Barrett-Jackson Auction Company, an auction house specializing in the selling of cars has just auctioned off a one-of-a-kind 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR which has a full glass roof last Saturday. For those of you wondering who the lucky buyer and new owner of this unique vehicle is, it’s none other than Mr. Ron Pratte, a business tycoon whose Phoenix-based company specializes in carpentry trades and who has a penchant for buying and collecting cars, particularly those made by Carroll Shelby. According to reports, the multi-millionaire purchased the one-of-a-kind model for $550,000. The initial bidding for this gem started off at $100,000.

The Shelby GT500KR or the “King of the Road” is considered to be the most powerful Mustang built by Ford with production commencing last January 11, which coincided with the 85^th birthday of Carroll Shelby. With a 540 horsepower, the auctioned model sports a glass roof that provides an option for customers who prefer the use of natural light. The glass is tinted which helps in reducing infrared rays and at the same time, it reduces the cool down time of the vehicle by 50 percent. The glass roof feature is also offered as an option for the 2009 V-6 Mustang and Mustang GT models. The Shelby GT500KR for auction also sports a racing stripe on its glass roof but unlike the other models, the stripe of this car is etched directly on the glass setting it apart from its commercial sibling.

Proceeds from the auction were donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

Sources: topspeed, jalopnik, encyclocentral

If you think that cars are the only things that the Ford Motoring Company produces. Wait till you hear about this. Ford has recently produced “Mustang for Men”, a fragrance inspired by Ford’s signature muscle car.

The Mustang was one of Ford’s most successful product launches in motoring history and the vehicle is best remembered for its featured appearance in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger. The vehicle first saw the light of day in 1964 as a concept that was thought of by  Ford product manager Donald N. Frey. Ford Division general manager Lee Iacocca saw the genius in the concept and felt that the creation of the Mustang will definitely land Ford a permanent spot in motoring history. The Mustang, aptly named the “pony car” had a “long hood and a short deck”.

The success and longevity of the appeal of a Mustang was indeed so strong tht it saw five re-modeling generations. The first generation of Mustangs that came out was a two –seater, mid – engine roadster. The first generation Mustang was an innovation of its kind because of its “torque box”, an attribute that gave the vehicle an edge over its other competitors. The torque box improved the vehicle’s handling. The second generation Mustang, aptly nicknamed by Iaccoca himself as the “little jewel” surely lived up to its name. With a rack-and-pinion steering attribute and a separate engine sub-frame that decreased noise and vibration in the engine, the vehicle was one of the most sold Mustang models. The “little jewel” performed as well as its makers had expected it to. The third generation Mustang had a larger body than its predecessors. The vehicle was now a four seater with a larger trunk and a more spacious interior. The third generation Mustang was chosen as the official pace car for the Indianapolis 500. The fourth generation Mustang was a trimmed down and toned down version of the previous Mustang models. It still had the engine components of the previous Mustangs but this model could optionally do away with leather seating, foglights, a compact disc player, and power accessories. The fifth edition Mustang had everything that a Ford Mustang aficionado could ask for – “upgraded suspension, Bullitt-style wheels, wider tires, a unique grille design with fog lamps, a rear deck spoiler, and unique door striping and emblems”. The fifth edition Mustang model is the latest model to date and Ford is very proud of the excellent trajectory that this car has gone through.

In an effort to further solidify the Mustang identity, Ford has launched the Mustang for Men fragrance. In a partnership with premium make –up and perfume manufacturer Estee Lauder, Ford has launched a fragrance that “captures the essence that Mustang has embodied for decades”.  The perfume is said to be just like the vehicle –“bold, daring and legendary”. Lavender, ginger and lemon give the perfume its bold character. The daring aspect is found in the pipe tobacco and cedarwood scent while the legendary characteristic is embodied in amber, fir balsam and patchouli.

Available in 3.4 oz, 1.7 oz and 1.0 oz cologne spray and 3.4 oz aftershave. A bottle of Mustang for Men starts at a base price of $ 20 per bottle.

Source: Mustang for Men Official Website , Mustang—the New Fragrance for Men, Estee Lauder Goes After Mustang Men

The racing and Special Vehicle Team (SVT) sections of Ford Motor Company, together with Shelby Automobiles Inc., have made an effort to equip the Ford Mustang Shelby Cobra GT500KR 2008 model with a 4-litre supercharged V8 power plant and an upgrade in its racing engine. This new edition has been produced in commemoration of Ford Mustang’s 40^th anniversary.

The improved Ford Mustang GT500KR carries with it approximately 691 N.m of torque. Since it has an ultimate drive proportion of 3, 7:1, this enhanced engine makes the GT500KR one of the greatest versions of the Ford Mustang.

Sources from Ford and Shelby have refused to give a concrete remark regarding how this Mustang actually performs. However, they insinuated that the latest version of GT500KR can actually take the limelight from the Saleen Mustang 281 Extreme, which actually boasts of a superior level of performance.

The 2008 model of the GT500KR received a tremendous amount of enhancement. Because of the modified ignition system and an improved throttle calibration, making the power plant of the car work at an optimum level is certainly possible. Moreover, the new GT500KR underwent minor yet important changes such as incurring lesser front air barrier and having a composite bonnet made of carbon fiber.

Ford has been very particular with every little feature of the Mustang, from the delivery of the engine power to the minor auto parts. This is chiefly because of its aim to offer a grand driving experience to its potential customers. “We aren’t fixing our attention on one or two attributes, but working on the vehicle as a whole,” said Shelby Automobiles Inc. Vice President of Operations Gary Patterson.

For the 40^th anniversary of the Mustang, about 1,000 new GT500KR units are to be released. These limited edition Mustang units are furnished with a Shelby engine compartment tag, mirror caps in various striking colors, and rear and bonnet with a Shelby inscription, and an elegant interior featuring Shelby insignia.

Ford greatly invested on this new edition of the Mustang GT500KR in order to sustain and even develop the standing of the original Ford Mustang.