatever the dealer thinks he should add for his, you know, trouble. [5.0 Mustangs and Super Fords]

Acceleration: ****
The buff books have been pegging the Bullitt 's 0-to-60 MPH time at around five seconds flat. That just-slightly-faster than a stock Mustang GT time is achieved thanks to a shorter rear-axle ratio, freer-flowing exhaust and an additional jolt of power from a Ford Racing cold air intake. The redline's been pushed to 6500 rpm. None of that, of course, means anything when you're driving it. The force of gravity pulling your ass backwards and the force of glee pulling the corners of your mouth into your cheeks as you smoke the tires is the best measure of speed, and the Bullitt has plenty of both.

Braking: ***
When you're going fast it's hard to remember that you need to stop. In fact, the best check of the brakes occurred not at the end of the drag strip, but rather as I noticed the fuel gauge beeping and the last gas station on an empty road fast approaching. Braking is sufficient, bringing the car to a halt without any theatrics, but it's nothing amazing.

Ride: ****
This is a Mustang? A performance Mustang? Though not Oldsmobuick floaty, it still manages to glide across the road and even off the beaten path it doesn't bitch and moan. I found it hard to believe that this was a heavy muscle car, much less a Mustang, even after driving it all the way across Texas.

Handling: ****
Balance and predictability are the two key factors here. The Bullitt benefits from a unique strut tower brace and new anti-roll bars which give the chassis a solid feel. Other tweaked suspension bits combine for an enjoyable-yet-manageable experience when tossed around at high speed. Accelerate into a turn from a dead stop and the Mustang's signature propensity to fishtail reveals itself, but even that is precise and controllable thanks to the quick steering.

Gearbox: ****
Who cares about six gears? Who cares about fuel economy? Not us so much. Five well-spaced ratios are all we needed to make the Bullitt perform. The globular aluminum shifter knob is comically large and, in the heat of action, leaves the numbers '1' through '5' and the letter 'R' seared backwards into the driver's palm, but it ends up enhancing the experience given how short and easy the throws are. Just add a layer of french fry grease and it becomes part of your hand.

Audio: ***
There's nothing particularly special about the standard-issue Ford system, which comes with an Auxillary input jack and the option of satellite radio. The real audio system is the car's exhaust, which has supposedly been specially tuned to the sounds from Bullitt. I've watched the movie and I can't quite confirm that, but it doesn't much matter; step on the gas and the deep, throaty rumble will have the high-school girl in the V6 Mustang convertible down the block taking a brief recess from consulting her Sidekick to admire it.

Toys: **
The navigation system might be out of place, but it's functional and touchscreen. Designers, sadly, maintained the 'select-your-color' cupholder and footwell lighting that's offered in the basic GT. I tried to keep the color pink as long as I could manage it — about five seconds. Also, no Sync in our test model. But the lack of toys actually speaks well to the car's purpose — driving.

Value: ***
All told, the 2008 Bullitt comes in at a somewhat hefty $34,705 after the ambient lighting option, GPS, and destination and delivery. If you're not willing to give a GT the necessary upgrades on its own, then it's worth every penny. It's seriously the best Mustang Ford makes. They could, and likely will, come out with 15 more special editions before you finish reading this sentence, but the Bullitt would still be the best. How can you say no when it feels so good?

Overall: ****
There are those who would pass on the car because of the gimmick you must first embrace, the gimmick of the car's eponymous film association. Yes, it is a bit silly. But passing on the car for such a reason would be like walking out on the first course of a carefully prepared meal because you don't like the amuse bouche. It would mean passing on the only muscle car with which you could use the term amuse bouche in a review without feeling a little ridiculous.

