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The old saying goes that if you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime. But being a criminal can involve more than just taking a trip to the big house; it can also mean losing possessions purchased from any ill-gotten gains. Still, one man’s loss is another’s gain, and if you’re in Lodi, NJ, on September 12, you stand the chance to buy some of the ultimate muscle cars from the US Marshals in what is being gruesomely nicknamed the Blood Muscle auction.

The grisly moniker was earned because all of the vehicles belonged to the president of a blood testing company who is facing prison time for alleged bribery, according to Hemmings. After all, they are muscle cars bought with actual blood money. The seven-vehicle collection includes some of the ultimate muscle cars ever made, and the original buyer clearly had an eye for rarity.

This cornucopia of V8 power includes a teal 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429, a 1967 Shelby GT500 Mustang, an orange 1970 Plymouth Superbird, a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS convertible and perhaps most prized of all – a trio of 1969 Yenko Chevys with a Chevelle, Nova and Camaro all represented. From the included photos, all of them look to be in fantastic condition.

A.J Willner Auctions, which is coordinating the sale, has authenticating documents for all seven vehicles on its website. “This is a live auction, all bidders will need to attend and bid in person with the required $10,000 cashier’s check as a deposit on them,” the company says about the event. If you can get past how the cars were purchased, there could be some bargains here.

‘Blood Muscle’ auction to sell impressive collection of ill-begotten classic cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Jul 2014 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saleen may be making headlines these days for working on the Tesla Model S, but its history and bread-and-butter is all about the Ford Mustang. The rear-wheel-drive Dearborn pony cars singlehandedly put the company on the map in the ’80s. Founder Steve Saleen was already a talented American racing driver when he started the venture, and like many auto industry businesses before him, Saleen went to the track to prove his vehicles’ worth. Now, there’s a chance to buy one of those early racers on eBay Motors.

Saleen Mustangs raced in the Sports Car Club of America Escort Endurance Championship – a series of multi-hour races meant to challenge man and machine. Ostensibly a showroom stock class, the cars had larger wheels, tuned suspensions and other upgrades that stretched the concept slightly. Saleen found major success though, taking the championship for its class in 1987 and winning the 24 Hours of Mosport consecutively from 1986 through 1988.

According to the seller, Saleen only built eight of these cars, and this one carries the #21R serial number. They all started life as new Mustangs from Ford dealers but were immediately stripped and prepped to go racing. Beyond obvious mods like a roll cage, they featured eight-inch wide wheels in front, an inch of additional track width, stiffer suspension bushings and much more.

Saleen #21R is still in its well-known “Bumblebee” livery and includes its SCCA logbook, original wheels, a Saleen title, Steve’s signature on the interior and many of the company’s ID tags still on the car, according to the auction. It carries a Buy It Now of $65,000, and the auction ends on August 13. That’s not cheap, but it would likely be quite a conversation piece whenever it arrived for a day at the track.

eBay Find Of The Day: 1988 Saleen Ford Mustang General Tire 21R race car originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Jul 2014 09:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford is back at the Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture air show in Oshkosh, WI, on July 31 auctioning off its seventh Mustang for charity, and this is one seriously mean looking 2015 ‘Stang. All of the money from the sale goes to give free introductory flights to young people to get them interested in aviation.

We recently saw this latest EAA Mustang as a sketch. However, it looks a whole lot more menacing in person. Dubbed the Ford F-35 Lightning II Edition Mustang, it takes liberal inspiration from Lockheed Martin’s latest fighter jet, and the customization makes the pony car look ready for a role in Top Gun.

On the outside, the special Mustang wears titanium-color paint that’s offset by a black and yellow stripe running from hood to rear. Out back things get really wild with a mix of bright yellow and black that flows diagonally all the way to the rear spoiler. The design is based on the livery of early production F-35s. If the rousing color scheme isn’t enough to get you interested, the car also gets a carbon fiber front splitter and rear diffuser, lowered suspension and a set of custom 21-inch wheels with yellow brake calipers.

Inside, the design continues to take inspiration from the fighter with gold-tinted windows to match the radar shielding from the plane’s cockpit. To keep the driver and co-pilot planted, there are two big Recaro sport seats with more yellow accents, and in case you forget what’s influencing the car, the door panels and floor mats show the F-35.

Ford’s work with the EAA has raised over $2.5 million for charity, and last year’s Air Force Thunderbirds-inspired car brought in nearly $400,000. With the 2015 Mustang being so highly desired, you might need some deep pockets to put this one in your garage. Scroll down to read more about this fighter-inspired coupe.

Ford F-35 Lightning II Edition Mustang appears at EAA Oshkosh

Ford F-35 Lightning II Edition Mustang appears at EAA Oshkosh originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Jul 2014 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The horsepower wars are tightening among the Detroit Three, as the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger are getting bigger, more powerful, and yes, more fuel efficient.

That came into sharper focus this week as more information was revealed about the most insane Challenger ever – the 707-horsepower Hellcat – followed quickly by Ford’s in-depth showcase of the 2015 Mustang in Dearborn.

It’s shaping up to be a golden age for enthusiasts, and what’s under the hood is becoming more important than ever.

