Carroll Shelby’s own tuning company Shelby American has announced the return of the GT350 model, debuting it at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale 45 years after the original GT350 was released.

Based on the new 2011 Mustang GT, the GT350 gets a Ford Racing supercharged mated to the stock car’s 5.0-liter V8 to make roughly 500-hp – which shouldn’t be hard considering the stock motor already makes 412-hp. The engine also gets some bling with Blue Shelby GT350 valve covers and billet caps.

In addition, the GT350 conversion includes a complete aero kit with a dual central-exit exhaust system, 19-inch Cragar wheels, Goodyear tires and a Baer six-piston front brake setup up front. Several changes have been made to the suspension with Ford Racing springs, struts, sway bars and adjustable camber/caster plates.

“In 1964, Ford Motor Company asked Shelby American to turn their secretary’s car into a race winner to help them sell Mustangs,” said Carroll Shelby, founder of Shelby American. “Our Shelby GT350 ruled its class at the track and was feared by GM and Chrysler owners on the street. Enthusiasts have anticipated the GT350’s return since it went out of production in 1970. Now my band of hot rodders has created a car worthy of the name.”

All GT350 conversions are performed at Shelby American’s facility in Las Vegas for a price of $33,995 (plus the cost of the car). Yikes!

GALLERY: Shelby American GT350

Official release after the jump:

Along with a simply massive display of 2010 Mustangs for this year’s SEMA Show, Ford will showcase the tuning expertise of four shops (and one in-house project) that have chosen the F-150 as their vehicle of choice. And just as the Mustang is the most customized overall vehicle in the $31.8 billion aftermarket industry, the F-Series of pickups is the most popular pickup to modify.

“The F-150 is the ultimate all-around ‘do everything’ truck, and it is available in 10 different distinct versions, everything from an XL work truck to a Platinum luxury edition to the latest edition – the SVT Raptor – for the ultimate off-road experience,” said Mark Grueber, Ford F-150 marketing manager. “People can personalize the F-150 to meet any need and do just about anything with it.”

Ford’s SEMA Design Manager Melvin Betancourt agrees and says much of the F-150’s success with tuners is due to its broad appeal. “Some people use the F-150 as a work truck. For others, it’s a luxury truck,” he said. “And everyone is always looking to create something that’s new that no one else has ever seen.”

See AutoGuide’s live SEMA Coverage here!

See the full list of custom F-150 trucks after the jump:

I Legacy, the company responsible for the Lee Iacocca Silver 45th Anniversary Edition Ford Mustang has just announced pricing o the completely custom pony car and it’s not easy to swallow. The coachbuilt creation, named after the man who first introduced the world to the Mustang 45 years ago, will start at $89,950 – more than even the Mustang GT500KR. And for the record, that price does not include the Ford Racing supercharger, which pums up the power to 400hp.

What the Iacocca Mustang offers is exclusivity, not just through its design but due to its rarity, with just 45 of the cars being built.

“The Iacocca Mustang embodies all the elements of a car that will be a future collectible,” said Keith Martin, publisher of Sports Car Market magazine. “It is stunning in appearance, will be built in limited numbers and has top-flight performance. Further, given its true custom-built nature, it is being offered at a very reasonable price.”

The car sits lower than stock and has a completely redesigned front end with a slanted grille and recessed headlights. The wheels are 20-inch Iacocca Design models with center caps that feature a bold “I” in the middle. Other markings, including an Iacocca Design hood badge and Iacocca lettering on the rear, will help distinguish this car as a rarity – as will the special Iacocca silver paint.

Inside the choachwork continues with special leather seats, a new leather wrapped steering wheel with an “I” badge, Iacocca-lettering on the door sills and a numbered dash plaque.

As for performance, the 45 cars will be outfitted with a Ford Racing handling package and optional 14-inch Ford Racing brakes.

The Iacocca Silver 45th Anniversary Edition Ford Mustang is offered exclusively through Galpin Ford.

GALLERY: Iacocca Silver 45th Anniversary Edition Ford Mustang

Official release after the jump:

As promised, Ford Racing will bring the Mustang to NASCAR, starting next year in the Nationwide Series.

