Top Ten Mustang Stories Of 2008

12-22-08: Each year we take a look back at everything that we saw, shared, commented about since January 1st and do out best to highlight the top 10 things that stuck out. For 2008 it was pretty hard as so many of what we would call winners and losers are inter related and might be considered both depending on how you see it.

The great leveler for all of it was the story of our economy. This dark storm set the fate for many on our list in 2008. It has and will continue to deal its cards creating heroes and zeros. The old saying goes, “A higher tide raises all boats”. The converse is also true in that a lower tide lowers all as well.

It was the topic of nearly 1 out of every 10 stories for over two years. What was it going to look like? What would it have under the hood? It captured all the things we love to dream about. This November the car finally made it’s debut in Santa Monica, CA before a crowd of the Mustang who’s who. There were racing legends, Ford celebrities, Mustang owners, and the Mustang media. It was a fine gathering of what Ford’s marketing guru Jim Farley called “the Mustang Tribe”. We like it.

The 2010 Mustang is an evolution, not a revolution. It cut the cord on retro and moved deftly to a modern new vibe. While the car is the same from a distance, take a seat inside and you soon realize it could be made by a completely different company. The details inside and out are polished like no other Mustang that has come before it. It is a finely chiseled pony.

While it did not come with a new 8.0 liter 700hp V8 mated to a 10-speed DSG transmission that gets 30mpg or a chassis that is befitting a car built in the 21st century, we still believe that this pony will continue to make Mustang owners smile and feel the passion.

2) The Decline Of Detroit Auto Industry

2008 has without any argument been the worst year in history for the Detroit Three. Tens of thousands of people have lost their jobs through both voluntary and involuntary layoffs. The market share of Detroit has shrunk drastically, as sales have plummeted this year about 30-40% across the board depending on the brand. All three automakers are seeing red like they never thought possible.

While they have all been in front of an angry Congress this year, getting berated for their existence the real depth of their cancers have been fleshed out. Most would argue that all three were well on their way to turning things around but the raging beast of gas prices, and late this year the credit crisis put a stop to all of even the best improvements.

General Motors and Chrysler are in such bad shape that they have come right out and said they may be done. Congress had even at one point suggested they be forced to merge before they hand out any Federal money to them. Congress could not agree on giving them emergency loans, but President Bush rode in like a white knight at the 11th hour with the dough. We can only hope that all three companies will be around come this time next year.

3) Ford Motor Company’s Struggle Against The Odds

While sales figures for 2008 were dismal and the outlook has been bleak, Ford has emerged as the strongest of the Detroit Three in the past few months. With all the talk of Federal bail outs, Ford was on Capitol Hill as the smart kid in the class with his pencil sharpened. They said, we would like to have a line of credit if we need it, but we are on track to be solvent in 2009.

Ford has rolled out an impressive array of new products this year and has shown us more of what is on the way next year. Their turnaround plan has solid underpinnings and as was revealed this summer includes bringing a lot of real-deal European cars over here finally. These cars are world class in appeal, dynamics, and quality in Europe and will be here in America too. These include the Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus, and Transit Connect vans to mention a few. More are on the way too.

While there are still many struggles ahead, the outlook for Ford looks brighter than it does for GM or Chrysler. They have said they have the cash to make it through next year and more good product is on the cusp. We will be in Detroit in January to tell you all about the next few bright lights on the way too.

4) The Fall Of Saleen Inc

Things at Saleen Inc have been rapidly deteriorating for some time. It was disappointing to many in the realm to hear that even Steve Saleen himself found the best choice for him was to leave his own company over a year ago. The manufacturer of modified high performance cars had been taken over by Hancock Park who later merged Saleen Inc with ASC.

In the last year after Steve’s departure things really got rocky. With brutal economic conditions, a lack of leadership, and stiff competition the company floundered. Last summer a surprise liquidation auction of tooling, un-built cars, and spare parts was hastily held in both Saleen Inc. Troy, Michigan and Irvine, California complexes. Body kits, fax machines, pencils, furniture - virtually everything in the buildings were up for the highest bidders.

The Irvine complex was all but shut down as was most of the operations at Troy. Later this year, Hancock Park announced that the Saleen brand was officially for sale and that they were hoping to find someone - anyone to take the company off their hands. It is a sad state really considering all the brand equity that Steve Saleen had created, only to see it fall at the hands of others.

5) The Rise Of Steve Saleen

While the corporate suits were busy trying to make Saleen Inc into a “brand” and creating new spin-off products, Steve got out while the getting was good. Despite all the adversity that he must have faced in the past year or two, the man has emerged again to start a new company to do what he does best - build fast cars.

SMS Supercars is named from Steve’s initials, Steve Mark Saleen. His first projects included a new massaged Dodge Challenger. He also recently showed off a concept SA-25 Mustang. But he made news just this month as the first to announce an up-fitted 2010 Mustang.