Also see:
• 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt, Part Three
2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt, Part One

My journey started in Dallas, a place where, a poet said, they took a billion steers and made them into buildings made of mirrors. A major metropolitan area, Dallas relishes its wealthy, conservative status. It's home to billionaires, 15 at last count, not bulls. You shouldn't underestimate the city as an urban place, like I did. I was scheduled to fly in and pick up the Bullitt just before 5:00 pm, meaning that I got to share in the universal big-city experience of traffic. Though the clutch isn't particularly heavy, the repetitive motion of engaging and disengaging first resulted in some embarrassing soreness.

The next morning I set out early for Austin, anxious to experience the wide open expanse that is Interstate 35 between the two cities. The sun rising over my left shoulder shined against the hand-turned aluminum covering the dash as I marveled at the joy highway driving could bring after two years crisscrossing Chicago. Driving the Bullitt at speed I'm equally amazed at how solid it feels, how smoothly it drives. The construction and attention to detail are so great that I wonder if it doesn't embarrass the engineers to have to go back to working on other Mustangs.

I check my speed as I cross into Waco, which marks the southern border of the Great Plains and the start of the Texas Hill Country. As the road crests, the braking starts, and my eyes scan the border for the black-and-white-and-browns of the Texas Department of Public Safety patrol cars. How unfortunate it would have been to get busted by the Dr. Pepper Squad, as they're pejoratively known, in the town that invented Dr. Pepper. The Bullitt is so stealth and low-key, especially compared to the wildly-striped special editions, I slipped past all law enforcement with ease.

After thirty minutes of sitting around my friend's North Austin apartment, he politely asks what I want to do. We could grab a Shiner Bock at one of the bars situated along the University of Texas' main drag, but my visit to Austin was about more than gawking at leggy coeds. The city sits at the edge of the Balcones Escarpment, remnants of an ancient mountain range, and has the winding roads to prove it.

Without much effort, I'm able to push the Bullitt further and further without feeling like I'm suddenly going to launch the car off the cliff lurking behind a small barrier to my right. I keep downshifting so we can listen to the syncopated thrum of the pony car's eight cylinders projecting off the limestone walls. The quiet American may be a thing, but there's never been a myth about a quiet Texan.

My hunger for the road was nowhere near waning, but the painted sign of the BBQ shack reminded me of an entirely different kind of hunger. As we exited, a group of teenagers walked by, obviously impressed by the sleek pony car. One of them was misled by the lack of a GT badge or spoiler, saying to his friends "It's just the V6 Mustang." Au contraire! I let them know that they shouldn't be confused by the Highland Green paint and lack of badges, this is a special Mustang. I speak with an embarrassing amount of pride given that this isn't actually my car... but that kid needs to be put in his place.

After a weekend in Austin enjoying the abundant and ridiculously good Mexican food, I point my dark green steed toward the coastal plain and Houston. A truly international city with over 90 languages actively spoken, you're more likely to get into a discussion with a Nigerian ex-pat at an exhibit at one of Houston's world-renowned museums than you are to walk into an argument over the proper way to shoe a horse.

About 20 miles out of Houston, in the little town of Sealy, I'm excited to find an unwatched drag strip behind the shop I'm visiting. With no one looking, I push the Mustang to its limits. While my lungs needed time to readjust to the warm, saturated air flowing off the adjacent Gulf of Mexico, the Bullitt inhaled gulps of air and fuel as it propelled me down the track and deeper into my high-backed chair. Though only slightly faster than a stock GT, this particular pony sounds and feels faster. I circled back to the track repeatedly until I realized I had made plans for lunch where I grew up in one of Houston's affluent northern suburbs.

There's nothing better than showing up back home with a car this beautiful and powerful. There are countless Mustangs on the road, but none of them look quite like this. That's why it's so much fun pointing it out to friends, family and people from high school I randomly bump into near the mall. Sure, the car's not mine, but the experience of driving it was too great not to brag about. Modesty is also not a legendary Texas trait.

My work in Houston done, I drove back towards Dallas to drop off the Bullitt and hop on a plane back to Chicago. I still had 200 miles of the rolling, pine-covered terrain of East Texas to cross before I was done but the thought that this was all coming to an end was inescapable. I contemplated turning west, abandoning my responsibilities so I could explore more of this wonderful state.

