For all who appreciate art like myself, take a look at this video from Winding Road Magazine on the making of the GT500/Ford GT mural done by Camilo Pardo at the Ford product development center in Dearborn. The Mural was an idea that Winding Road Magazine had for it’s September issue and how they wanted to compare two great american icons, the GT500 Mustang and the Ford GT.
“We approached Ford with an idea to commemorate these two iconic, Detroit-designed vehicles by painting a mural on one of their buildings, which would become the cover of our next issue,” said Reilly Brennan, Winding Road editor. “Ford liked the idea and worked with us to make this project very special.”
The project was headed by Ford GT Cheif Designer and accomplished artist Camilo Pardo. To transfer a picture to such a large canvas he needed the help of a digital projecter. As he used the 15′ x 30′ canvas as his backdrop he projected the image onto so he could outline the basic shapes.
“I just outlined the shapes, almost like a Peter Max painting,” said Pardo. “I take it from reality and walk it into something very graphic like that. It’s a lot of fun, and it turns into something very cool.”
After the outline was done the canvas was transported to his detroit studio to be painted.
The finished mural was displayed outside at the Conference and Event Center (CEC) across from the Henry Ford along with being the cover of the September issue of Winding Road Magazine.
I know I have said this before in some previous entries about the Ford Bold Moves webisodes but these things are just pure gold. I love how they get behind the scenes and get in the war rooms so to speak of these top level meetings about various Fords they are planning for production. Some of us have to wonder how this affects these meetings and how they are conducted knowing that there is a camera stuck in their face. I have to give props to the person or group of individuals who came up with this idea.
Episode 9 of their Bold Moves webisode campaign centers around the 2007 Shelby GT and how fast they brought the car to market along with how they partnered with smaller company Shelby American Autos. The Shelby GT is being produced for one simple reason and that being the publics reaction to the Shelby GT-H. The public wanted a vehicle they could buy and the Shelby GT is that answner. The webisode features Mark Fields (Executive Vice President of FoMoCo and President of Americas), Kevin Koswick (Ford Car Group Marketing Manager), Derrick Kuzak (Group Vice President, Product Development , The Americas), Carroll Shelby (Shelby Autos), Hau Thai-Tang (Director, Advanced Product Creation and SVT).
These are some great short videos Ford is putting out for their Bold Moves campaign. I have to admit that I am giddy before watching this stuff as it’s not everyday you get to see behind the scenes of Ford. This video is the second of a three part series featuring the GT500 which shows the assembly team in action sweating the details of how to build the first Shelby GT500.
A nice little video put out by Ford as part of their Bold Moves campaign. This episode features The Legend of Carroll Shelby and is the first installment of a three part episode about the impact of the Shelby GT500. The episode also includes the likes of Doug Gaffka (Cheif Designer at Ford SVT), Edsel B. Ford II and Hau Thai-Tang (Director, Advanced Product Creation for SVT). The video lasts for a few minutes and is well worth it. Check back tomorrow for the next episode.
Was Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT) dead in the water about 3 months ago or was it just a rumor created by some wacko GM fan?
Well we may never know the answer to that question but for now SVT is making strides for the future. During a recent Ford product preview SVT chief engineer Hau Thai-Tang assured everyone on hand that Ford’s performance brand was going strong and that it employs some 60 engineers dedicated to developing SVT products.
As of right now SVT is going back to basics with just two branded models, one being the Shelby GT500 and the other being an SVT Truck which will be based off the F-150 platform. No plans for the truck have been released to date but we have been promised their will be something in the near future.
Thai-Tang also says SVT is expanding with future products falling into three distinct categories. The categories include your top tier race-inspired performance cars like the Ford GT. The next tier includes the SVT branded cars and trucks like the Shelby GT500 and Lightning. The lowest tier includes vehicles with minor engine and suspension modifications using Ford Racing performance parts along with customized wheels and tires. A few examples of the category would be a 2001 Bullitt Mustang, 2003-04 Mach 1, 2007 California Special Mustang.
Ford Motor Company has waved the magic wand in the direction of interactive TV advertising company, Turner Media Group (TMG) to develop an interactive TV ad campaign for its 2007 Mustang model on EchoStar’s OpenTV- powered DISH Network satellite TV platform. TMG has done a similiar campaign for the Ford Explorer along with i-ads for Mercedes, Chrysler, Land Rover and the US Navy.
