I can't see them going past 2012...assuming they make it that far. With oil prices projected to hit $150 a barrel by August - and no end to the escalation in sight - I doubt Shelby will be in business past 2012; he simply won't be able to do the volume to warrant his existence.

 

I don't know...i fail to see why someone would HATE SVT?!?!

I mean, considering they did BUILD the car..

 

Me too. I don't know what there is to hate. Why do shelby letters mean so much? Its the end product of the performance of the car that counts. I don't care if it says GT as long as its feared and admired on the streets and at the track and strip.

 

Oh your not, same here. Shelby = Cost and hard on for baby boomers.

 

You might get your wish. Look at the steering wheel emblem.

 

Affordable 500hp cars with questionable mechanicals that wilt like butter in a blast furnace when you breathe on them effing suck worse.

 

I don't hate SVT/SVE, but I don't have a soft spot for them either. Arguably their cars only started to get really interesting with the blown Lightning and Cobra variants both of which only roamed the streets for a few years before the plug was pulled on SVT/SVE as we knew it. I always felt the emphasis on the SVT moniker was misguided, particularly since it often came at the expense of more storied badges. Also, I think they could have done a much better job overall with the organization(s) possessing a culture that wasn't ideal with the group seeming oddly self absorbed...particularly since the idea is to improve Ford product and image overall. However, to be fair FoMoCo as a whole didn't have the best corporate culture by any means during that same time-frame so to lay all this at the door of SVT/SVE may not be fair.

I absolutely believe that Ford needs an internal tuning arm, and I personally don't care what name they give it wether that means the return of SVT or something new....I would just like to see it perform better for the company than I believe SVT/SVE did. Of course, whatever my or your take on the performance of SVT/SVE in the past the reality is that any tuning arm that operates under the tenure of Mulally will do what they are told when they are told because that is just how Mr. Mulally rolls....and that is no bad thing.

 

The instrument cluster looks more like the 67-68 Cougar but the rest screams 67-68 deluxe with AC. I'm liking this the more I see it. The middle of the taillight (clear part) looks to stick out so I'm still not sold on that. Steering wheel, Mirrors, dash, integrated ducktail = yes. Rear mounted antenna=no

Cougar interior

 

I think SVT did a great job given the fact that the SN95 was a very dated platfrom with less than ideal suspension geometry. Imagine what they could do with a modern platform that's designed for an IRS rear. I'd love to see a product czar at Ford and the second coming of SVT/FPV.

Lincoln also could benefit from a tuner division. The Lincoln MKS could be a real hit if they offered a factory "tuned" version. Bump the hp of the "EcoBoost" V6 and teamed it up with a DSG transmission. Add in Brembo 4 piston front brakes and a track tuned sport suspension (increase spring rates, stiffer bushings, and firmer shocks/struts) and it would generate buzz for Lincoln.

 

I like the way the interior appears to be coming along. Can't say the same about the head and tail lights.

 

What?? SVT is not "gone", and the Shelby Mustangs will be with us for years to come.

 

Exactly my feeling. +1

 

I'd agree full heartedly. Great off-the-line acceleration is, well, great, but 13 some seconds later down a smooth, straight line and show over. With great handling, steering and braking, you can actually apply that acceleration capability far more widely and usefully, and for a far longer time to enjoy it. Indeed, I think the Mustang has become to myopic in accentuating straight line performance to the detriment of all the other aspects of the performance envelope.

SVT, under Colletti, had a much fuller and balanced approach to performance and performance driving than is being practices today, despite the S197's far superior platform over the ancient Fox-based chassis. Perhaps $4-$5 gallon gas will force Ford/SVT back to a more balanced and fuller approach to performance -- not to forsake straight line oomp, but to look at the whole driving experience beyond just stomping on the right pedal.

 

Agreed

 

Upper dash is thicker and indented in the center for what could be a speaker.

***Picture removed as per owners request***

 

from 67-68 when they fattened it up for safety reasons.

 

Lookin good!!

 

That whole program ROCKS! Ford should keep a high performance program alive and well. Just NOT SVT. Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate all the FORD engineers R&D & design efforts toward manufacturing performance FORD vehicles. SVT was a dumb name and makes a worse acronym. SVT became way too prominent, and plastering that silly acronym all over every single Ford performance vehicle was stupid. I am glad ford saw the light.

I'm glad the FORD engineers are still there and still working on performance products for FORD. Hopefully they will be releasing some really cool performance models soon without the goofy SVT badging. The SVT marketing program was eliminated for good reason.

 

All of those SVT vehicles.... all 3 of them...

 

AMG and BMW M are very sucessful with marketing various models with their badges. Ford was STUPID to kill SVT.