Muligan
ARRR!
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2016
- Threads
- 85
- Messages
- 1,255
- Reaction score
- 1,817
- Location
- North Central Illinois
- Vehicle(s)
- G0059 / Former Track Attack #14 "The Rented Mule"
- Thread starter
- #1
This question has been raised in many posts in a variety of threads, but I thought it’d be interesting to see the reasons of those who’ve bought (or want) base R models – i.e., without the electronics package – consolidated in a single thread.
To date, there have been less than a total of 150 base R models built (’15 – ’18) and Ford will cease building them at the end of this month (April ’18) due to the USDOT requirement that all cars built after that must have a back-up camera. So far, Ford’s solution is to simply make the electronics package a mandatory option – standard equipment – going forward. If the GT350 continues into the ’19 MY and/or beyond, it’ll be interesting to see if Ford takes that same approach or if they come up with a work-around, such as a camera with the image in the rear view mirror, allowing them to continue producing a somewhat stripped car.
So, back to the question - I’ll go first…..
I’m old school (my wife just says I’m old) and remember when the stripper version of a performance car was the hot ticket. Sure, adding a radio, speakers, and a few other creature comforts make the a car more comfortable for regular use (in some cases, even daily driver duty), but for pure sporting pleasure, I’m drawn to simple cars without much in the way of creature comforts. In the summer months, my weekend daily driver (if the weather cooperates) is a ’65 Cobra replica – manual steering, manual brakes, manual transmission, no driver aids, no side windows, no top, no exterior door handles, and the only “electronic” thing on the entire car is the Pertronix that replaced the dual points in the vintage Ford distributor residing in front of the carburetor.
For me, it’s not about the overall weight reduction – but rather the purpose-built character, the somewhat more visceral sound and feel that comes through when the manufacturer leaves out the fluff and does without sound deadening, underlayment, etc. and instead focuses on the track equipment.
With regard to the GT350R in 920A form, it would have been great in my opinion if Ford had gone even farther – no carpet... just a rubber mat for front seat area and just bare painted floor elsewhere, manual door windows, no rear defroster, fuel cell, tow hooks front and rear, integrated roll hoop, fixed shell seats on manual sliders, a fire suppression system – basically the things that can be found on some of the high-end track cars from Lotus, BMW, Porsche and Ferrari.
I’ve converted street cars into track tools before and even built my Cobra from the ground-up. I often use the phrase that fast cars are built, not bought. But, there are some very special factory cars out there that show what a company’s engineers are capable of when given enough latitude. Usually, those cars are very special and each component is designed to work together in harmony. Sure, many of us can take a regular car and mod the snot out of it to go faster than some of the factory specials - including a base R, but I for one always smile when I see a company let their hair down and allow their engineers to have some fun.
My plan for JR265 is to treat it as the special car it is – like all Rs are – and enjoy it as I see fit. I’m not buying it as an investment, but I will certainly take care to maintain it and be its caretaker for as long as I’m able, then it’ll someday go to a worthy niece or nephew. It’ll see occasional road use for errands and fun runs on country roads just to help me clear the cobwebs after a long day at work, cruise nights where kids can climb in it and start on the long journey down the road of being a gear head, long day trips in the Spring and Fall with a caravan of friends in their interesting cars – both old and new, and when broken-in sufficiently – it’ll turn laps at Road America, for sure.
Better or worse than an R with the electronics package? Well, that just depends on your intended use, wants, and needs. For me, it’s a somewhat civilized, though not too much, bridge between my ’65 Cobra replica and the full-on vintage road race ’65 Mustang fastback project I’m working on.
For that, I say "thank you, Ford." :cheers:
To date, there have been less than a total of 150 base R models built (’15 – ’18) and Ford will cease building them at the end of this month (April ’18) due to the USDOT requirement that all cars built after that must have a back-up camera. So far, Ford’s solution is to simply make the electronics package a mandatory option – standard equipment – going forward. If the GT350 continues into the ’19 MY and/or beyond, it’ll be interesting to see if Ford takes that same approach or if they come up with a work-around, such as a camera with the image in the rear view mirror, allowing them to continue producing a somewhat stripped car.
So, back to the question - I’ll go first…..
I’m old school (my wife just says I’m old) and remember when the stripper version of a performance car was the hot ticket. Sure, adding a radio, speakers, and a few other creature comforts make the a car more comfortable for regular use (in some cases, even daily driver duty), but for pure sporting pleasure, I’m drawn to simple cars without much in the way of creature comforts. In the summer months, my weekend daily driver (if the weather cooperates) is a ’65 Cobra replica – manual steering, manual brakes, manual transmission, no driver aids, no side windows, no top, no exterior door handles, and the only “electronic” thing on the entire car is the Pertronix that replaced the dual points in the vintage Ford distributor residing in front of the carburetor.
For me, it’s not about the overall weight reduction – but rather the purpose-built character, the somewhat more visceral sound and feel that comes through when the manufacturer leaves out the fluff and does without sound deadening, underlayment, etc. and instead focuses on the track equipment.
With regard to the GT350R in 920A form, it would have been great in my opinion if Ford had gone even farther – no carpet... just a rubber mat for front seat area and just bare painted floor elsewhere, manual door windows, no rear defroster, fuel cell, tow hooks front and rear, integrated roll hoop, fixed shell seats on manual sliders, a fire suppression system – basically the things that can be found on some of the high-end track cars from Lotus, BMW, Porsche and Ferrari.
I’ve converted street cars into track tools before and even built my Cobra from the ground-up. I often use the phrase that fast cars are built, not bought. But, there are some very special factory cars out there that show what a company’s engineers are capable of when given enough latitude. Usually, those cars are very special and each component is designed to work together in harmony. Sure, many of us can take a regular car and mod the snot out of it to go faster than some of the factory specials - including a base R, but I for one always smile when I see a company let their hair down and allow their engineers to have some fun.
My plan for JR265 is to treat it as the special car it is – like all Rs are – and enjoy it as I see fit. I’m not buying it as an investment, but I will certainly take care to maintain it and be its caretaker for as long as I’m able, then it’ll someday go to a worthy niece or nephew. It’ll see occasional road use for errands and fun runs on country roads just to help me clear the cobwebs after a long day at work, cruise nights where kids can climb in it and start on the long journey down the road of being a gear head, long day trips in the Spring and Fall with a caravan of friends in their interesting cars – both old and new, and when broken-in sufficiently – it’ll turn laps at Road America, for sure.
Better or worse than an R with the electronics package? Well, that just depends on your intended use, wants, and needs. For me, it’s a somewhat civilized, though not too much, bridge between my ’65 Cobra replica and the full-on vintage road race ’65 Mustang fastback project I’m working on.
For that, I say "thank you, Ford." :cheers:
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