The campaign, which will run through mid-July, consists of 30-second spots that are airing on a number of cable networks and that link viewers to an i-ad, via an on-screen pop-up message. The i-ad–which TMG co-developed with EchoStar and which can also be accessed via banners on the DISH Network’s interactive TV portal, DishHOME, and through DISH Network shopping portals–offers over 15 different screens, which showcase styles (e.g. the coupe, the convertible and the ‘Pony Package’), colors and accessories for the 2007 Mustang.
Additionally the i-ad will allow viewers the choice to request a free Mustang exhaust ringtone, wallpaper, brochure for any Ford car and locate a Ford dealer by entering their zipcode.
According to Edmunds Inside Line Ford’s Special Vehicle Team Lives on. Ford’s downsized plan for its endangered SVT will now offer one performance Mustang and one performance truck according to Mark Fields, Ford executive vice president and president of the Americas. Previously, the Dearborn automaker had said SVT would have as many as five products.
Fields said the automaker expects “to sell 5,000-10,000 of each SVT vehicle a year going forward.” The Shelby GT500, the latest Mustang developed by SVT, goes on sale this summer. Fields would not say what kind of performance truck is in the works for SVT or when it would hit showrooms. The Ford Sport Trac Adrenalin, which was slated for 2007, was canceled as part of the automaker’s Way Forward program.
Ford has released the Order Guide for the 2007 Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang. Dealers can begin ordering GT500 Mustang’s on Monday March 13th. The guide gives details on all aspects of what can be ordered with your car.
Effective January 1, 2006, operation of the Ford Special Vehicle Team Owners Association has been transferred to the Ford SVT Marketing team, under the direction of the Ford Racing Technology group. What this means is that, as the new roles and responsibilities of the Ford Special Vehicle Team are identified and defined in the coming months, the SVTOA will become more closely aligned with Ford SVT, Ford Racing and Ford Racing Performance Parts.
SVT actually conceived, founded and launched the SVTOA more than six years ago, and is excited about the opportunity to be again working hand-in-hand with one of its most loyal owner groups. While Ford Racing and SVT work to establish their new missions among Ford performance enthusiasts, they’ll be watching the SVTOA Message Board to read your input on how you think the SVTOA can be improved to build a more viable relationship between Ford Motor Company and its most valuable customers.
Stay tuned to www.svtoa.com, as well as www.svt.ford.com and www.fordracingparts.com, for news and information on this exciting new era for Ford performance as we draw closer to the introduction of the 2007 Ford Shelby GT500.
Any type of service or warranty related questions and/or inquiries should be directed to your local SVT-certified Ford dealer. In the event that you do not know who your local SVT-certified Ford dealer is, you can conduct a location search for a dealer in your area at www.svt.ford.com
The Plastic Intake saga is finally over after some haggling on both parts. I have had first hand experience with this as one of my friends owned a 1996 Ford Mustang GT with this infamous plastic intake problem. One day we were driving down the highway and smoke just billowed out from under the hood and he never really figured it out until he got home and noticed his intake was cracked. Needless to say he repaired it himself and Ford reimbursed him for the parts and labor. Read more about the settlement and lawsuit below.
Ford Motor Company has finalized a settlement that requires the company to pay at least $735 to each owner who had to replace an intake manifold, attorneys for the plaintiffs reported on Friday.
Ford is also extending warranty coverage on the plastic part to seven years to cover vehicle owners who haven’t replaced the manifold. The class-action lawsuit covered a total of 1.8 million vehicle owners.
A spokeswoman for the automaker, Kathleen Vokes, said Ford doesn’t know how much the settlement will cost as it is unclear how many people will seek reimbursement.
Affected cars include the 1997 Ford Mustang and some Mustangs from the 1998-2001 model years. Other affected vehicles included in the settlement are the Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car from the 1996-2001 model years; the Mercury Cougar, Ford Thunderbird and some Ford Explorers from the 2002 model year.
Plaintiffs claimed the intake manifolds are prone to premature cracking, which could lead to coolant leakage and expensive damage to the engine. “Until this settlement, those who owned or leased these cars had to bear the brunt of the manufacturer’s mistake,” Mike Ram, one of the plaintiffs attorneys, said in a statement.
“Although we believe the class action was without merit, we are pleased that we were able to negotiate a settlement that will provide additional value to our customers,” Ford’s Vokes said.
Owners who replaced their intake manifolds within the first seven years of ownership can take the vehicles to a dealer and obtain reimbursement whether or not they have a receipt.
The vehicle must be brought to a dealer by March 16, 2006.
To read more about this lawsuit and the settlement click here.
