29 July 2009 - 12:00
When is a Mustang not a Mustang?
Led by our muscle car devotee Richard Hammond, we love the Ford Mustang here at Top Gear.
So when news reached us that the Mustang was off racing in the US, it's fair to say we got a bit excited. The phrase ‘yee-haw' may even have been uttered, for which we apologise.
And then we saw this, the 2010 NASCAR Ford Mustang. Oh. Now, we know that NASCAR rules specify that manufacturers are limited to sticking near-stock plastic bodies over a fat V8 engine, but still - why call it a Mustang?
We know, we know, to generate a few sales. But this is no damn Mustang, Ford. What would Steve McQueen think?
Though the Mustang name is one of the most successful in Stateside motorsport - think of all those gorgeous Shelby racers from the 60s - this is the first time a ‘Mustang' has ever raced in NASCAR. It will compete in a limited number of races next year before an expected full campaign in 2011.
But it's still not a Mustang. However, this gives us an idea. Since all NASCAR, er, cars look more or less identical, what's the most ridiculous nameplate you could foist upon one? We love the idea of the Toyota iQ doing battle with Ssangyong Rodius around the Las Vegas Motor Speedway...
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I thought this was a joke. When I saw the photo I could not believe they would distort that beautiful shape. Ever since NASCAR went away from stock bodied cars the series seems to have lost a lot of soul. Besides, I have lost interest anyway. Jimmy Johnson wins every weekend, so why watch.
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Polonez vs Lada - the Commies are coming!
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er... whats nascar?... lol... :p
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I've got a good one: Perodua Kenari vs. Skoda Roomster!
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Fiat 500 v Land Rover Disco
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Ferrari, ... or maybe Rover?
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Austin Allegro
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Present time: any Chinese car maker that scores negative points on the NCAP tests. Even though the cars are all near-identical under the bodies, it would be a balls-of-steel showcase for the driver (especially when bump drafting). Retro: DAF 600 Variomatic, with the body mounted on backwards.
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Remember folks, these cars do have to be marketed in the US. A real possibility is Honda Accord (US Spec) using the Acura V8 vs. Volvo S60 using the V8 from the XC90. Not as wierd as what you have suggested but would still shake up conservative NASCAR!
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Remember folks, these cars do have to be marketed in the US. A real possibility is Honda Accord (US Spec) using the Acura V8 vs. Volvo S60 using the V8 from the XC90. Not as wierd as what you have suggested but would still shake up conservative NASCAR!
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Morris Marina vs Dacia Sandero
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BMW Isetta vs Nissan Pivo 2... try and fit those on a Nascar chassis...
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nascrap...
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G-Wiz vs Bugatti Royale
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@nogginthenog: Allegro only if they put it on the chassis back to front. It'll go faster and my eyes won't hurt so much. Vandenplas coach for preference. Mini Moke vs VW Kubelwagen.
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Btw: if you want to see real Mustangs at work, look to the Dutch GT4 championship. Jan Lammers drives one, together with some prince (we got plenty and they get bored). I think there are three Ponies, total.
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coming to NASCAR next season.... The All New... The Legendary... The Biggest and Best.... The DACIA SANDERO!
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A Daniel O'Donnell fan's Kia Picanto vs. another Daniel O'Donnell fan's Perodua Kelisa vs. a chav in a heavily chavved-up Corsa 1.0 with no performance mods whatsoever - unless you count the really loud exhaust :D
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A Morris Marina!
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Rover 90 vs Triumph Herald. Oh - they need to have been sold in the US? How about Bricklin vs Delorean?
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Crap car, but awesome graphics. They managed to paint a Chevy Monte Carlo to look like a Ford Mustang. Here in the states they could make money selling those to Monte Carlo owners.
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Ford Mustangs are rubbish pieces of well, RUBBISH!
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Whats the point of the low lights, shoudl have kept it as normal as possible. But still i love it :) Trabant NASCAR car!!! LOL Or maybe a porsche cayenne? in fact im surprised they havent made a NASCAR version already to join the other TAT that is modified.
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Build a new series that only includes "true" musclecars like Camaro v Mustang v Challenger, put full aero-tech package similar to DTM or JSGT racecars and make power outputs and weights at about as close as possible for all cars... I'm sure this would click with the masses.
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That's like cutting of bits off *insert name of sexy person here* A true shame! Disgraceful! But a RUNNING race of the TG lot would be amusing. Would James still get lost if he wasn't in a car? Would the stig ace it? Would Jeremy collapse?
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Citroen 2CV of course.
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how about a tata nano vs. ford focus
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the front looks a bit old alfa romeo (80's old) or the old bmw 6 series from a distance
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I thought that was an artist's impression - that looks awful! I think they should just make all the NASCAR cars look like characters from Disney Pixar's 'Cars'. They share nothing with road cars anyway.
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Except maybe without the eyes on the windscreen, or make them PVC so the driver can still see out.
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Scalectrix racing...
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Nascar is dieing, nobody is going to the races anymore or watching them on tv, the "cars of tommorow" are all modeled after front wheel drive cars, and they're carburettored. Only makes sense that they're going to butcher the mustang to draw in fans.
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I hate NASCAR, I hate the NASCAR drivers and everything that NASCAR represents. It give those of us who love racing, and happen to be American, the stereotype that we love going around in circles for hours on end. Oh yea, and that we're all beer guzzeling, mullet wearing rednecks ... I wish it would die like Omnificent says it is, but it won't anytime soon ...
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peel p40 vs hummer limo haha :)
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I live in the states and all I can say about this "mustang" is WTF? NASCAR is something that I once enjoyed but recently it has lost that something special it once had. The cars going around the track now all look the same, and I am sorry but that thing in the picture is not a mustang.
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AlKim commented on this article
29 July 2009
Zündapp Janus vs. Peel P50!
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