Looking rather un-Mustang-like, with the exception of a decal strip across the front that bears some resemblance to the narrow grille and headlight assembly on the 2010 Mustang, Ford says the cars will be part of a limited “muscle car” rollout – which will also include the Dodge Challenger.

“We’re excited about being able to race Mustang in front of our loyal NASCAR fan base and know it’s going to win races and championships just like it has in every other series it has competed,” said Brian Wolfe, director of Ford North America Motorsports. “The Mustang created the pony car movement when it debuted in 1964. Now, the NASCAR Mustang has the opportunity to create a whole new look to stock car racing at its highest levels.”

When the story was first reported that both Ford and Doge would bring their pony cars to NASCAR, it was expected that the vehicles would move into the top-level Sprint Cup series, helping boost interest after the series has posted a considerable decline in attendance and TV viewership in the past year. That no longer appears to be the case. Instead, the cars will debut in the Nationwide Series in an effort to help distinguish that series from Sprint Cup.

“We had been talking with NASCAR for some time about Mustang as part of its vision for a ‘muscle car’ rollout for the Nationwide Series. We both saw it as a way of differentiating the series from Sprint Cup,” said Wolfe. “We loved the idea, so we jumped on the chance to extend Mustang’s racing legacy to a new series reaching a huge and loyal audience. Mustang has dominated other forms of racing, including NHRA drag racing, Grand-Am Cup road racing, and Formula D drifting, and now it’s coming to NASCAR Nationwide.”

Surprisingly, while the Ford Mustang is touted as the “most successful single nameplate brand in professional racing history,” it has never competed in NASCAR.

“I think race fans – and Mustang loyalists – will be very pleased when we publicly roll out the first car later this fall,” said Wolfe.

Official release after the jump:

Shelby Automobiles, Inc., the Las Vegas tuning shop that bears the name of Carroll Shelby himself, has just announced that it will offer a Super Snake kit for the new 2010 Ford Shelby GT500.

Customers will be able to choose from two supercharger kits with a Shelby/Ford Racing kit increasing output to 630hp or a Shelby/Kenne Bell blower kit pumping out 725hp. That 725hp kit will also include a new driveshaft capable of handling all that power, as well as twin 75mm throttle bodies to feed the supercharger. A Borla exhaust will also be included, as will a six-speed transmission with a 3.73 rear axle ratio.

Shelby Autos will offer two suspension setups, including a Shelby/Eibach package or a Ford Racing package with adjustable shocks, lowering springs, sway bars and a front strut tower brace.

A set of Shelby-design Alcoa 20-inch wheels comes on the Super Snake with a massive set of six-piston front brakes.

Outside the Super Snake can be distinguished by a unique fiberglass hood, Super Snake stripes, Shelby lettering on the rear decklid and Super Snake badges. The interior will also feature plenty of unique Shelby and Super Snake items.

“We take great pride in engineering fast, fun cars that people love to drive,” said Carroll Shelby. “Over the past 12 months, my team of hot rodders was hard at work on a Super Snake package for the next generation GT500. Every lesson we learned kicking the competition around on the track over the past two years has been poured into this new car to keep Shelby owners out front.”

“Since we introduced the Super Snake package for the GT500 in 2007, this Shelby has become the pinnacle of current generation muscle cars,” said Amy Boylan, president of Shelby Automobiles. “While the stock GT500 is a fine car, serious enthusiasts know that they can come to us to make their Shelby even better. For those who crave a harder edged Shelby, this is your car.”

The 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake is available through Shelby Automobiles at a cost of $29,495 for the 630hp package and $33,495 for the 725hp package. The Super Snake transformation will be offered in limited numbers to retain exclusivity.

GALLERY: 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake

Official release after the jump:

Industry legend Lee Iacocca, the man who first introduced the world to the Ford Mustang, is now getting his own special edition of the iconic car. But this is far more than a badge and a decal packaged slapped on to a GT model, it’s a fully redesigned pony car by Iacocca himself, with help from designer Michael Leone,  the Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters and Galpin Ford.

