Shelby EXP500 CSS "Black Hornet" to be auctioned for charity

If you've ever felt torn between spending your hard earned green on an ultra rare collectible muscle car and donating to a charity like the Carroll Shelby Children's Foundation, now you can do both. Carroll Shelby has donated the Shelby EXP500 CSS "Black Hornet" from his personal collection to home furnishing retailer Restoration Hardware to auction for charity. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Carroll Shelby Children's Foundation.



"This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to own one of my personal performance cars," said Carroll Shelby, founder of the Carroll Shelby Children's Foundation and legendary car builder and racer. "It's a stunning tribute to the legendary 'Green Hornet', which I used to test some of the era's most advanced technology back in the late 1960s. Along with our friends at Restoration Hardware, I'm challenging enthusiasts across America to take part in this charity auction on eBay for a chance to win the ultimate Christmas toy."



The "Black Hornet" was built by Barry Smith, owner of Legendary G.T., an authorized builder of re-creations of classic Shelby Mustangs. It was built as a tribute to Shelby's original "Green Hornet" test car that his team used to design everything from an independent rear suspension to electronic fuel injection. The "Black Hornet" is an accurate reproduction of the "Green Hornet" built from a 1968 Ford Mustang and painted "Stetson Black" in honor of Shelby's preferred choice of headgear. Aside from the color, the "Black Hornet" is an exact replica of the "Green Hornet" after it received four-wheel disc brakes but before the fuel injection or independent rear suspension.



The "Black Hornet" is powered by a 335-hp. 428 cu-in V-8 and has been a part of Carroll Shelby's personal collection since 2003. It is the only authorized reproduction of the "Green Hornet" in existence and is included in the official Shelby Worldwide Registry.



The "Black Hornet" appeared at the SEMA show in Las Vegas this week and will be auctioned off on eBay from December 2 to 12. A portion of the sale will be donated to the Carroll Shelby Children's Foundation, which helps children around the world who are suffering from life-threatening illnesses and promotes organ and tissue donation. Bidding will start at $100,000.



Vehicle Specifications:



* Cobra Jet 428 V8 Engine

* Marc Underdrive Pulley System

* Cobra Jet Manifold Exhaust System

* Holley High Volume Fuel Pump

* Mallory Unilight Ignition System

* Holley 700 Carburetor (new)

* Edelbrook Aluminum Heads

* Shelby Intake manifold

* Shelby Water Pump

* Shelby Valve Covers

* Cobra Air Cleaner

* Griffith Aluminum Radiator

* Legendary Autometer Customized Gauges

* Top Loader 4-speed transmission

* Power Steering/Power Brakes

* new tinted glass

* Standard interior without Roll Bar

* Deluxe Black Interior with Console

* original seatbelts

* Original '68 Cobra Steering Wheel

* 9" Currie Rear End - 3.25 ratio

* Original Style AM Radio

* Shelby 10-Spoke Wheels

* Goodyear GTII Tires

* Sequential Tail Lights

* Lucas fog lights

Shelby to offer 427 package for GT500

Image via WikipediaIn conjunction with a Shelby Automobiles will be sponsoring the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motorspeedway in March. The race will actually be lengthened to 427 miles and will be called the 'Shelby 427'. We think it would be more historically appropriate for Shelby to sponsor a road racing event, but the company's proximity to the race track and the better marketing reach make NASCAR a logical choice.



In conjunction with the sponsorship, Shelby will be offering a 427 package for the GT500. Hoping for a 427ci engine conversion? So were we, but prepare to be disappointed. The 427 package will be a simple badge job and will include "Mr. Shelby's personal autograph as well as many other event-related add-ons." Those who purchase the package will also receive race tickets and the possibility to serve as the race's honorary starter.



[Source: Shelby]





PRESS RELEASE:



LAS VEGAS – The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 1, 2009 will be sponsored by Shelby Automobiles. The event will be lengthened to 427 miles and will be called the "Shelby 427."



