Use these OE and aftermarket parts to expand your business.
The phrase Race on Sunday...Sell on Monday was not just a catchy advertising slogan. It had legs. As stronger powerplants made their way into auto racing, particularly with the maturation of the muscle cars in the 1960s, some auto dealers would actually open earlier than usual on Monday mornings to prepare for the swarm of new customers.
Ford (and the other major automobile manufacturers as well) has a special division in place to develop and sell high performance and aftermarket parts. By looking at what the factory is doing right now, you can determine which parts your customers will soon order. If your customer wants OE from Ford, you can deliver. If your customer wants name brands from the aftermarket (in many cases, the aftermarket is already supplying the factory) you can deliver that well. First, let's take a look at how it all started for Ford's Special Vehicle Teams (SVT).THE ORIGINS OF FORD RACING
One company heavily involved with auto racing of all kinds was Ford Motor Company. Its involvement in auto racing goes back to Henry Ford I, the company's founder, and his 999 Racer. The cudgel was taken over by Henry Ford II, the young CEO, who quickly expressed his interest in auto racing. Before world situations like the Arab Oil Boycott (and its resultant high gas prices) and an emissions awareness, which eventually slowed the seemingly endless progression of powerful V-8s, Ford successfully participated in every form of auto racing. From local dirt tracks to Formula One, from the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) to the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), and from Indy Car to NASCAR, Ford was involved and winning. Many drivers and car builders became "overnight" celebrities, including such luminaries as Parnelli Jones, Richard Petty, Connie Kalitta, Dan Gurney, and Carroll Shelby.
At the time, Ford called its racing operation "Ford Total Performance," and it sold aftermarket performance parts through Ford dealers nationwide.The mid-to-late 1970s saw an almost complete cessation of factory involvement in organized automobile racing. However, this same lack of official activity didn't stop those whose passions were still into making fast cars go faster. Eventually, the company snapped out of its anti-performance fog and just prior to departing as chairman, Henry Ford II decided to get back into racing and personally authorized the formation of Special Vehicle Operations (SVO). This department would have its own budget and remain at arm's length from meddling senior management. In essence, it was Ford's in-house speed shop and was based on the legendary "Skunk Works," made famous by Kelly Johnson's super-secret development group at Lockheed Aircraft Corporation.
Formed in the fall of 1981, the new racing department's charter was to concentrate on Ford's racing programs while at the same time developing limited-production, street-legal vehicles based on applications from its racing operations and serving as an outgrowth of the earlier Ford Total Performance. At the time, European sports cars were making their presence known and one of SVO's first challenges was to compete against them. With the complete revision of the 1982 Mustang, SVO had its target vehicle and went to work to design a high-performance vehicle using an existing platform.THE MUSTANG'S DEBUT
From its debut at the New York World's Fair as a 1964½ model, the Mustang has served as a workbench for performance enthusiasts—both professional and amateur. Mustang's versatility as a family-oriented sports car or a pavement-burner opened the door for endless transformations. Through various gestations, the Mustang has been powered by everything from a tiny four-cylinder engine to a 500-horsepower V-8 and has featured manual transmissions with as few as three speeds and as many as six. Oh yeah, there were lots of automatic transmission-equipped Mustangs sold as well. Today, there are thousands of aftermarket products available for Mustang owners to personalize and customize to increase pride of ownership.Although a V-8 was available for the Mustang in 1982—the venerable Boss 302 at that time—SVO engineers were still skittish about fuel economy and emissions. So, the SVO team selected the 2.3-liter inline four-cylinder engine (originally used in the Ford Pinto). But, by the time they were done, there was no way anyone would even think "Pinto" when discussing this mini-rocket ship.
The engine was equipped with an advanced computer-controlled fuel-injection system and an intercooled turbocharger system that boosted horsepower to 175. Furthermore, a "fuel-grade" switch was added to the dash, which allowed the driver to adjust the vehicle's performance level, depending on the use of premium-or standard-grade gasoline.
The Mustang's 5-speed manual transmission was updated with revised gearing and a factory-installed Hurst shifter, which improved shift feel and quickness.Key modifications over the standard Mustang suspension and steering also helped increase performance. Putting in a 3.73:1 limited-slip, Traction-Lok rear axle, vented four-wheel-disc braking system, specially designed pedals, and five-lug 16-inch x 7-inch aluminum alloy wheels with P225-16 Goodyear Eagle VR 50 "Gatorback" tires also helped the performance cause.