Titled the Iacocca Silver 45th Anniversary Edition Ford Mustang, just 45 of the coachbuilt creations will be available through Galpin Ford.

The car sits lower than stock and has a completely redesigned front end with a slanted grille and recessed headlights. The wheels are 20-inch Iacocca Design models with center caps that feature a bold “I” in the middle. Other markings, including an Iacocca Design hood badge and Iacocca lettering on the rear, will help distinguish this car as a rarity – as will the special Iacocca silver paint.

Inside the choachwork continues with special leather seats, a new leather wrapped steering wheel with an “I” badge, Iacocca-lettering on the door sills and a numbered dash plaque.

As for performance, the 45 cars will be outfitted with a Ford Racing handling package and optional 14-inch Ford Racing brakes.

Power will come from either the standard 4.6-liter V8, which boasts five extra horsepower for a total of 320hp, thanks to a Ford Racing air intake. An optional Ford Racing supercharger will also be offered with an output of 400hp!

The Iacocca Silver 45th Anniversary Edition Ford Mustang will be offered exclusively through Galpin Ford starting in July.

For more info visit:

www.ilegacy.com

GALLERY: Iacocca Silver 45th Anniversary Edition Ford Mustang

Official release after the jump:

After the success of Ford’s 2008 Mustang Cobra Jet, the company has announced plans to bring back the factory drag racer using the new 2010 platform.

The new model will use a 425hp supercharged 5.4-liter V8 direct from the Ford Racing Performance Parts catalog. Ford also plans to make another engine available, with an aluminum block and 475hp. A six-speed manual transmission (the same found in the ‘08 model) will be standard equipment, however, there will be an option to upgrade to a 5-speed Liberty manual unit or a race-spec auto-box.

In addition, the Cobra Jet will get an NHRA certified roll cage and lightweight racing brakes.

“I’ve said from my first day in this job that I wanted Ford Racing to continue to be a ‘racer-friendly’ organization,” said Ford Racing boss Brian Wolfe. “That’s why we take great pride in being one of only two car companies worldwide that builds ready-to-race cars and sells them as part of our performance parts offerings.”

The 2010 Cobra Jet comes hot on the heels of the 2008 model (pictured above), which was created to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original.

Only 50 Cobra Jets will be built, the exact number required by the NHRA in order for the vehicles to run in the series.

Pricing is expected to be in the $75,000 range with production in the Fall for delivery early 2010.

Official release after the jump:

The U.S. Air Force has teamed up with Galpin Auto Sports to create two fighter-jet inspired pieces of American muscle.

Based in Van Nuys, California, Galpin is best known for taking horrible cars and turning them into abominations on MTV’s Pimp My Ride. The group at Galpin also built the KITT Mustang for the widely unsuccessful 2008 Knight Rider series.

While arguably both the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger under these Galpin creations have been ruined, there is a undeniable coolness to both. And that is what the U.S. Air Force is hoping young men and women (although we suspect mostly men) will think, as it uses the vehicles to show the technical and mechanical job opportunities available in the Air Force.

Called the X1, the modified Mustang gets a complete aerodynamic overhaul and a stunning coat of matte-white paint. Under the hood there’s a 4.6-liter V8 that’s been pumped up to 500hp thanks to some Ford Racing heads, new cams and long tube headers.

The real changes, however, are inside where a single fighter-jet seat sits front and center and is surrounded by numerous screens and jet controls. The screens have the ability to show objects ahead through both night vision and thermal imaging.

As for the Dodge Challenger, it’s been transformed into a stealthy machine and has been given the name Vapor. Along with a wider set of fenders and plenty of other body work it gets matte-black paint that actually absorbs radar. Also included are a set of carbon fiber wheels, a proximity sensor and a 360 degree camera that can see a full quarter mile.

Inside the Challenger also gets plenty of screens and aircraft controls, as well as a full heads up display on the windshield that can show both thermal and night vision.

And to complete the stealthy look, the Vapor also gets a special exhaust setup that allows it to run silently.

GALLERY: Galpin Ford Mustang X1

GALLERY: Galpin Dodge Challenger Vapor

[Source: egmcartech.com]