by: David Bellm
Let's face it, some like their performance cars raw, some like them with a healthy dose of seasonings and side dishes. And sometimes a machine's recipe evolves from one style to the other.
That was certainly the case with one of ex-racer Carroll Shelby's most famous cars. For 1965, he began production of hopped-up Mustangs at his shop in California. For those first couple years, his 'Stangs, called GT-350s, were barely-disguised competition tools.
With a road-racing suspension setup, high-strung small-block V8, and lack of a backseat on which to haul buddies, those original GT-350s weren't a popular pick with the burger-joint crowd. And that was fine with Ford, at least at first -- Shelby's cooperation on the Mustang was initially sought to give competition credibility to Ford's pioneering ponycar, which GT-350s did handily by winning sports-car races.
But starting with the '67 model year, Ford began expecting Shelby's machines to speak to a more mainstream performance crowd -- the typical muscle-car buyer.
Signaling this shift toward street appeal over race-track prowess were mandatory power steering and power brakes, along with a number of optional comfort and convenience features, including air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, and tinted glass.
And, perhaps most importantly, a backseat was now standard.
But despite the added weight of such amenities, Shelby's machines hadn't lost their bite. Although the base GT-350's V8 was now somewhat tamer, that model for '67 was joined by the new GT- 500, powered by a torquey 428-cid big-block V8 rated at 360 hp.
For '68, the GT-500 packed an even bigger wallop, with the midyear introduction of the GT-500KR "King of the Road," which had a 428 that was some 40 hp stouter yet. Also that year, the Shelby Mustang's fastback bodystyle was joined by a convertible, to further appeal to the boulevard cruising set.
Development and production of Shelbys continued along similar lines into the next generation of Mustangs, ending in 1970.
Today, muscle-car fans are divided on which of the Shelby Mustangs are the greatest -- the almost race-ready early versions, or the punchier, plusher, more street-appropriate later ones. Regardless, any flavor of Shelby Mustang is counted among the great performance cars, a fact clearly reflected in the hefty prices these cars command nowadays.
For more articles on muscle cars and vintage sports cars, along with drive-test articles on today?s hottest performance cars, go to http://www.autiv.com/
About The Author
David Bellm is a seasoned test driver and automotive historian. His work has been featured in a wide variety of online and print publications.
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Toyota Hoods: Made for Protection and Customization
Toyota Hoods: Made for Protection and Customization
by: Mark Clarkson
Toyota is currently the leading and largest Japanese automobile manufacturer. It assures all Toyota owners the best parts for their cars. Through time, they have acquired expertise in the employment of auto technology, design, and engineering since they had been in the industry for more than sixty golden years. Thus, it has allowed them to come up with notable and outstanding vehicles. Two of the world?s top-selling cars were crafted by this company, which are the Toyota Corolla and the Toyota Corona. Another feather in their cap is that Toyota also was the creator of the first mass-produced hybrid vehicles ? the Toyota Prius and the Toyota Highlander.
At present, it has 12 manufacturing plants in North America. In the year 2004, Toyota has been able to produce more than 1.44 million vehicles and automobiles, and is still counting. Toyota predicts that by the year 2008, they...
Toyota Hoods: Made for Protection and Customization
Used cars > Toyota Hoods: Made for Protection and Customization
Guidelines In Buying Cars Online
Guidelines In Buying Cars Online
by: Gregory Ashton
The Web is a hassle free place to shop for cars. There are many advantages to shopping cars online. First, it greatly reduces the hassle of dealing with car dealers and salesmen. When buying a car online, you don?t have to listen to a dealer talk about the specs of a car. You just have to read all about it in a website. You don?t have to go to a showroom, you just to have to point and click your mouse and you could browse through different make and models of cars. And if you want to take a second look at a car it?s very easy.
The advantage of shopping for a car online is that all transactions can be done without you having to go out of your room. After ordering the car you want and paying the price, all you have to do is to wit for your brand new vehicle to be delivered to the nearest dealer. Some dealers would even deliver the car right at your doorstep (or garage for that matter).
Used cars > Guidelines In Buying Cars Online
Used cars 1967-68 Shelby GT-500: When Shelby's 'Stangs Moved From Race Grid to Cruise Strip
Used cars 1967-68 Shelby GT-500: When Shelby's 'Stangs Moved From Race Grid to Cruise Strip
Used cars 1967-68 Shelby GT-500: When Shelby's 'Stangs Moved From Race Grid to Cruise Strip tires