Page 121 - Demo

121Thanks to this work, Ford was once again a fierce contender on NASCAR ovals, drag strips and, of course, Main Street. A December 1959 report by Hot Rod magazine%u2019s Ray Brock confirmed the effectiveness of the hot new Ford, including a 145-mph test run by NASCAR legend Cotton Owens at Daytona. Soon after it was released, the special 352 mill was succeeded by an array of wilder, larger-displacement power teams, culminating in the mighty 427 that would power Carroll Shelby%u2019s Cobras and Ford%u2019s Le Mans-conquering GT40. Encouraged by the 360-horsepower Starliner%u2019s competitiveness, Edsel Ford II soon ended his company%u2019s support for the AMA racing ban and forged an entirely new path with its %u201cTotal Performance%u201d corporate racing program, scoring victories in nearly every form of motorsport throughout the 1960s. As such, the Starliner deserves credit as the historic first shot fired by Ford %u201cacross the bow%u201d of the competition, helping ignite the 1960s muscle-car wars.Known as %u201cScarliner,%u201d this custom 1960 Ford Starliner handsomely celebrates Ford Motor Company%u2019s performance renaissance of the early 1960s %u2013 but with today%u2019s technological innovations and exacting build quality. Envisioned and built by Bodie Stroud, the Ford specialist, custom car designer and media personality, %u201cScarliner%u201d rides on an Art Morrison MaxG Profile independent front suspension system and an Art Morrison MaxG Profile triangulated 4-link setup to the rear. Far greater power and performance than the legendary 352 of 1960 is delivered by a 2006 Ford GT-derived 5.4-liter aluminum V8 engine, equipped with a Lysholm twin-screw supercharger and fortified by a forged crank and pistons, developing 550hp and 500 ft/lbs of torque. Power is delivered to the pavement