70 HEMI 'CUDA " THE MOST SAUGHT AFTER OF ALL !! "

From 1966-71, Dodge stuffed their massive Hemi into the small E-Body platform and the 1970 Hemi 'Cuda is widely accepted as one of the most saught after of these. Only 652 were built when new, including 14 rare convertibles, making an original Hemi 'Cuda a rare sight. The Hemi 'Cuda was forced in scarcity due to the extra $900 it cost to build one-nearly a third of the standard purchase price. At $250, the 390 bhp 440 V8 became the norm and made the Hemi Cuda an exception. Motor Trend tested the 426 Hemi ’Cuda in their May 1970 issue, reaching 0-60 in 5.8 seconds and the 1/4 mile in 14 seconds at 102 mph. The long list of options made available for 1970 Barracudas included such goodies as a Track Pak with a 3.54:1 differential ratio, Rallye wheels, a range of exciting colors including Plum Crazy, pistol grip shifters, hockey stick sport stripes, hood pins and a variety of creature comforts. Of all the options, the R-code steet Hemi 426 was the most legendary Mopar engine. It typically delivered 425 bhp through the solid 727 Torqueflight automatic and a 3.55:1 Sure Grip rear axle. That is, unless the car was one of the 284 that got a 4-speed manual. With their classic shape, tire-shredding American power, limited production and huge popularity a 1970 Hemi 'Cuda can easily fetch over $150 000 USD. This is a remarkable amount for a car with the same build quailty as a mass-produced Plymouth. However, the aggressive sound of Hemi combined with visual street cred and Barrett-Jackson publicity now make these Cudas more expensive than most Ferraris produced in the same era. Changes for 1971 were minimal and included a more complex 6 inlet grille design and fender gill louvers. Only 100 or so of these were built and the seven ultra-rare 1971 convertibles are the most expensive muscle cars money can buy. In 72, the government and EPA kicked the muscle car in the ass with emissions regulations. After that time, no more Hemi or more big block models could be ordered

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Grand-Am Sports Car Challenge Series 2010 Introducing the New ``Boss 302R``

In the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series, 2010 marks the introduction of the new BOSS 302R, a factory-built race ready Mustang. Built with a special Grand-Am Homologation Package, the BOSS 302R will be campaigned by Multimatic Motorsports, Jim Click Racing, JBS Motorsports and Racer’s Edge Motorsports.

The BOSS 302R features the Ford Racing Boss 302 crate engine, based on the new 5.0-liter 4-valve V-8 found in the 2011 Mustang GT. With the Grand-Am Homologation Package, this turnkey race car also includes a 6-speed manual transmission with a roll cage, race seats, a safety harness, race dampers and springs, upgraded brakes and tires. The total ready-to-race package will cost $129,000.

Currently, Grand-Am is a race series where technology can be traced back to production versions of Ford products. The 5.0-Liter Cammer engine that powers all Ford Daytona Prototype entries shares several parts and components with Ford Motor Company’s popular modular, overhead cam series of engines. A Ford-powered car won its class in the 2003 running of the famed Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway, which debuted the Daytona Prototype spec engine and chassis combination. The Ford engine, built by Roush-Yates Engines, has remained competitive and in ‘06 Jörg Bergmeister won Grand-Am’s Rolex Series Daytona Prototype driver's championship in a Ford-powered Riley chassis.

Ford Motor Company has a storied history competing in United States-based endurance road racing events and in 2010, Ford continues to have a major presence in the Grand-American racing series with teams competing in three of the four classes.

The Daytona International Speedway road race was first extended to 24 hours in 1966 and Ford was there in force. A Ford GT, driven by Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby won the overall race and a Ford Mustang fought the good fight in the Group II class. Two years later, Jerry Titus and Ronnie Bucknum, driving a Shelby GT350 Mustang, won the Group II class and finished fourth overall.

During the years, Ford teams continued to do well in the Grand-Am series and in 1995 a Roush Racing-prepared Mustang won the GT-1 class at the Rolex 24. An all-star team including actor Paul Newman, Tommy Kendall, Mark Martin and Michael Brockman—drove the car. The race win was of special significance to Newman as he was celebrating his 70th birthday that year.

The Mustang FR500C hit the track in 2004 and proven very competitive. The car won the first Koni Challenge Series race at Daytona despite being in the winning teams hands for less than a week. The Mustang went on to help David Empringham, and his Multimatic team, win the ‘04 Grand-Am Cup Driver, Team and Manufacturer Championship.
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