12-30-07: Each year publications around the world post their retrospective of the past 12 months. Last year we did a Mustang Top-Ten. This year we chose to critique the year with a Top Winners and Losers list. Why? Because we wanted to. There was a lot of good that came in 2007 for the Mustang and Ford world, and there was some upheaval as well. We were blessed to be here watching it all from the front row for another year. So, with that we hope that you will enjoy our synopsis and that you will come back and see us throughout 2008. Happy New Year!

WINNER: 2008 Bullitt Mustang

While many hardcore enthusiasts groaned about the new 2008 Bullitt Mustang being nothing more than a parts bin special, our polling disagrees. The new Bullitt unveiled this fall has undoubtedly struck a chord with the general public and promises to be a sales success for Ford. The brilliant Highland Green Mustang comes with a host of special trim inside and out, unique wheels and emblems, and a small boost of power to 325 from some off the shelf Ford Racing parts. While it may not be the 400hp monster many wanted it will find many happy homes. Add the excitement of the famous car chase scene to the rumors that a movie remake is in the cards that will star the car and you have high gravitas. Score one for Ford.

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LOSER: Saleen Incorporated

In 2007 the drama at Saleen was high. Throughout the year there were rumors both substantiated and not substantiated swirling about layoffs, firings, and closure of facilities. Their media relations department is refraining from commenting or even putting out counterspin - only further exacerbating rumors that things are fluid. The company that postures itself a "Manufacturer" and not a "Tuner" has been struggling for some time and has in the past few years been taken over by an investor group called Hancock Park.

In all the wrangling and strife even Steve Saleen who founded the company walked away from it all late this year. The corporate press release stated that he chose to retire while many in the know say he was forced out. In any case, it's a sad day for Steve Saleen to see his legacy in the control of others. How the company will succeed in the future is unknown. Production of the Saleen Mustangs has been moved from Irvine, CA to the company’s facility in Troy, MI. The landmark retail location, The Saleen Store in Irvine which opened just over a year ago is now closed. We hope only the best for Steve Saleen and his family as he has been an important part of the Mustang fabric in the past 20 years.

WINNER: Carroll Shelby / Shelby Automobiles

Carroll is on a roll. While he continues to remind at every opportunity that he is “lucky to be here”, Carroll is living life at the pace of a rock star. In 2007 no less than half a dozen new special edition Mustangs were unveiled with his name on them. Those include the Shelby GT-500KR, the GT-500KR Super Snake, the Shelby Hertz GT Convertible, the 2007 Shelby GT, the Barrett-Jackson Shelby GT, and the Shelby 40th Anniversary Package. Your count may vary. Despite what some may call overload, each and every one of these cars has been met with overwhelming enthusiasm. This year his company has rolled out an all new Owners Club called Team Shelby who’s goal is to take his legacy into the future long after as Carroll says, “I go horizontal”. Keep it up Carroll and best wishes for the new year!

LOSER: Ford Sales & Finances

2007 has been a bloodbath for Ford both in sales and in finances. The company continues it struggle to turn around its North American operations to profitability through various cost cutting measures and the rollout of new models. But, 2007 was not the year for results. An all new F-350 Super Duty truck, growing sales of new models like the Ford Edge and Fusion were not enough to out power a sales slide of several other models gone stale. The launch of the “all-new” Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable has arguably been a flop. The “all new” Ford Focus, while stronger than previous year’s sales is hardly causing alarm. 2007 year over year sales for the Ford Brand were down a whopping 13.6%. Models contributing most to the decline were the languid Explorer, Ranger, F-Series and Mustang. Yep, even the Mustang’s sales were down a staggering 19.2% in 2007. Granted, much of the decline is due to the phase out of some models and replacements for some of the slower selling cars are on the way next year. They better come fast.

WINNER: Roush Performance

Jack Roush and his garage complex full of engineers, craftsmen and marketers scored big in 2007 with a record year of sales for Roushified Mustangs and F-150 trucks as well as their top-notch performance parts. The company’s sales were up in 2007, breaking records while Ford and industry sales were down. In a market where gas prices have remained at an all time high, Roush Performance has sold over 2300 high performance Roush Mustangs and over 200 up-fitted F-150’s. The company had much success with it’s top end models like the supercharged Roush 427R and Stage 3 Mustangs. Going into 2008, the company is rolling out a new 510hp supercharged Mustang line starting with the P-51A. We can’t wait to test drive one.

