SEMA 2007: Ford Announces Poor Man's Racer with the FR500S Mustang
The latest edition to the Ford Racing Performance Parts catalog is a complete race-ready Ford Mustang called the FR500S that retails for a relatively affordable $75,000. Compare that to the $129,900 FR500C and the $250,000 FR500GT and it starts to look like a pretty inexpensive race car. The $75k gets you a fully stripped interior with a roll cage as well as Sparco racing seats and steering wheel. The FR500S package also includes an adjustable suspension, high capacity racing radiator, short throw shifter, racing differential, and drive shaft safety loops. The exterior is given a race car makeover as well, with a front spoiler, rear wing, and GT500 wheels mounted on BFGoodrich g-Force R1 tires. The 24-valve 4.6-liter V8 remains fairly stock with the exception of a cold air intake, exhaust system, and performance tune that is good for 325 horsepower.
So, in what racing series can you actually campaign the FR500S? Well Ford has the answer to that too. For 2008, Ford Racing and Miller Motorsports Park will be introducing the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup, which will feature the spec Stangs at eight races on various race tracks around the country as a support race to the Grand Am series. The only thing you need to compete is a national-level racing license. Oh yeah - and the $75,000.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Chad 9:10AM (10/31/2007)
Start the Mustang bashing.....
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Matt Bateman 9:25AM (10/31/2007)
I love Mustangs (and racing one would be a lot of fun,) but I can't see the value proposition in this model. Why wouldn't I just buy a $25,000 V8 Mustang from my dealer, strip the interior, and add the ~$10,000 to ~$15,000 of equipment myself? There doesn't appear to be much offered here that I couldn't install on a car in my garage in a few weekends.
Chad 10:02AM (10/31/2007)
I agree that it's not something you couldn't do yourself cheaper. I just meant that generally when any news is posted about Mustangs around here everyone moans about it and complains.
Stuka 9:28AM (10/31/2007)
You would have to have the car safety inspected and such too. If ford does it, its completely certified.
What I want to know is how much lighter is it without the interior. Its go to be around 2800 or so, which should really improve handling and acceleration.
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Guenther 10:21AM (10/31/2007)
Safety inspection? takes a few minutes at your next friendly NASA event. the National Auto Sports Association, btw should be anyone's first stop, if you're thinking about getting into racing. Excuse the plug...
rar- it's not a stoplight racer.
rar 10:03AM (10/31/2007)
Chad, not wanting to bash Mustangs at all. However, if you drive a car like this on the street and you loose a race to a stock G.T.O. or a Mustang GT with a few mods, what kind of fool will you look like. Then after you loose, they find out you spent $75,000! Matt has the right idea. Save a lot of money, buy a stock GT and do it yourself or have it done for less. For $75,000 I would buy a Z06 Vette.
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ViktorVaughan 10:35AM (10/31/2007)
Why would you have a stripped, fully caged, on R-comps, non-street legal RACE CAR on the street, much less street racing?
Cypher09 10:45AM (10/31/2007)
I think you missed the point of this car or didn't bother to read the entire post.
It's a purpose built racer for a Spec series not a car for Jethro and Cletus to go tooling around on Main Street with.
You could prob. build it piece by piece from ford racing for less, but then you wouldn't eligible for the Series its going to race in so it kind of defeats the purpose all together.
Cypher09 10:48AM (10/31/2007)
My post was directed @ rar not ViktorVaughan
Chad 10:58AM (10/31/2007)
Yes I totally agree. I even think the GT500 is a waste of money because you slap a supercharger on a stock GT and you'll have a lighter and faster car. I'm actually not a huge fan of Mustangs. I've owned Mopar most of my life but really liked the new Mustang's style so I bought one. May very well switch back to a Challenger when the time comes if it doesn't weight a million pounds.
I'm sure when the Challenger and Camaro come out everyone will be equally sick of the hundreds of variations people create, Mustangs are just the latest crazy.
MKIV 10:27AM (10/31/2007)
Mustang Sally!
Guess you better slow your mustang down...
(oh lord...what i said now...)