Together, LVMS and Shelby will market a Las Vegas Motor Speedway Limited Edition Shelby 427 package for the Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang.



LVMS President Chris Powell and Shelby Automobiles founder Carroll Shelby made the announcement today at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas.



"We are ecstatic to have the legendary Shelby name on our 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup race," Powell said. "It's a tremendous opportunity for us to give added exposure to the Shelby brand that has, over the years, become synonymous with the best in high-performance cars."



Bruton Smith, founder and CEO of LVMS parent company Speedway Motorsports, and Carroll Shelby have been friends for many years.



"We are thrilled to combine the efforts of our two companies in this sponsorship," Smith said. "Carroll and his team have long been known for the high quality of their work and the tremendous popularity of their cars."



Carroll Shelby has driven and designed race and sports cars for more than 50 years. His company, Shelby Automobiles, located its manufacturing facility at the speedway complex as the anchor tenant in 1998. The company uses the oval and road courses for its research and development. This is the first time Shelby Automobiles has sponsored a NASCAR event.



"The Shelby name will be forever linked to racing because of our unrivaled success in competition over the years," said Amy Boylan, president of Shelby Automobiles. "The Ford Shelby Mustang programs have allowed us to begin exploring motorsports options again. While we determine the series best suited to our products, we wanted to raise our profile in the racing community, and the NASCAR race next to our campus presented the ideal opportunity. Shelby was the first small American sports car and muscle car manufacturer to win world championships, and now we're the first to sponsor a NASCAR race."



"We're thrilled to have our name on the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Shelby 427," Carroll Shelby said. "From drag racing to Formula 1, I've been involved in just about every type of motor racing except NASCAR. I love the competition, passion and excitement of the fans and teams in NASCAR. We're offering real enthusiasts an opportunity to be part of something really special through this program."



Since its inception in 1998, the Sprint Cup race at LVMS has been run at a length of 400.5 miles, which is 267 laps around the 1.5-mile oval. In order to accommodate the new event name, the race will be increased by 27 miles and will feature 285 laps.



As part of the one-year race sponsorship, Shelby Automobiles will market a Las Vegas Motor Speedway Limited Edition Shelby 427 package for the Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang. Owners of 2007 and 2008 Shelby GT500s with the post title Super Snake package on their muscle car can purchase the limited edition "pace car" upgrade on a first-come, first-served basis by emailing shelby427@lvms.com. Shelby enthusiasts may have their names added to a waiting list for the package by emailing shelbywaitinglist@lvms.com. The upgraded package will include Mr. Shelby's personal autograph as well as many other event-related add-ons. Only 427 of these packages will be available through Shelby Automobiles.



Those who purchase a Shelby 427 package will also receive special race tickets and other amenities, including the opportunity to serve as the race's honorary starter

Chip Foose unleashes "Terracuda"

Brown is a color reserved for few. Once it adorned many cars, but nowadays it's largely ignored in favor of more popular hues. Chip Foose is a man known for making lust worth cars, and with his latest creation he shows what brown can do for you.

The story goes that one of Foose's customers brought in a Breitling watch and asked Chip to make his car the same color. This was the result, a 1970 Plymouth Barrauda painted in Terracuda Brown with California Gold stripes, both of which are part of Foose's new line of paints developed with BASF.

The Terracuda is much more than just the paint, however, and is up to the high standard that is common among all Foose vehicles. The unibody of the original car was removed and replaced with a custom frame designed by Chip and built by Art Carr, and every panel of the car has been changed in some way. The front axle has been moved forward three inches to create less of an overhang, and the rear bumper has been cut down and tucked in.

Under the hood is Mopar's 392ci crate engine that is mated to a Tremec 5-speed transmission and a Ford 9-inch rear end. The interior is completely custom as well, with Ferrari leather covering carbon fiber seats. Last of all, a set of Foose-designed wheels were added and painted to match the rest of the car.

