Most people pop down the road to buy a new car. Kelvin Perfect flew to the other side of the world to get his.

True story: when Kelvin ‘KP’ Perfect decided to purchase build number 82 of 355 Sonic Blue Ford Mustang Cobra SVT (Special Vehicle Team) convertibles produced in 2003, he knew he couldn’t look locally. Not because he didn’t want to buy a New Zealand one, but rather because there were no examples of a 2003 SVT Cobra Mustang convertible in the country. As far as KP knows, his car is still the only one of its kind in New Zealand, and one of very few Mustangs of that era in the country. And that makes it a little bit special. That and the fact that KP’s Cobra SVT has its own personally signed certificate from Edsel Ford (Henry Ford’s grandson) to verify its limited edition status.

This ’03 Mustang isn’t KP’s first purchase from the States. Prior to picking up this pristine Cobra SVT, he’d flown there, bought a mint ’65 Mustang convertible, driven it from New York to San Francisco and then shipped it Down Under — he probably hadn’t banked on doing that twice in his lifetime.

However, although KP has a passion for convertibles, things weren’t destined to work out for him and the ’65. A couple saw it at a show, fell in love with it and decided they had to have it. A deal was struck, and the appropriate amount of money was sent in the right direction to force KP’s hand. (more…)

Supercharged Corvette Vs. Modded Mustang SVT Cobra

Ford has just unveiled the 2011 Shelby GT500, ahead of its official debut at the Chicago Auto Show.

Looking virtually identical to the 2010 model, the 2011 GT500′s changes are mainly under the bonnet. An aluminum 5.4-lire V8 engine takes pride of place. It’s based on the 5.0-litre V8 found in the 2011 Mustang GT, the new engine has an additional 0.4-liters of displacement, an improved block structure, six-bolt billet main bearing caps, and a supercharger.

Weighing 46kg less than the previous cast-iron engine, the new engine produces 550 hp (410kW) and 510 ft-lb (691 Nm) of torque making for a 10 hp increase over the outgoing model. Ford hasn’t released exact performance specifications yet.

Besides the new engine, Ford has reworked the electric power steering system, added slotted brake dust shields, installed a new pedal box, reduced the ride height, and developed a new exhaust system.

There is also an optional SVT Performance Package that features unique styling accents, stiffer springs, a higher rear axle ratio, and lightweight wheels wrapped in specially-developed Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar G: 2 tyres.

Check out a short video of the latest GT500 in action below.

There has been plenty of talk about the new 5.0-litre ‘Coyote’ V-8 engine being developed by Ford, but now there is reports of a twin-turbocharged version of that engine, dubbed “Road Runner,” which will be used in the 2012 Mustang GT500.

The Road Runner tag is an obvious play on the cartoon nemesis of Wile E. Coyote rather than a reference to the Plymouth of the late 1960s and early 1970s. At this stage nothing is official, but it would make sense considering Ford’s current interest in twin-turbocharged EcoBoost engines. If the twin-turbo treatment is given to the 5.0-litre V-8 Coyote, it could generate in excess of 600 horsepower depending on how far Ford’s SVT team decides to push it.

Engines that are also apparently in line for the next Mustang, starting from 2011, are the standard 5.0-litre Coyote V-8, expected to generate 400-horsepower rating, and a new 3.7-litre Duratec V-6 rated at about 315 horsepower.

All of the talk about 5.0-litre engines at Ford has also got some fans excited about the possible return of the “5.0″ badge to the Mustang lineup, which is looking more and more likely.

Along with the twin-turbocharging, the 2012 Mustang GT500′s 5.0-litre V-8 engine is also expected to feature an aluminum block. For 2012, the regular 5.0-litre V-8 Mustang GT is expected to get a power increase from the initial 400-horsepower rating, possibly targeting the 422-425-horsepower mark set by the Camaro SS and Challenger SRT8.