He brought some of his best talent with him from the old days at Saleen Inc. The loyal lot of engineers, designers, and builders obviously chose to stand with Steve and go for it. What little we have seen of his new 2010 SMS Mustang looks intriguing and we are rooting for his successful comeback! Steve Saleen and his crew are poised to be the make or break story for 2009.

6) The Retro Kick Running Its Course

Are we done with the tributes of old yet? Are we done with the re-hashed 1960’s Magnum 500 style wheels in 20” sizes for today’s Mustang? Are we done with the mock BOSS 302 stripe kits and shaker hood scoops? Well almost maybe kind of perhaps.

After seeing what Ford Design Chief Doug Gaffka did with the new 2010 Mustang we would say that “retro” has definitely run its course. This will be to the joy of many and to the lament of others. The new 2010 Mustang definitely took on a more modern tone, a chiseled new direction, and a more contemporary shade of character. Some of those tired old overplayed 1960’s muscle-car throwbacks will look a bit more out of place on this new pony.

In speaking with Gafka in a recent interview we sensed that he was more than happy to see the new Mustang evolve toward “modernity” as he coined it. He noticeably winced when we brought up the term “retro”. We don’t blame him.

7) Kory Chesher Wins

This year Ford created a wonderful contest to which over 9000 people submitted their Mustang story to win a new 2010 Mustang. These 9000 short stories were weedled down to 25 in which the public was able to vote their favorite. This author was very humbled to have been chosen as one of those 25 finalists. Yea.

The winner however was a young man from Kentucky. He is an Army Specialist stationed in Iraq who told a passionate story about his love for all things Mustang and his desire to own one someday. His photo submitted was that of an armored vehicle with a large Mustang chrome pony on the steel plate grille. Posed in front of the truck was Kory Chesher in full gear with his rifle. Pictures tell a thousand words.

When I first read his story, I had no doubt that he would be the winner. Surely enough I got to shake the man’s hand in Santa Monica at the 2010 Mustang’s unveiling. He was able to get leave to come back home stateside to receive the keys to his new car. That is America.

8) Knight Rider TV Show Returns

The only good thing about this show was the awesome looking 2008 Shelby GT-500KR in black! Oh man is that nice. The rest of the show? Crapola of the highest order. As their series mini-site says, “Kitt happens”.

Yes, NBC thought it wise to revive that glittering jewel from the 1980’s Knight Rider. As if the reruns weren’t enough, we are given an all new show with all new cars, a new set up, and new high tech gismos. If you are willing to as Hillary puts it, have the willing suspense of disbelief you might be able to watch it from start to finish.

Before you start sending us hate mail, we understand that this show was meant for 12-year olds. We get it. But that still does not forgive the vapid writing, extraordinarily thin plots, and high-school acting. The characters in the show lack credibility and likability for that matter. Micheal Tracuer, the lead man is about as mature as the audience this show is out to capture. But alas, that is what makes this show Knight Rider.

9) Carroll Shelby Keeps The Fire Burning

Carroll has had a banner year. He had a huge 85th birthday celebration. He oversaw to opening of his own Shelby Corner Café in Las Vegas. The new Shelby GT-500KR’s and Shelby GT-500 SuperSnakes began rolling out of his shop, and a new line of Shelby gear just rolled out this fall.

He might be getting on in his years, but he has assured his business a strong future in the Mustang game. Among other successes in 2008 was the settling of differences with longtime Shelby club SAAC. He has continued to raise truckloads of money for his Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation charity though raffles and contents.

We only choose to salute Carroll this year because honestly it is good to have him back in the thick of Ford history in the making. If you have been around the hobby for any length of time, you might remember the 1980’s with Dodge and some of the news in the 1990’s. Suffice it so say that Carroll has staying power and the respect of all of us.

10) Gas Prices

Oil has gotten a bad rap again in 2008. We would like to say it’s all about money but it isn’t. Well, mostly it isn’t. Everyone is mad at gasoline this year and for good reason. We started 2008 with about $3.00 a gallon fuel at the pump which was already hurting. As we painfully remember those prices shot to over $5.00 a gallon in many places through summer.

The anti-oil agendizers of the world used this mess to promote green living, green driving, green this, green that. The basic message was that oil is evil, profit is evil, and so are your big V8 cars you evil people. The global warming scare crows waved their arms some more. Anti-capitalist pigs were out promoting the end of the oil industry.

Americans were out trading in anything that got less than 20 mpg for anything that got over 30. Chrysler was selling new cars on the promise of $2.99 gas for life. I wonder how that worked out. It was easy to get sucked into the mania. But it was wise to stand back and realize that we have been here before more than once. Gas prices go up, and they come down. Always been that way, always will. As this is written gasoline is now $1.42 at my corner station. That is a little less than half of what it was at this time last year.

Conclusion:

Life is ever changing and evolving just as is the news. We hope you come back to see us often in 2009. We don’t yet know what we will be talking about or how often. Whatever the conversation is, it is our wish that you keep Mustanging and keep the rubber side down.