Quarter-Mile Mustangs


Book Description

Blast down the quarter mile in the first two generations of Ford’s legendary pony car across all drag racing classes in Quarter-Mile Mustangs! Since first becoming a mass-market success in mid-1964, the Ford Mustang has made millions of passes down the quarter mile on sanctioned drag strips. With styling flared toward the youth, aftermarket parts manufacturers saw an enormous opportunity to produce go-fast components to aid in propelling Ford’s pony car down the 1320. The success of these cars was immediate. In the hands of successful and seasoned pros, such as Gas Ronda, Bill Lawton, and Dick Brannan, Ford unleashed the devastatingly potent 1965 A/FX Mustang fastback, which was built by Blue Oval stalwarts Holman & Moody with the 427 SOHC (Cammer) engine that unleashed havoc on mother Mopar. From those very first factory drag cars through the fabled 1968-1/2 Cobra Jets, drag racing historian Doug Boyce highlights the many successes of pioneers, such as “Dyno” Don Nicholson, Les Ritchey, Phil Bonner, Hubert Platt, and Al Joniec. However, it’s not just all doorslammers. As A/FX transitioned into Funny Car, a whole new chapter in Mustang drag racing was written with Mickey Thompson taking the reins and steering Mustangs to success throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s. The muscle car-era Mustangs joined the Mustang II and soldiered on the best they could as ever-changing rules hampered Ford’s new pony body, with drivers Bob Glidden and Nicholson trying to squeeze every bit of performance out of the diminutive pony. Quarter-Mile Mustangs: The History of Ford’s Pony Car at the Drag Strip 1964-1/2-1978 brings forth the most in-depth coverage of these cars at the drag strip. Don’t get caught sleeping at the light!




The Complete Book of Ford Mustang


Book Description

The Complete Book of Ford Mustang, 4th Edition details the development, technical specifications, and history of America’s original pony car, now updated to cover cars through the 2021 model year.




Ford Windsor Small-Block Performance


Book Description

The 5.0-liter performance wave has propelled Ford's Windsor small block to the top of the performance heap. Ford Windsor Small-Block Performance is a comprehensive guide to the tips, tricks, and techniques of top Ford performance experts that will help Fords or Mustangs run harder and faster. Engine building techniques are included for street machines, drag racers, tow vehicles--for just about any Windsor-equipped Ford. Whether owners have a 289, 302/5.0L, or 351W/5.8L, Ford Windsor Small-Block Performance is the guide to performance success--on or off the strip.




Art of the Mustang


Book Description

Get an up-close-and-personal view of Ford's most beloved car, sure to please any Mustang fan. The Ford Mustang is America's most iconic muscle car. With over 50 years of production and some 10 million cars built, the brand is recognized and admired worldwide. This lavishly illustrated book, full of gorgeous studio photography, walks the reader through more than 50 years of Mustang history, focusing on the most interesting and popular models. From the first six-cylindered Mustang of 1964-1/2 through the heavy metal Boss and Mach 1 versions to today's all-new 2015 Mustang, Art of the Mustang is a detailed visual overview of Mustang's greatest hits, including anniversary and pace cars, high-performance models, SVO specials, and Shelby's high-profile offerings. Photographer Tom Loeser's stunning "light-painted" images are given context by informative text hitting the high points of each featured car, while period ads and brochures help round out the story. It's the closest, clearest look you can get of these ponies without seeing them in person.




Kar-Kraft


Book Description

The story of Kar-Kraft began, as did many others in the automotive industry, with an axe to grind. In 1963, Ford was seriously interested in purchasing Ferrari. Ferrari was a legendary brand with considerable success in racing, and Ford saw the acquisition as a great way to be instantly successful in the racing arena. When Enzo Ferrari realized that Ford would not give him complete control of the racing program, he backed out of the deal late in the process. Ford had spent millions in vetting and audits, which then set in motion a vengeful response against Ferrari. The result was the unthinkable: Ford beat Ferrari at Le Mans. Ford wanted to become competitive quickly, but it did not have the race history or resources in house. To remedy the situation, Ford searched the U.K. for an independent company to help accelerate its race car development. It first settled on Lola Cars and set up Ford Advanced Vehicles. Later, Ford brought its LeMans effort to the U.S. and the Kar-Kraft relationship was established. Although Kar-Kraft was technically an independent company, it really only had one customer: Ford Special Vehicles. Kar-Kraft's story doesn't begin and end with the GT 40 that took the win away from Ferrari at Le Mans. Ford expanded upon the program and organized an all-out assault on racing in general. Cars were prepared for Trans-Am, NASCAR, NHRA, and Can-Am competition. Street versions of the Boss 429 were assembled under its roof. And fabled prototypes including the LID Mustang, Boss 302 Maverick, and Mach 2C were all assembled in Ford's contracted race shop. And then, out of the blue, its doors closed for good on a cold day in 1970. History tells us that Ford won Le Mans, the Daytona 500, and the Trans-Am championship. But it doesn't tell us how this was accomplished. Author Charlie Henry (a former Kar-Kraft employee) has enlisted the help of many of his former co-workers to bring you the very first book ever published on Ford's all-encompassing special projects facility, Kar-Kraft. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial}