The V8s

• Right now, the 5.0-liter Mustang GT has the lead among Detroit’s V8 muscle cars in the power department, though there’s a caveat. The 435-hp output of the 5.0-liter ‘Stang is ahead of the 6.2-liter LS3 V8 Camaro SS, which is rated at 426 ponies. It’s also better than the 5.7-liter V8 Challenger R/T’s 375 hp.
• But, it trails the 6.4-liter V8 used in the 392 Challenger, which makes 485 hp. Blue Oval enthusiasts could argue the 392 is a sort of “Hellcat Lite,” and not the GT’s true competitor.
• The tables are turned in the torque department, as the V8 Stang summons 400 lb-ft, which is behind the Camaro SS (420 lb-ft), the Challenger R/T (410 lb-ft) and the 392 (475 lb-ft).
• Of course, we’re just talking about the 2015 Mustang’s competition, and since we don’t know what’s in store for the SVT-tuned example yet, we’re leaving out any comparisons to the Camaro Z/28 and ZL1, as well as the previously mentioned, 707-hp Challenger Hellcat.

The V6s

• Among V6s, the Camaro is the decided leader in power, boosting 323 hp, well ahead of the Challenger’s 305 hp and the now-detuned Mustang, which dropped to an even 300 hp this year.
• The Blue Oval does pack the most torque among six-cylinders with 280 lb-ft, just ahead of the Camaro’s 278 lb-ft and the Challenger’s 268 lb-ft.

The Wildcard

• Of course, we’re referring to Ford’s EcoBoost inline four-cylinder, which pushes out 310 hp and an impressive 320 lb-ft from a turbocharged 2.3-liter mill. Neither Ford nor Chevy have anything similar in their current muscle car lines, and if there are any undecided potential buyers in this died-in-the-wool segment, it could prove to be a game-changer.

Tipping The Scales

• The turbo four is also the lightest Mustang and the lightest car among these offerings from Detroit, weighing 3,524 pounds. The V6 ‘Stang is just two pounds heavier though, which puts it well ahead of the V6 Camaro (3,702 pounds) and Challenger (3,834 pounds).
• This trend continues among the V8s, as the Mustang GT is 3,705 pounds – just three pounds heavier than the lightest Camaro V6. The eight-cylinder Chevy comes in at 3,908 pounds, which is still lighter than the Challenger’s weight of 4,082 pounds.

So those are the cold, hard numbers. Objectively there are definite winners and losers, depending on what you value in a sporting automobile. But in the end, this segment has always been about more than the numbers. If anything, spec sheets trivialize it. Muscle cars are about the visceral experience from behind the wheel. Pick your favorite, plunk down your cash and hit road. Who are we to tell you that you’re wrong?

View Poll

2015 Ford Mustang vs. Camaro and Challenger [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Jul 2014 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The horsepower wars are tightening among the Detroit Three, as the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger are getting bigger, more powerful, and yes, more fuel efficient.

That came into sharper focus this week as more information was revealed about the most insane Challenger ever – the 707-horsepower Hellcat – followed quickly by Ford’s in-depth showcase of the 2015 Mustang in Dearborn.

It’s shaping up to be a golden age for enthusiasts, and what’s under the hood is becoming more important than ever.

The V8s

• Right now, the 5.0-liter Mustang GT has the lead among Detroit’s V8 muscle cars in the power department, though there’s a caveat. The 435-hp output of the 5.0-liter ‘Stang is ahead of the 6.2-liter LS3 V8 Camaro SS, which is rated at 426 ponies. It’s also better than the 5.7-liter V8 Challenger R/T’s 375 hp.
• But, it trails the 6.4-liter V8 used in the 392 Challenger, which makes 485 hp. Blue Oval enthusiasts could argue the 392 is a sort of “Hellcat Lite,” and not the GT’s true competitor.
• The tables are turned in the torque department, as the V8 Stang summons 400 lb-ft, which is behind the Camaro SS (420 lb-ft), the Challenger R/T (410 lb-ft) and the 392 (475 lb-ft).
• Of course, we’re just talking about the 2015 Mustang’s competition, and since we don’t know what’s in store for the SVT-tuned example yet, we’re leaving out any comparisons to the Camaro Z/28 and ZL1, as well as the previously mentioned, 707-hp Challenger Hellcat.

The V6s

• Among V6s, the Camaro is the decided leader in power, boosting 323 hp, well ahead of the Challenger’s 305 hp and the now-detuned Mustang, which dropped to an even 300 hp this year.
• The Blue Oval does pack the most torque among six-cylinders with 280 lb-ft, just ahead of the Camaro’s 278 lb-ft and the Challenger’s 268 lb-ft.

The Wildcard

• Of course, we’re referring to Ford’s EcoBoost inline four-cylinder, which pushes out 310 hp and an impressive 320 lb-ft from a turbocharged 2.3-liter mill. Neither Dodge nor Chevy have anything similar in their current muscle car lines, and if there are any undecided potential buyers in this died-in-the-wool segment, it could prove to be a game-changer.