While it was a fast mover on the street and track, the SVO Mustang's price point put it out of reach of most amateur enthusiasts and, though a 205-horsepower engine was offered on a limited number of 1985½ SVO models, it still didn't turn the sales tide. Basically, the 1984-1985 model years were it.SVO wasn't devoting all its time to street Mustangs, however; they were also racing. Between 1984 and 1989, Ford bagged 46 Trans-Am victories—more than all other manufacturers combined. Ford drivers also finished 1-2-3 in NASCAR's final Winston Cup standings and broke Chevrolet's former stranglehold on NASCAR's manufacturer's championship. Also, Ford's new turbo Cosworth engine dominated the Indy Car series. In Formula 1, Ford finished third in the Driver's Championship, even though, thanks to SVO, the company had spent about half the money invested by competitors Honda and Renault.
FORD'S SVT BECOMES THE INDUSTRY BENCHMARK
In the early1990s, Ford re-organized SVO and handed its street machine operation to the new Special Vehicle Team (SVT). Wasting little time, SVT generated many new performance products for Mustangs and other Ford products. Among them were the Mustang Cobra, F-150 Lightning pickup, SVT Contour, and SVT Focus.SVT had planned on adding up to five new models—including an SVT Fusion—but those plans were set aside and the last SVT Cobras and Focuses were completed in 2004. Just prior to that, SVT had designed and built the quintessential high-performance American racing car, the Ford GT, in less than two years. Though only a limited run, it proved to the industry the expertise and creativity of Ford's SVT operation. SVT became the model for Chrysler's SRT and GM's Performance Division, but in many ways, because of past management decisions, is still playing catch-up (but rapidly closing the gap).
Far from being content to rest on its laurels and continue to sell only racing parts for aftermarket use, SVT began developing a "Super" Mustang on the platform of the completely revamped 2005 version. It collaborated with the best-known name in Ford's racing stable other than Mustang—Carroll Shelby.SHELBY INTRODUCES THE GT500
One of "Old Shel's" most famous creations was the 1967 GT500. It was a blowtorch with a 428-cubic-inch V-8 and a four-speed transmission crammed into the confines of a fairly lightweight 1967 Mustang. It has since gone on to achieve cult and collector status. With 2007 being the 40th anniversary of the original GT500, a major project was undertaken with SVT and Shelby to "out-GT500 the original GT500." Not only did it meet and exceed all expectations, it also provided a truly affordable high-performance Mustang that harkened back to the muscle-car era, but with state-of-the-art technology and safety features. Offered as a coupe or convertible with 500 horsepower and a 6-speed manual transmission, few cars are more distinctive than the new Shelby GT500, whether heading toward you or accelerating away from you (a common occurrence).
SVT has already developed the next "highway snake," the GT500KR (for "King of the Road"), which debuted at this year's New York International Auto Show. It also has begun work on a truck, but no completion date has been announced.SVT has become a cult unto itself. There are SVT, SVO, and Total Performance clubs and meets held throughout the year and Ford actively supports many of their activities and disseminates information through various newsletters and electronic communication channels. SVT has an active and profitable operation selling parts (record profits and revenue) not only through Ford dealerships but also through extensive marketing to performance distributors.
When asked the potential of SVT, Jamie Allison, SVT's general manager, said, "Fifty-six percent of Ford owners are racing fans and the total number of racecar fans is astounding. NASCAR alone has 75 million fans."
Another popular racing body with which Ford is involved is the NHRA. "We're a sponsor of 14-time Funny Car national title holder John Force," said Allison. "In addition to the Ford blue oval prominently displayed on Force's easily recognizable green-and-white car, he also has a successful reality show on cable television, and the added exposure doesn't hurt the company any." Drag racing has become a family business; Force's three daughters are all involved in the sport.Some of the better-known aftermarket Mustang modifiers are Saleen and Roush Racing. They purchase Mustangs from dealerships just like a regular customer and take title to them. After their customization is complete, they sell their vehicles directly to the customer and the purchaser receives a title just as if purchasing the vehicle from a Ford dealership.
FORD RACING ONLINE
If there were any doubt as to how massive Ford racing has become, customers can order performance parts or find out where they can purchase them at www.fordracing.com. The Web site also allows customers to personalize their own Mustang or design a fantasy Mustang for every year of its existence. The site lists events, clubs, and provides up-to-the-minute news on Ford racing. The SVT Web site also provides links to a multitude of other performance and Ford-related sites and quite literally offers hours of information and enjoyment. Plus, you can Google a plethora of pertinent Web sites by searching for such key phrases as Ford Total Performance, SVO, and SVT. With so many cross-links accessible to customers, they have to decide whether to go to their jobs or sit at home all day and read Ford performance-related Web sites, that is, until the utility company shuts off their electricity for non-payment.
The longed-for return to the "golden era" of muscle cars ain't gonna happen, Fonzie. The original cars are outdated; fuel is too expensive and we all want to breathe clean air. However, through technology and development of factory-owned operations like Ford's SVT, there's still excitement in the automotive arena. Thanks to aftermarket parts, you can be the master of your own Skunk Works.