Moon of the Blue Mustang


Book Description

“I was eight years old when I saw the Blue Mustang. This was in nineteen thirty-five. It is said he still roams the canyons, guarding the wild herds, protecting all the creatures of the high desert.” Conrado Koteen, Jicarilla Reservation, 1990. Cattle rustlers are plying their trade in San Phillipe—plaguing both local ranchers and the Jicarilla Apache reservation. An ultra-light plane laden with drugs from Mexico plows into a rugged mountain-side—setting in motion a struggle to control the drug trade in Northern New Mexico. Apache sisters, one a Jicarilla police officer, the other in Fish and Wildlife Conservation Enforcement, are confronted by a gunman while off the reservation. A tragedy ensues. The body-count climbs as Sheriff Cliff Lansing contends with drugs, death, cattle theft and a power struggle with the Forestry Service. The resources of his office are spread thin. Almost too late, he realizes more than one murderer may be involved. An Apache legend and family secrets weave their way through the action . . . unseen forces play their part . . . providing Lansing with a mystery he may never solve.




Mustang 5.0 and 4.6, 1979-1998


Book Description

Generously illustrated volume relates the history of the 4.6- and 5.0-liter Mustangs manufactured from 1979 to 1998, discussing topics like design, production, racing and designers.




Ford Mustang


Book Description

This title introduces the classic American muscle car, the Ford Mustang. Readers will learn about the Mustang's history, models, special features, technical specs, racing career, and prevalence in popular culture. Large dynamic photos, easy-to-read text, a timeline, and infographics put readers in the driver's seat! High-interest sidebars give readers cool facts to share with their friends. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Big Buddy Books is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.




Drag Racing's Rebels


Book Description

Learn the entire fascinating story of the American Hot Rod Association (AHRA) in this wonderfully illustrated color history. When the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) was formed in 1951 by Wally Parks, the reasoning for the formation was to "create order from chaos" by instituting safety rules and performance standards that helped legitimize the sport of drag racing. Some organization was certainly necessary. A postwar boom in automotive enthusiasm was reaching new heights, and Hot Rod magazine and the NHRA were right in the thick of it. The NHRA hosted its first drag racing event in 1953, and in 1955, the organization staged its first national event, which was simply called "The Nationals." The AHRA formed in 1956 as an alternative to the NHRA, where the drivers voted on the rules (rather than sanctioning bodies and tracks), and their influence on the sport was felt almost immediately. When the NHRA denied the use of nitromethane in 1957, the AHRA approved it. When the NHRA banned aircraft-powered dragsters in 1961, the AHRA welcomed them. When the NHRA said no to the emerging Funny Car in 1965, the AHRA said yes. When fans and racers screamed for a heads-up Super Stock category in 1968, the AHRA delivered. The AHRA was called a rebel association. Some say that it was more of an association that got things done—to the delight of fans and racers. The AHRA was on equal ground with the NHRA by the 1970s, drawing enormous crowds and racer entries.

In this fascinating history, veteran author Doug Boyce tells the story of the AHRA, the rise, the competition, the events, and the eventual downfall of the organization. After AHRA President Jim Tice passed away in 1982, internal fighting for control of the association resulted in its doom. Get the whole story here, and add this wonderful volume to your drag racing library.




1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1


Book Description

By the time the 1969 model year rolled around, it was well established that muscle cars were fast and plentiful. Every manufacturer had at least one corner of the showroom where the "go fast" guys could congregate and discuss the merits and time slips of the latest performance offerings. Competition being what it was, the manufacturers were looking for ways to entice potential buyers to choose their product over ever-increasing offerings from the competition. Some manufacturers tried to accomplish this with affordable prices, some tried fancy marketing schemes, and some created a look and a style that screamed "performance" even when standing still. The 1969 Mach I was Ford's attempt to create a package and a style to match the performance of its recently released and very potent 428-ci Cobra Jet engine package. Displacing the still-available but more conservative GT trim, the Mach I included unique and innovative graphics and mechanical innovations including shaker hood scoops, dual racing mirrors, deluxe interiors, competition suspension, dual chrome exhaust tips, and blacked-out hoods. The result was a wildly popular model that sold more than 70,000 units, compared to slightly more than 5,000 GT models for the year. Each volume in the In Detail Series provides an introduction and historical overview, an explanation of the design and concepts involved in creating the car, a look at marketing and promotion, an in-depth study of all hardware and available options, and an examination of where the car is on the market today. Also included are paint and option codes, VIN and build tag decoders, as well as production numbers.