1966 Ford Mustang
1966 Ford Mustang
1966 Ford Mustang
The 1966 Ford Mustang, the highlight of the first generation of this legendary pony car, impresses not only with its striking design, but also with the variety of powerful engines that were available under the hood.
The 1966 Ford Mustang, the highlight of the first generation of this legendary pony car, impresses not only with its striking design, but also with the variety of powerful engines that were available under the hood.
The 1966 Ford Mustang, the highlight of the first generation of this legendary pony car, impresses not only with its striking design, but also with the variety of powerful engines that were available under the hood.
1968 Shelby EXP500 "Black Hornet"
The Black Hornet was Shelby's homage to the Mustang Green Hornet concept he had worked on with Ford in 1967. This muscle car, which would eventually be called the EXP-500, was never mass-produced, but served as inspiration for the GT/CS or "California Special" model introduced in 1968. Shelby seemed genuinely impressed by the Green Hornet, as his homage was almost identical to it, with one significant exception - the paint job. This is a true triple-black Mustang, meaning the body, roof and interior are all that color. The black theme is broken only by chrome Shelby emblems and white and gold "EXP-500 C.S.S" graphics on the lower part of the car between the wheels. The interior also features some faux wood trim on the door panels and dashboard, the latter of which is also signed by Shelby. There are many attractive Mustangs from this era, but this unique coupe is among the most beautiful.
The 428 CJ powerhouse
However, someone like Shelby didn't keep a car for decades just because it looked good. The Black Hornet was also a beast. Under the hood lurks a 428 Cobra Jet V-8, and the powerplant is mated to a four-speed manual transmission that sends its 335 horsepower and 445 ft-lbs of torque to the rear axle. Other performance upgrades include a high-flow fuel pump, Holley carburetor, aluminum intake manifold and heads, Mallory ignition and a Griffin radiator according to the auction listing. The car also has independent suspension, another detail that sets it apart from the Green Hornet.
In December 2008, the Black Hornet was finally handed over to its foundation and is now available for Mustang fans to purchase. The vehicle was auctioned off during the 2023 Barrett-Jackson event in Scottsdale. Hopefully the next owner is ready to add a few more miles to that speedometer.