JIM SMART May 26, 2022 All Feature Vehicles
It was a historic moment Ford Mustang enthusiasts had been anticipating for decades, Ford Motor Company and the Mustang Club of America rallied the troops to host the celebration of a lifetime. The Mustang’s 50th Anniversary Celebration attracted approximately 6,800 Mustangs from all over the world to both party locations, Las Vegas and Charlotte, North Carolina, with some enthusiasts arriving from such far-flung locales as Australia. Some of the Aussies had their Mustangs shipped from around the world just to be able to say they drove them to the event.
A who’s who of high-profile people deeply involved in the Mustang’s history participated in the two events including Edsel Ford II and his son Henry Ford III; Hal Sperlich, the Mustang’s original product planner, and Gail Halderman, father of the Mustang fastback, also attended. Steve Saleen spoke to the crowds in Charlotte, as did a host of others, while Rick Titus, son of the late racing great Jerry Titus, entertained the crowds in Las Vegas.
In Charlotte, the Mustangs Across America cruise was poised to set a new world’s record for sheer number of Mustangs in a single cruise. The Guinness record was set with more than 1,100 Mustangs, shattering the old record of 620 that was set in Canada in 2008. It inspired belief that if every Mustang floored it at the same time the world just might spin backwards.
Ford used the 50th anniversary to roll out its redesigned Mustang for 2015, including a special 50th Anniversary Edition set for introduction later this year.
For GM professional Evetta Osborne, every day is Mother’s Day. That’s because she works with her daughter Monique Watson at General Motors’ Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant. They’ve installed the lithium-ion battery pack on nearly every Chevrolet Volt, Opel Ampera, Holden Volt and Cadillac ELR since production began.
“We’re a good team and our relationship is secondary when it comes to performing our jobs, but it’s great to work alongside my daughter,” said Evetta, a mother of five. Because these battery packs weigh more than 400 pounds each, automatic guided vehicles, robotic carts that use sensors to follow a path through the plant, deliver them just as the vehicle body structures glide into position overhead. The carts then lift the T-shaped packs, and Evetta and Monique guide them into the chassis and secure each one with 24 fasteners.
“We’ve been doing it long enough together that we anticipate each other’s moves,” said Monique, also a mom. “There’s a lot of non-verbal communication that we share when we’re working, but it’s also great to know my mother is there to talk with and share things with every day. The arrangement has absolutely improved our relationship.”
Evetta, who has worked at Detroit-Hamtramck since 1999, encouraged her daughter to apply, and Monique was hired in 2006. When Chevy Volt production was announced, they trained together in 2009 and were assigned to the battery installation station. “I believed D-Ham [Detroit-Hamtramck] would be a good place for Monique because the schedule allows you to balance work and family life,” Evetta said. “It’s been a good experience for both of us.”
Like all jobs, some days are tougher than others, but Monique credits her mom for instilling a strong work ethic in her and her siblings.
GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant is the world’s only automotive manufacturing facility that mass-produces extended-range electric vehicles for global markets in 33 countries.
When Ford Motor Company introduced the new 351 Cleveland V-8 in 1969 at its Cleveland engine plant, it also introduced a new way of testing engines in the round, merry-go-round style. This approach to factory engine testing picked up the momentum and got engines out the door to assembly plants more quickly and efficiently. Ford’s 335-series Cleveland engine family was produced in three versions: the original 351C, the tall-deck 400 and later the 351M, a destroked 400 in an effort to reduce the number of block casting types.
A 200-mph Sports Car Running a 6.6L Duramax Diesel
Several companies, such as Tesla and the possibly reborn Fisker, have used alternative systems to power their luxury sports cars. The electric-powered cars feature the latest technology and innovation and produce power and handling that rivals any other supercar. Of course, this technology and development comes with a hefty price tag; therefore, the companies have produced the rest of the car to match the six-figure cost, providing the ultimate in luxury and performance. The downside is that electric cars still have limited range compared to gas-powered engines and the number of charging stations is currently few.
Going down a different and slightly more familiar road is the Trident Sports Car company with the introduction of its Iceni line of sports cars. The Trident name, not to be confused with Maserati’s trident-shaped logo, first appeared about 50 years ago and has had various production runs and owners since. The company’s recently announced Iceni sports car already has a waiting list (priced from *$160,000), though it’s unclear whether it will come stateside.
If you find the mellifluous bodywork intriguing, consider that the company found a way to stuff a 6.6L Duramax under that ventilated hood. Equipped with Trident’s software, and obviously facing a different duty cycle than in a Silverado HD, the Duramax is rated at 395 hp at 3,000 rpm and 700 lbs-ft of torque. It runs on diesel and bio-d (UVO, linseed, rapeseed, etc.) up to B100.
The engine is coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission located in the rear (similar to a Corvette arrangement) with Trident’s own differential and patented torque multiplication system, though they’re tight-lipped about how they do it. Effective gearing has the car loping along at less than 1,000 rpm at 70 mph, naturally achieving excellent fuel economy. With the standard fuel tank, Iceni claims a range of 2,000 miles.
Since it drives only the rear wheels, the quoted 0-60 time of 3.7 seconds is likely traction limited; a top speed in excess of 190 mph is not. Should you need to melt the rear tires faster or pair black marks a full eighth-mile long, higher specs of 430 hp and 950 lbs-ft, or 660/1,050 are offered. Both power upgrades include a revised differential, while the 660-hp version also gets a unique turbo, intercooler, ducting, paddle shifters and Kevlar clutch upgrade.
Standard running gear includes 15.7-inch front/15.0-inch rear steel Alcon vented discs with six-piston calipers, power steering and ProFlex/Eibach suspension. The 660-hp (Track Pack is a *$48,000 upgrade) uses Eibach racing springs and fully adjustable Pro Flex shocks. Carbon ceramic brakes are available at about *$22,500.
Iceni and its sister models, Magna coupe and Venturer, will all include A/C, infotainment, unique leather and Alcantara heated seats and room for at least two suitcases. Exterior car colors are bespoke, so we’re fairly certain they’d consider various interior fabrics and finishes. Premium, Performance and Track packs are the three primary option groups.
One year after Trident’s current owners took over in 2005 they announced a 200-mph diesel sports car and had a prototype testing in 2008 when Audi showed its one-off R8 stuffed with the V-12 TDI. Trident last used the Venturer name in 1969 for a model built on a 93-inch wheelbase TR6 chassis running Ford’s 3L Essex V-6, an engine that was designed so it could be built in gasoline and diesel on the same production line.
*Note: Prices converted from Pounds Sterling.
ENGINE
6.6L turbo diesel V-8
Six-speed automatic transmission
BRAKES
Carbon ceramic brake option
SUSPENSION
Pro Flex three-way adjustable race shocks
Eibach Ultimate race springs
POWER/PERFORMANCE
Up to 660 bhp
Up to 1,050 lbs-ft torque
0-60 mph 3.7 seconds, over 190 mph
INTERIOR
Carbon ceramic heated seats
Carbon fiber panels
Alcantara and leather two-tone
Clarion 7-inch navigation and multimedia unit
Trident Sports Cars
Tridentsportscars.com
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