Ford Mustang SEMA Roundup: Grant Industries

The Annual SEMA auto show is coming fast. Set in Las Vegas on November 4-7th, there will undoubtedly be tons of musclecar variants on display, most highly modified and showing off the latest wares from aftermarket manufacturers.



As one would expect, there are going to be tons of Mustang variations. We'll be breaking them all down for you over the next couple of days.



1969 Ford Mustang by Grant Industries



Powertrain/Drivetrain Type and Modifications: Mustang GT500 KR four-valve V-8 engine; Kenne Bell supercharger and intercooler; AFCO headers; Flowmaster mufflers; FAST engine management computer; Optima battery; AFCO radiator and heat exchanger; Tremec six-speed manual transmission; Ford Racing Hurst shifter; Ford 9-in. differential



Chassis Type and Modifications: Ford Mustang chassis; Heidt's independent front suspension and four-link rear suspension; AFCO coil-overs; SSBC four-wheel disc brakes; Big Bite cross-drilled rotors; Modern Muscle 19- and 20-in. forged multipiece custom wheels; BFGoodrich tires



Exterior Modifications: '69 and '70 Mustang body parts integration; Standox Color custom paint



Interior Modifications: '06 Mustang GT500 KR dashboard, seats and console; Vintage Air heating and air conditioning; Sony audio/video entertainment system; Grant steering wheel; Electric Life power windows; American Auto Wire harness; Cool-It mat

Ford Mustang SEMA Roundup: Roush Performance/Shelby Distribution USA

The Annual SEMA auto show is coming fast. Set in Las Vegas on November 4-7th, there will undoubtedly be tons of musclecar variants on display, most highly modified and showing off the latest wares from aftermarket manufacturers.



As one would expect, there are going to be tons of Mustang variations. We'll be breaking them all down for you over the next couple of days.



2008 Shelby CS8 Turn 2 Mustang by Roush Performance/Shelby Distribution USA



Powertrain/Drivetrain Type and Modifications: Polished Paxton Novi 2200R supercharger; 12psi pulley; intercooler; CPR fuelrails; Magnaflow Tru-X pipe, cats and Magnapack dual exhaust system; Fluidyne radiator; Torsen T-2 differential



Chassis Type and Modifications: Progress Technologies suspension with competition coil-overs, anit-roll bars, control arms. and Panhard bar; American Racing Shelby Redline wheels; BFGoodrich KDW tires



Exterior Modifications: Carroll Shelby/Shelby Performance Parts CS8 body kit; painted-on "seamless" Shelby Graphics



Interior Modifications: Custom Connoly leather and Alcantara suede two-tone seats; Carroll Shelby-signature trim, center gauge cluster, short shifter, billet accessories, sillplates and floor mats

Ford Mustang SEMA roundup: Roush Performance

The Annual SEMA auto show is coming fast. Set in Las Vegas on November 4-7th, there will undoubtedly be tons of musclecar variants on display, most highly modified and showing off the latest wares from aftermarket manufacturers.



As one would expect, there are going to be tons of Mustang variations. We'll be breaking them all down for you over the next couple of days.



2007 HB-R Mustang GT by Roush Performance



Powertrain/Drivetrain Type and Modifications: Polished Roushcharger; Black Jack Power Pulley upgrade; off-road exhaust system; chrome alternator; CPR fuelrails; crinkle-finish blue valve covers; Roush billet trim



Chassis Type and Modifications: Roush suspension system, billet lower control arms, strut tower brace, and six-piston slotted 14-in. braking system; BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW tires; VIP forged three-piece custom 20-in. wheels



Exterior Modifications: Custom GMFI ST1 'glass hood; Roush body kit, front fascia, hood scoop, side skirts, rear wing, rear fascia, and quarter-window panels; Hillbank/Roush 427 HB-R graphics package; smoked exterior light lenses



Interior Modifications: Custom Connoly leather and Alcantara suede two-tone seats; Hillbank/Roush logos; custom body-color painted interior trim; Roush sidesills, billet shift knob, shifter bezel, A/C knobs and pedals; Kenwood multimedia center, DVD, navigation, and GPS

Ford Mustang SEMA roundup: Zeitronix

The Annual SEMA auto show is coming fast. Set in Las Vegas on November 4-7th, there will undoubtedly be tons of musclecar variants on display, most highly modified and showing off the latest wares from aftermarket manufacturers.