LOSER: SAAC - Shelby American Automobile Club

The Shelby American Automobile Club has been a major part of the Mustang and Shelby enthusiast realm for the better part of three decades. Many members of the organization will tell you that their existence kept the Shelby name and legacy alive during the dormant years. So, it came as a surprise this year when Carroll Shelby Licensing announced that it was severing ties with SAAC and starting their own new club. There were the cries of foul from all sides. Many long time enthusiasts alleged that Carroll was after power and money, while Carroll pointed blame at the management of SAAC for not meeting their side of their long standing agreement.

Wherever the blame lies, it's certain that Carroll has had a falling out with Rick Kopec and Wil Eber who operate SAAC. It's sad of course as it is indeed and end to an era. But at the end of the day Carroll Shelby has the right to say who can and cant use his name. If you enter into such an agreement it's in your best interest to keep the boss happy, especially when there are so many people in the balance. In the end, it's the members of the club who are truly the victims.

WINNER: Ford Racing

The racing shop at Ford has been up front and center all year long. At SEMA they rolled out new factory race cars, new factory race engines, and a whole new line of parts and accessories that you will be welcome to buy and install through your local dealer. Most of all, Ford Racing has had major success this year in well, racing. The Mustang FR-500C being campaigned in the Grand-Am Koni Challenge GS class did very well in 2007, earning Ford Second Place in the manufacturer points rankings. Ford was second only to BMW, which is pretty heady company. Falling behind Ford in the rankings was Porsche, Nissan, and Pontiac. In Europe, the FR-500GT Cobra Mustang made its first showing as well! Rah-Rah!

LOSER: Unique Performance

Bad news came for the Unique Performance shop in Farmer’s Branch, TX who was refurbishing and modifying vintage Mustangs into Shelby GT-500E “Eleanor“ Mustangs as well as building the 2007-2008 Foose Mustangs. The first news of ill came when Carroll Shelby licensing began proceedings to cease relations amid reports that the company was not delivering cars to customers nor returning deposits. Local authorities then raided the Unique Performance shop and headquarters and seized some 61 vehicles. The Texas company suddenly disappeared from corporate parent Quantum-Tecstar's website. Unique Performance? Who is that?

With lawsuits mounting, it is alleged that these vehicles had improper or illegible VIN numbers and that the authorities have been investigating improper actions on the part of Unique Performance with regard to VIN numbers and titles. Some 58 Mustangs in various stages of completion and 3 Camaros are reported to have been confiscated by the Texas Department of Transportation. Oops.

WINNER: Aftermarket Parts Industry

Despite an economy that has been rocked by the housing bust, mortgage meltdown, the credit crisis, and record gas prices this year, people are spending record money on accessories and upgrades for their cars. At the 2007 SEMA show, manufacturers, retailers, and distributors gathered amid another record setting year for the business that provides us with custom wheels, high performance engine parts, body kits, interior trim, and everything else we buy to mod our cars. Thousands of new products were shown and introduced while manufacturers like Ford rolled out new programs of their own for the aftermarket business. Tuners showed off all new special models, and packages for the 2008 year that are faster, more unique and more expensive. It would seem that while new car sales are plummeting, people are choosing to keep their cars and improve them.

LOSER: Muscle Cars via The Fed

Just as the party got bumpin, the Greenies called the cops and whined. In 2007 the Federal Government passed landmark legislation to curb the appetite of oil and force changes in our energy usage fleet wide, that will inevitably kill off the recent wave of high performance cars we have come to enjoy. The new Energy Bill that Congress Passed and the President signed in December will among other things raise the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) regulation to a fleet average of 35mpg across all vehicles made, including trucks and full size SUV’s. This means that starting in 2011 and by 2020, each manufacturer’s total output of cars and trucks will have to average a minimum of 35 mpg. The car makers have begrudgingly signed onto the new legislation for posturing purposes. But in the end this new bill is a devastating blow to automakers, who will be forced to drop most if not all of their larger and less efficient vehicles to meet the new demands. The world is changing. Stay Tuned.