Even a thousand miles driven in Texas revealed only part of the story of the state and of the car. Texas isn't just cowboys, it's also astronauts and accountants. The Mustang Bullitt isn't just a film homage, it's a typically American car designed to atypically high standards. Though both owe some measure of their popularity to silver screen creation myths involving rogue lawmen and ruthless killers, limiting one's self to fulfilling these antiquated notions means sacrificing an unimaginably glorious and complex present. Lose the boots for some real driving shoes and toss the turtleneck in the trunk. It's Texas: It's too hot for a turtleneck.

Also see:
• 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt, Part Three
• 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt, Part Two

(Photos Copyright Matt Hardigree/Jalopnik)

The result is what the Avenger should have looked like. It's also the closest thing possible to the Centaur of motor vehicles — a pony car with a Ram-headed Charger front end. [CarScoop] [Carscoop]

There sure isn't any mistaking the decade of this car! All it lacks is the faded black plastic louvers over the rear window.


This car has the Canadian Essex V6, but it's a non-hellish project to swap in a junkyard 5.0 and take advantage of the light weight of the LX.


Lose the faux-wire-wheel hubcaps and chrome fender trim, apply a coat of black primer, and this car would look good.

First, 80 MPG for a Fox-body Mustang is like 300 MPG for a Geo Metro. We haven't taken the effort to run the equations, but we're pretty sure there just isn't that much energy in a gallon to begin with, much less all of the losses from various frictions and combustion inefficiencies.

The car is to be entered in the Progressive Automotive X Prize challenge and if Doug's claims turn out to be valid, we plan on turning in our engineering card, that's all we're saying. Check out the video on YouTube and see what you think for yourselves. [Ecomodder]

ROUSH(R) NOW OFFERING COMPLETE CRATE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION PACKAGES FOR SEAMLESS INSTALLATION

LIVONIA, Mich. (July 7, 2008) - Street rod enthusiasts and car builders have traditionally had their share of issues mating the transmission to the engine in a project car; either one or the other would install smoothly, but rarely both would work in tandem without a lot of additional work.

ROUSH(R) Performance has solved this problem with the introduction of the "Ford-in-a-Ford" powertrain package which includes a powerful ROUSH crate engine perfectly matched to a complete aftermarket performance transmission. All hardware, calibrations, and everything needed for a seamless installation is included.

The first application was installed in a 1963 Ford Galaxie which paired a ROUSH 511SRFE engine with 525 horsepower and 575 lb.-ft. torque to a Ford 4R100 four-speed automatic transmission. This car, and powertrain package, will debut at the 11th Annual Goodguys PPG Nationals in Columbus, Ohio on July 11 to 13.

Bob Corn, a former Ford engineer who now works at ROUSH, is the project manager of the package development which will eventually include both short and tall deck small-block engines. During his tenure with Ford, which ran from 1962 through 1981, Corn was instrumental in developing several of the now-legendary Ford engines, including the 427 which is often heralded as one of the most instrumental in automotive history. His background and knowledge made Corn a natural choice to help ROUSH Performance bring a complete powertrain package to market, a product offering unmatched by anyone else.

"As we looked around there was nobody that offered a complete engine powertrain package that was just 'plug and play,' to borrow a computer term," said Corn. "What ROUSH is offering the car builders is a complete kit with a recognizable and proven engine, mated with an industry-leading transmission. All the parts are included in the ROUSH kit - things like the calibration, electronics, throttle position sensor, torque converter and everything that will be needed is already part of the package and all designed to work together and drop right into the chassis. ROUSH is doing all the hard work on the powertrain so all the customer has to be concerned about is the actual car build itself."

Although the 511SRFE engine was the model used to develop the concept, ROUSH will soon offer a complete line of engine and transmission packages that can fit a wide variety of applications.

[Roush]