As one would expect, there are going to be tons of Mustang variations. We'll be breaking them all down for you over the next couple of days.



Powertrain/Drivetrain Type and Modifications: Zeitronix Zt-2 wide-band AFR meter and data-logging system; MagnaCharger supercharger and intercooler kit; APR Performance carbon valve covers; K&N high-flow air filter; Bassani long-tube headers and race exhaust; Centerforce lightened flywheel and dual friction clutch system



Chassis Type and Modifications: Eibach lowering springs, sport shocks, and anti-roll bars; SSBC big brake kit; ALT 20x8.5-in. and 20x10-in. wheels; Firestone Firehawk tires; Gorilla wheel lock system



Exterior Modifications: APR Performance side mirrors and engine cooling plate; 3D Carbon body kit, rear spoiler, hood and side scoops, E-Grille and bulb replacements; PPG orange stripes with silver pinstripe; StarShield Armor paint protection; Classic Design Concepts style bar with sequential brake lights; Sylvania/Valeo HIDs



Interior Modifications: Magden M.1b performance computer and all-in-one touch screen; JBL audio amplifiers and GT-series speakers and sub; VizuaLogic headrests and LCD screens; Roadwire leather interior; Passion Auto center console, shift boot and handle covers

Ford Mustang SEMA roundup: Motorsports Legends

The Annual SEMA auto show is coming fast. Set in Las Vegas on November 4-7th, there will undoubtedly be tons of musclecar variants on display, most highly modified and showing off the latest wares from aftermarket manufacturers.



As one would expect, there are going to be tons of Mustang variations. We'll be breaking them all down for you over the next couple of days.



2007 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 by Motorsports Legends



Powertrain/Drivetrain Type and Modifications: Magnaflow 3-in. cat-back exhaust



Chassis Type and Modifications: Calipercovers.net rear brake caliper covers



Exterior Modifications: CDC hood struts; Modern Image 3M clear bra; quarter-window scoops; painted mirrors; Shelby Razor 20-in. rims and tires



Interior Modifications: Floor and trunk mats

Ford Mustang SEMA roundup: Trufiber

The Annual SEMA auto show is coming fast. Set in Las Vegas on November 4-7th, there will undoubtedly be tons of musclecar variants on display, most highly modified and showing off the latest wares from aftermarket manufacturers.



As one would expect, there are going to be tons of Mustang variations. We'll be breaking them all down for you over the next couple of days.



2006 Ford Mustang GT by Trufiber



Powertrain/Drivetrain Type and Modifications: 4.6L OHV 24V V-8; 465.1 hp, 437.2 lb-ft of torque; EEV-V engine electronics; TR 3650 five-speed manual transmission; 10psi polished high-output Whipple twin-screw supercharger; Fluidyne high-volume air-to-water intercooler; dual Ford GT fuel pumps; Samco Sport red silicone coolant hoses; Pi-Thon polished billet hose locks; Mac Performance polished stainless radiator cover and fuse box cover; Stage III clutch with billet flywheel; Scott Drake billet-aluminum fluid caps



Chassis Type and Modifications: Front and rear Eibach Pro-Kit coil springs; power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes with ABS; 14-in. Saleen/Stoptech slotted and vented front disc system with four-piston calipers; Brake Designs Inc. drilled and slotted rear rotors with stock calipers; 20-in. custom Raceline wheels with spin-on knockoffs; 20-in. Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tires



Exterior Modifications: Custom paint by SW Body and Paint; Trufiber front fascia, GTS III ram air hood, custom front fenders and carbon-fiber chin splitter; Saleen HID headlights and "PJ" rear quarter-window covers; Cervinis ducktail rear spoiler; Street Scene side scoops and rear bumper fascia; 3D Carbon headlight splitters; painted mirrors by HCM



Interior Modifications: Katzkin Leather seating; custom-painted center console to match car color and stripes by HCM

Ford Mustang SEMA roundup: Trufiber

The Annual SEMA auto show is coming fast. Set in Las Vegas on November 4-7th, there will undoubtedly be tons of musclecar variants on display, most highly modified and showing off the latest wares from aftermarket manufacturers.



