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eBay Find Of The Day: 1988 Saleen Ford Mustang General Tire 21R race car

Saleen may be making headlines these days for working on the Tesla Model S, but its history and bread-and-butter is all about the Ford Mustang. The rear-wheel-drive Dearborn pony cars singlehandedly put the company on the map in the '80s. Founder Steve Saleen was already a talented American racing driver when he started the venture, and like many auto industry businesses before him, Saleen went to the track to prove his vehicles' worth. Now, there's a chance to buy one of those early racers on eBay Motors.
Saleen Mustangs raced in the Sports Car Club of America Escort Endurance Championship - a series of multi-hour races meant to challenge man and machine. Ostensibly a showroom stock class, the cars had larger wheels, tuned suspensions and other upgrades that stretched the concept slightly. Saleen found major success though, taking the championship for its class in 1987 and winning the 24 Hours of Mosport consecutively from 1986 through 1988.
According to the seller, Saleen only built eight of these cars, and this one carries the #21R serial number. They all started life as new Mustangs from Ford dealers but were immediately stripped and prepped to go racing. Beyond obvious mods like a roll cage, they featured eight-inch wide wheels in front, an inch of additional track width, stiffer suspension bushings and much more.

Ford Ranger-based 7-seat SUV spotted testing

Ford looks to be working on a new SUV version of its global Ranger pickup truck. An early prototype of a seven-passenger SUV based on the Ranger has been spotted testing in Australia, and word has it buyers in the region could expect to see the model in showrooms as soon as 2014, where it could sail under the Endeavour or Everest badges. Ford Australia currently sells the Territory SUV, so there's some chance that this model could be a successor to that throne, as well.
Whatever it's called, the long-roof Ranger will feature a shorter wheelbase and more ground clearance than its pickup twin, giving the machine a bit more off-road functionality. (And here we thought we couldn't want the global Ranger any more than we already do.) While this particular vehicle sports a Territory back half grafted onto a Ranger front end, odds are a public reveal of the finished product could occur as soon as the second half of 2014, making it a 2015 model. Head over to Carsguide.com.au for a closer look.

Ford auctioning off F-35-themed 2015 Mustang for charity

Ford's been a supporter of EAA AirVenture, a huge, annual air show held in Oshkosh, WI, for several years now, with one of its most notable contributions being a modified Ford Mustang, designed to look like one of America's great fighting aircraft. There was an SR-71 Mustang, based on the legendary spy plane, a Red Tails edition, which honored the ground-breaking Tuskegee Airmen of World War II, as well as Blue Angels and Thunderbird Mustangs, based on America's two great military aerial demonstration teams.
Each car is auctioned off, with all proceeds going to the EAA Young Eagles program, which introduces kids to the joy of flight. For the 2014 AirVenture, which runs from July 28 to August 3, the one-off pony car is based on the new-for-2015 Mustang, and America's latest fighting aircraft - the controversial F-35 Lightning II.
The unique Mustang sports titanium paint scheme, with both glossy and matte sections, as well as yellow-and-blue trim and decal elements inspired by CF-1, the first F-35 test plane. A carbon-fiber front splitter and rear diffuser add some visual eye candy, while the interior boasts a set of Recaro seats. Ford also opted to fit unique wheels and a brawnier rear spoiler, to tie everything together.