Tipping The Scales

• The turbo four is also the lightest Mustang and the lightest car among these offerings from Detroit, weighing 3,524 pounds. The V6 ‘Stang is just two pounds heavier though, which puts it well ahead of the V6 Camaro (3,702 pounds) and Challenger (3,834 pounds).
• This trend continues among the V8s, as the Mustang GT is 3,705 pounds – just three pounds heavier than the lightest Camaro V6. The eight-cylinder Chevy comes in at 3,908 pounds, which is still lighter than the Challenger’s weight of 4,082 pounds.

So those are the cold, hard numbers. Objectively there are definite winners and losers, depending on what you value in a sporting automobile. But in the end, this segment has always been about more than the numbers. If anything, spec sheets trivialize it. Muscle cars are about the visceral experience from behind the wheel. Pick your favorite, plunk down your cash and hit road. Who are we to tell you that you’re wrong?

View Poll

2015 Ford Mustang vs. Camaro and Challenger [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Jul 2014 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The 2015 Ford Mustang sounds great so far – at least on paper. Ford has just announced specs for the latest version of the iconic pony car in Dearborn, telling Autoblog that it will pump out as much as 435 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque from its 5.0-liter V8.

Those gaudy figures power the naturally aspirated GT model, and they easily eclipse the “more than” 420 hp and 390 lb-ft that Ford originally estimated.

The 2.3-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder makes 310 hp and 320 lb-ft, and it’s the first turbo Mustang since the 1986 SVO.

The 3.7-liter V6, which has by default become the entry-level model, is rated at 300 hp and 280 lb-ft. Power is down slightly from 2014’s output of 305 hp to slot the naturally aspirated six-cylinder below the EcoBoost four banger.

The Mustang will start at $24,425, including destination charges, when it goes on sale later this year.

Ford significantly redesigned the Mustang for 2015. It has a new suspension featuring an independent rear setup, beefier brakes, an upgraded infotainment system with MyFord Touch and more interior space. It’s all wrapped in sleeker styling that accentuates its fastback silhouette and improves aerodynamics while still channeling the appearance of the original 1960s pony car.

As we’ve noted, these performance figures are even better than Ford (albeit conservatively) projected. But if they aren’t enough to quicken your pulse, sit tight. Ford’s Special Vehicles Team is hard at work on something that promises to be still more menacing. Stay tuned.

2015 Ford Mustang specs revealed, GT to pack 435 HP originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Jul 2014 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The 2015 Ford Mustang sounds great so far – at least on paper. Ford has just announced specs for the latest version of the iconic pony car in Dearborn, telling Autoblog that it will pump out as much as 435 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque from its 5.0-liter V8.

Those gaudy figures power the naturally aspirated GT model, and they easily eclipse the “more than” 420 hp and 390 lb-ft that Ford originally estimated.

The 2.3-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder makes 310 hp and 320 lb-ft, and it’s the first turbo Mustang since the 1986 SVO.

The 2.3-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder makes 310 hp and 320 lb-ft, and it’s the first turbo Mustang since the 1986 SVO.

The 3.7-liter V6, which has by default become the entry-level model, is rated at 300 hp and 280 lb-ft. Power is down slightly from 2014’s output of 305 hp to slot the naturally aspirated six-cylinder below the EcoBoost four banger.

The Mustang will start at $24,425, including destination charges, when it goes on sale later this year.

Ford significantly redesigned the Mustang for 2015. It has a new suspension featuring an independent rear setup, beefier brakes, an upgraded infotainment system with MyFord Touch and more interior space. It’s all wrapped in sleeker styling that accentuates its fastback silhouette and improves aerodynamics while still channeling the appearance of the original 1960s pony car.

Meanwhile, fears that the Mustang’s new technologies would result in a significant weight gain were overstated. According to a Ford slide shown at the Dearborn presentation, the lightest model is the EcoBoost four-cylinder with an automatic transmission, which checks in with a base curb weight of 3,524 pounds. That’s only 28 pounds heavier than last year’s lightest model, the V6 with a manual.

The rest of the lineup is similarly trim. The base curb weight of the 2015 V6 fastback with a six-speed manual transmission is 3,526 pounds, a 30-pound increase from the 2014 model. A V6 with an automatic is 3,530 pounds (up just 12 pounds), followed by the EcoBoost with a manual (3,532 pounds).

The GT packed on 87 pounds, and now weighs 3,705, and the GT with an automatic gained 54 pounds to now weigh 3,729 pounds.

Ford product chief Raj Nair said the focus was on the power-to-weight-ratio (11.36 pounds per hp for the lightest EcoBoost, 8.52 pounds per hp for the GT) and called the new generation “the greatest, most advanced performing Mustang we’ve ever done.”

As we’ve noted, these performance figures are even better than Ford (albeit conservatively) projected. But if they aren’t enough to quicken your pulse, sit tight. Ford’s Special Vehicles Team is hard at work on something that promises to be still more menacing. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: We’ve just received details about the Mustang’s weight, which have been added into the story. The official press release has also been posted, below.

2015 Ford Mustang specs revealed, GT to pack 435 HP [UPDATE]

2015 Ford Mustang specs revealed, GT to pack 435 HP [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Jul 2014 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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