As one would expect, there are going to be tons of Mustang variations. We'll be breaking them all down for you over the next couple of days.



2007 Ford Mustang GT Convertible by Trufiber



Powertrain/Drivetrain Type and Modifications: 4.6L OHV 24V V-8; EEV-V engine electronics; 519-hp, 511 lb-ft of torque; Whipple supercharger; Nitrous Express 150 shot system; TR3650 five-speed manual transmission



Chassis Type and Modifications: Front and rear sport-tuned coil springs; front and rear anti-roll bars with HD bushings; N2 front struts and rear shocks; three-link live rear axle with Panhard rod; power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes with ABS; slotted and vented front disc brake system with four-piston calipers; 20-in. Saleen extreme wheels; Dunlop Sport Maxx tires



Exterior Modifications: HCM custom paint; Trufiber front fascia, rear bumper, side skirts, custom fenders, hood, and wing; tonneau cover; CDC light bar; vertical doors; directional mirrors; LED-sequential taillights; HID headlights; LED underbody kit



Interior Modifications: Corbeau seats; Arc audio system; custom-painted interior to match exterior

Ford Mustang SEMA roundup: APR Performance

The Annual SEMA auto show is coming fast. Set in Las Vegas on November 4-7th, there will undoubtedly be tons of musclecar variants on display, most highly modified and showing off the latest wares from aftermarket manufacturers.



As one would expect, there are going to be tons of Mustang variations. We'll be breaking them all down for you over the next couple of days.



The first Mustang we'll preview here is the APR Performance 2009 Mustang GT.



Powertrain/Drivetrain Type and Modifications: Supercharged with air/water intercooler; high-flow air filter; exhaust headers; high-flow catalytic converters with race exhaust; lightened flywheel; high-performance clutch



Chassis Type and Modifications: KW coil-over suspension system; Hotchkis anti-roll bars and links; StopTech big brake kit



Exterior Modifications: APR widebody kit; carbon mirrors; and GTC-500 carbon rear wing



Interior Modifications: APR's carbon center console; Magden M.1b performance computer gauge system and two-DIN all-in-one touch screen; Recaro race seats

500hp Hurst Challenger to debut at SEMA

The legendary maker of shifters, Hurst, has announced that it is teaming up with Dodge to offer a special edition Hurst/Hemi Challenger for 2009. Much more than just a simple trim package, the Hurst will sport at least 500 supercharged horsepower.

"The new Hurst/Hemi Challenger is more than just another musclecar," says Nate Shelton, chairman of Hurst. "It epitomizes the performance industry's tradition of taking the best Detroit has to offer and adding 21st-century performance parts to make your ride faster and cooler than the other guy's. Hurst has a long history of doing just that with guys like Don Garlits, Warren Johnson, Dick Landy, and even celebrity racers Steve McQueen and Jim Garner. The new Hurst/Hemi Challenger is the first of many Hurst Performance Vehicles to come. We are ready to make some more history."

Detail are scarce at the moment. The car will feature Hurst polished five spoke wheels and a classic Hurst "pistol grip" shifter, of course. Production will begin in 2009 after the car has debuted at the SEMA show in November in Las Vegas. No price has been announced yet.

Special edition variations of the Challenger are no surprise as much of Ford's success with the Mustang has been a result of the dozens of variations of it's Mustang. While some enthusiasts like to poke fun at the endless varieties, it generates press and creates interest in the base cars for those who can't afford the big sticker special editions. Expect to see much of the same thing in the future, perhaps with Chevy's new Camaro also.