Doug Pelmar's 1987 Ford Mustang LX Coupe might have just become our favorite X-Prize competitor. How come? Well, first off, LX Coupes are awesome to begin with, but Mr. Pelmar's is even more special. Rather than neuter his 'Stang in the name of high efficiency, he's gone and created something that should contend in the X-Prize's "Mainstream" category, but would also be right at home on the pages of Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords. The car's engine runs on E85 for emissions purposes and has several modifications that Mr. Pelmar designed (mostly electronics, it seems) allowing it to run much more efficiently -- to the tune of a claimed 80 miles per gallon -- while producing 400 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. He admits that he could squeeze more MPGs out if he dialed back the power some, but where's the fun in that? 80 MPG and 400 horses in a Fox body seems like a completely reasonable compromise to us.
The news that the Indiana state police are adding new, unmarked Mustang GTs to their patrol fleet sent this blogger over to SSPMustang.org for a little nostalgia. SSPMustang is a site dedicated to the 1982 - 1993 Special Service Package Mustangs and the enthusiasts who find them and keep them going. You don't have to think that far back to recall when the sight of an tinted-out, unmarked 5.0 LX notch on the side of the highway was something you'd immediately jump on the brakes for. Many states had marked ones, too, and in all cases, they were manned by troopers ready to give pursuit.
I clicked on the site's "For Sale" link out of curiosity, and lo and behold, there's a beauty up for grabs. The 1982 California Highway Patrol SSP 5.0L you see above belongs to SSPMustang.org webmaster Mike Riley, and he's letting it go. As you can see, it's been fully restored, right down to the period-correct radios and reproduction "E" plates, among other things. The listing has an extensively detailed rundown on the car, its history, and the work done on it as well as several more large photos. While you're on the site, visit the "Features" section, where you can see more cars, including Riley's interesting '86 SSP 'Stang that served as the Indian Rocks, FL fire chief's car. Neat stuff. As for the CHP ride, he's asking $11,500 for it. If you decide to make it yours, our only recommendation is that you refrain from driving it in Dearborn, MI.
Typos...they happen. Sometimes, however, they're pretty funny and this is one of those times. Saturn of Oxford Valley, a Pennsylvania dealer, has apparently (and unwittingly) decided to either lead the GM mothership into a new profit renaissance or set a new standard for dealer markups, as this listing for a 2008 Saturn Vue XE suggests. We like the new Vues; they're nice -- just not two-million-dollars-nice. Sheesh, we shudder to think what dealers in that area are going to ask for the Shelby GT500KR and Dodge Challenger SRT8 now that even Vues have seven-figure price tags.
