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Thursday, July 21, 2011 | 4:29 p.m.
I’m disappointed. Like a kid waiting to check out the latest Matchbox car at the toy store, I’ve been anticipating the introduction of the Ford Mustang to the Sprint Cup Series. But now, in a move that’s totally based on financial concerns, Ford has decided to continue basing the Cup car on its popular grocery getter, the Fusion.
One of the most famous cars to ever come from Detroit, the Mustang has represented speed, sexiness and youth in many of its forms over the years. And the current version of the car, which resembles the original design of the early Mustangs, is the sexiest and most youthful edition of the iconic muscle car.
Ford Fusion
And the Fusion? Well, it’s a practical four-door sedan that’s not a muscle car and it certainly isn’t that sexy.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti-Fusion. It’s a top-seller for Ford that has a good reputation. But when I look at a Fusion I don’t think it looks exhilarating to drive or capable of turning a quick quarter-mile run. It’s a fine car, but it doesn’t stir the same emotional reaction that a Mustang does.
Ford originally planned to move the Mustang to Cup in 2013. But it recently decided it was more valuable to the company to race two brands, the Mustang in the Nationwide Series and the Fusion in Cup. Hey, I can see the company’s point. It’s in the business of making money and it wants the biggest dividend possible for its investment in NASCAR. That makes good economic sense. But as a fan, I have concerns that have nothing to do with Ford’s bottom line.
Ford Mustang
As NASCAR moves toward making the cars more representative of their street counterparts in 2013, the Mustang would have made a strong impression for the Ford brand on the track. Obviously, the manufacturer thinks the Fusion also strongly represents the brand. Especially since it’s a top-seller. But a Fusion doesn’t say “racing” to me. A Mustang does.
And Chevrolet may be taking the same path. Uncommitted to using the Camaro in Cup, Chevy may stick with one of its four-door offerings. Toyota has already said the new car will be based on the Camry.
I don’t care how much NASCAR tinkers with the design of the Cup car, there’s not much you can do to distinguish these sedans from one another, simply because they aren’t radically different from one another in their street versions.
Let’s just hope that Dodge decides to run the Challenger in Cup.
Okay Mike, I'm going to show my age here.
I agree that I would love to see the 'Stang in Cup racing. But if you want to talk about a real muscle car you need to go back to the 1970 Ford XL. It was basically a Ford FTD with a lot of sex appeal.
I had one with a 390 in it. But to make it a muscle car I had to make a couple of minor changes. First, I took the intake manifold from a Ford 427 since that had a 4bbl instead of the stock 2bbl for a 390. Second, had it bored and stroked to a 409 (yeah, the one made famous by the Beach Boys and the song used by CHEVY in an ad, lol.) Third, I changed out the ignition to a CD and tweaked the timing and spark gaps. I also added dual exhaust and beefed up the coil-spring suspension (a *lot*!)
Now *that* was a sexy muscle car, and I would have loved to have seen that model in NASCAR.
Given the present economic climate, its a smart move by Ford. It may also suggest that the current Mustang will receive a significant facelift in 2013, which would have driven costs to the Na$car efforts through the roof. The Mustang will return to cup, but it might be 2014 or 15 before it does. Meanwhile, there are five Mustang Funny Cars running in NHRA, including the points leader, Mike Neff.
boftx, what ever happened to your 'Stang?
It was an XL, not a 'Stang. It was a company car, believe it or not, so when I left the company the car stayed behind.
And, yeah, I had the same though you did, that Ford is looking to change the look of the current Mustang. I just didn't want to voice it and make it come true. :(
XL, right, I read it but my mind boggled when I read what you did with it! Someone back at your old company must have had bulging eyes when you turned that one back in.
My 'say it ain't so' moment this summer was when Na$car decided to move the Busch race from IRP (OK, Nationwide and Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis for the moderns). That is dumber than dirt in all ways except that the major sponsors requested it, allegedly, to bolster the flagging ticket sales for the Brickyard. Instead of the dumb giant track, I suggest they run the F1 course at Indy, I'd pay to see that race.