Mustang Sally now baby....oh Lord...
Guess you better slow your mustang down...
(oh yeah)
You been running all over the town now...
OH!...Guess i'll have to put your flat feet on the ground....
(Ha!...what I said now...)
Listen:
All you wanna do is ride around Sally....
(Ride, Sally, Ride)
All you wanna do is ride around Sally...
(Ride, Sally, Ride)
All you wanna do is ride around Sally...
(Ride, Sally, Ride)
All you wanna do is ride around Sally...
(Ride, Sally, Ride)
Listen here....one of these lonely mornings,
OH!...gonna' be wiping your weeping eyes...(HUH!)
What i say now! Lookey here...
I bought you a brand-new mustang,
a 1965.
Now you come around, single, fine, woman...
and don't wanna let me ride...
Mustang Sally, now baby, oh lord,
Guess you better slow that mustang down....(Huh...oh Lord)
You been running all over town...OH!
Gotta put your flat feet on the ground...
What i said now...let me say it one more time.
Now all you wanna do is ride around Sally...
(Ride, Sally, Ride)
All you wanna do is ride around Sally...
(Ride, Sally, Ride)
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sodamninsane 10:50AM (10/31/2007)
I have nothing against the mustang... but this is "custom production" variation number 23934757. For gods sake, not everyone with a garage, a spray gun and set of tools needs to make a variation of this car. Enough already! And you can build it in your own garage for cheaper.
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Mr. Oak 11:03AM (10/31/2007)
This is what happens to a cult classic. Not much different from the original Mini in England, or The original VW Beetle worldwide.
I am not much of a Mustang fan, but there are certain models I wouldn't mind owning.
MKIV 10:56AM (10/31/2007)
Brakes are optional. Up to the owner to decide on brakes or a parachute... Cool!!!
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Jeff Johnson 12:05PM (10/31/2007)
Agreed -- every time I see "new mustang" on a title... its not new its something someone has painted a different color or added some stupid trinket you could buy online for cheap.
A cool mustang is a very rare thing these days - unless serious money and time are spent on it, its heavy, and doenst handle that well for the power it has in stock form. to me they are a dime a dozen. Even the GT these days isn't really that special.
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Mike 12:14PM (10/31/2007)
Most of you are missing the point.
First, this isn't going to be a street legal car, it is for racing only. It's not a custom variant but a RACE CAR.
Second, spec classes are all about the cars conforming exactly to the series rules. You may be able to build it in your garage for less, but then you will have to go through the expense of some certified shop to tear your engine, trans, diff and whatever else is deamed necessary down to ensure you haven't modified internal components that would give you an unfair advantage. Plus having a set of dyno pulls that confirms your making the same HP as your competition. That would get very expensive.
Also, I agree that NASA is awesome racing, I have been doing time trials in the midwest but, this spec series is a stepping stone into the Koni Challenge/Grand Am Cup pro series. It's like minor league baseball, a series to find talent. Unlike open wheel or NASCAR, it's a relatively affordable way in too.
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Esprit bird 12:41PM (10/31/2007)
Man...too many...I am waiting for them to release a new version of the Mustang II =D
My 1982 GT (not a II) is getting lonely surrounded by GM and Mopar products
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That One Person 4:03PM (10/31/2007)
There aren't many variations from FORD. It's the companies like Roush and Saleen that produce a million versions of this thing.
Jay Evans 3:22PM (10/31/2007)
"The 24-valve 4.6-liter V8"
Maybe the people at Autoblog should actually start reading the Press releases before they write.
The FR500S was built on the production line at AutoAlliance International in Flat Rock, Mich. Interior work was completed at Watson Engineering in Taylor, Mich.; the 4.6-liter 3-valve V-8 production engine was produced by Ford in Romeo, Mich., and sealed and dyno'd at Roush Industries in Livonia, Mich. It will retail for $75,000 straight from the Ford Racing parts catalog.
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Mike 3:32PM (10/31/2007)
Jay, I hate to nitpick but 3 valves times 8 cylinders does equal 24 valves.