Ford Mustang 1965 News

The first trailer for Ken Block's new Amazon series The Gymkhana Files has hit the internet, with the human smoke machine offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at the making of his epic videos.

The world’s favourite tyre-shredder is back, but this time Ken has left the block behind and is heading for higher ground.

The NSW Police Force hasn’t given up on securing the Ford Mustang GT as a highway patrol vehicle, despite running into several hurdles with the US-built rear-wheel-drive V8.

Waiting for a new car is never easy. It could be a week or it could be a year — even longer — but a delivery hold-up still means delayed satisfaction.

The Ford teams in V8 Supercars racing are hoping a lifeline from the USA will keep them tied to the blue oval brand after the end of the Falcon.

The dream of a Ford Mustang in the V8 Supercars series is one step closer to becoming a reality.

Ford dealers are prepared to put in more than $1 million a year to save one of Australia's greatest sporting rivalries in a move that could see a Mustang take on the Holden Commodore in 2017.

Hoonicorn Mustang makes its video debut in Los Angeles with Ken block's Gymkhana 7.Proving that 1.8-litres was never enough - even bolted to a whopping turbocharger and purpose-built Fiesta gymkhana weapon, Ken Block has returned for his seventh blast to internet stardom.This time set around the crumbling concrete of downtown Los Angeles, Block's latest effort proves that his new 630kW, 6.7-litre all-wheel drive Ford Mustang can be just as spectactular when thrown rearwards with all four wheels spinning forwards, before disappearing in a cloud of smoke.Officially named the Hoonicorn RTR, the 1965 Mustang-based mechanical monster made its static debut at SEMA earlier this month.Gymkhana 7 opens in an industrial warehouse with Block introducing the new car by way of his latest trick - doing a burnout whilst the car is chained to a wall.The restraints are released and Block heads off on his tour of Tinseltown.Past the burnt-out shell of a Subaru WRX rotting in the pristine waters of the LA River before indulging in a few doughnuts at the famous Randy's, and into Chinatown.Block also enjoys an unusual traffic-free run down one of the city's freeways, drives circles around and under a bouncing Chevy low-rider before finishing in typical style atop Mount Lee, looking over the City of Angels and its smog-filled sky from the iconic Hollywood sign.The occasional-World Rally Championship driver and part-time shoe salesman's heavily choreographed Gymkhana videos have earned him global praise for his ability to navigate obstacle courses, city centres and the odd movie set with guile and a liberal application of the handbrake.

Ken Block swaps Fiesta for Mustang with his latest gymkhana weapon.Size doesn't matter, they say. Tell that to Ken Block.The US stunt/racing driver/entrepreneur has upgraded his Ford Fiesta with its relatively puny 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine to a 1965 Ford Mustang sporting a 6.7-litre V8.While it might take its design cues from the iconic original Mustang that celebrates its 50th birthday this year, the only original components you'll find on Block's version are the head and tail lights, as well as the pony badge on the front. The rest - much like the recent Project Sandman - is 100 per cent modern race car.This is hands-down the best Gymkhana car I’ve had yetThe naturally-aspirated V8 engine produces 630kW and 975Nm which is put to the road by a bespoke 6-speed sequential transmission that distributes the power to all four wheels. Ford only ever put the power to the back two.The suspension is custom-built, and the 18" wheels are shod with Pirelli tyres in a compound made specifically for Block. Not even a Formula One team gets that sort of attention from the Italian rubber company.Motorsport connections don't stop there as Block says the design of the car has also been influenced by current generation WRC and DTM cars, bringing together the classic Mustang silhouette with all the performance benefits of modern aerodynamics and carbon fibre construction."The attention to detail with the fabrication and bodywork blows my mind," Block said."This is hands-down the best Gymkhana car I’ve had yet."The car is currently on display at the SEMA motor show in Las Vegas, but those unable to get there in person will see it in Block's upcoming ‘Gymkhana SEVEN’ video.Block's previous gymkhana efforts have seen him display immense car control and driving skill in a variety of different locations, including usually busy streets of downtown San Francisco.More recently, Block has been getting around the ski slopes of Canada in a Ford F-150 RaptorTRAX. It can also do burnouts, despite its lack of wheels.

With the 50th Anniversary of the Ford Mustang fast approaching (April 17, 2014 to be precise) here's the Carsguide quick reference guide that you can use to impress and bluff neighbours and friends.Who really devised the Mustang?In late 1961 Lee Iacocca, the then President of Ford America, gathered a group of smart young managers and engineers who met regularly at the Fairlane Inn in Dearborn, Detroit.  They called themselves the Fairlane Committee. Their purpose was to brainstorm ideas for new cars.From this skunksworks came the concept of a small, sporty car priced to appeal to women and men aged 18-35, who were predicted to account for 50 per cent of new car buyers in the 1960s.How did the Falcon help the Mustang?The Mustang was really a Ford Falcon under the skin. All the chassis and running gear was pure Falcon. That made the Mustang very cheap to make, easy to produce and allowed Ford to price it low and still make huge profits.Who engineered the Mustang?Don Frey was a key member of the Fairlane Committee and he directed all the engineering activities of the 1st generation Mustang. It was Don who decided to use the Falcon as the base for the Mustang. Frey had a PhD in metallurgy and spoke three languages (English, French and Russian). He left Ford in 1968 and was CEO of Bell and Howell where he was instrumental in the development of CD-ROM technology. He was also a board member of movie studio 20th Century Fox. He died in 2010.What did Hal Sperlich do?Hal Sperlich was Ford's Product Planning Chief during the 1964 Mustang's development and launch. He used market research data to identify the Mustang's target consumer segment and established the "package" for the car  its dimensions, pricing and options. Hal left Ford in the early 1970s and went to Chrysler, where he made automotive history again with the Minivan concept.Who styled the Mustang?As always, success has many fathers, but generally, the two names most commonly associated with the iconic Mustang look are Gale Halderman and Joe Oros. Oros was Ford's design chief while Halderman was a design director in one of Oros's styling studios. Both men received Industrial Design Society Design Awards for design of the 1964 Mustang.How many times did Henry Ford II reject the idea of the Mustang?Still feeling bruised after the Edsel fiasco, Henry Ford II went into ultra conservative mode whenever the idea for a new car was mentioned.  He rejected the Mustang four times before Iacocca, Sperlich and Frey convinced him to do it, by basically putting their careers on the line.David Burrell is the editor of www.retroautos.com.au