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Michigan museum offers Model T driving classes

Halfway between Detroit and Chicago, there is a car museum that gives visitors a unique level of interaction with antique cars. The Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, MI has a driver's training class to teach people of any age to learn how to drive a Ford Model T.
From the crank starter to the column-mounted throttle control, this driving school teaches people all there is to know about driving and operating a Model T. Each class lasts about two and a half hours and is only open to 18 students. There are ten sessions planned for 2014 - twice a day on May 3, June 22, July 22, August 23 and September 14. The class costs $95 (or $85 for members), and it also includes a tour of the museum's automobile collection.
In addition to this driving school, the museum has plenty of exhibits on the property, and it's open all but three days per year (Easter, Christmas and New Year's Day) with free admission for school field trips and active military. Be sure to check out the Gilmore Car Museum's website or visit them on Facebook for more info.

Signature Edition Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake to get limited production run

The upcoming Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang keeps grabbing a horde of headlines thanks in no small part to the pony car's 5.2-liter V8 with a flat-plane crankshaft, magnetic dampers and other go-fast goodies. However, as the new contender enters the ring, Shelby American is saying goodbye to the old GT500 and the company's even more powerful Super Snake version with its new Signature Edition model. Limited to a total of 50 conversions on 2007-2014 coupe or convertible GT500s, the Shelby American Signature Edition packages some of buyers' most common choices into a single vehicle with a few extra touches, as well. The heart of it all is a 3.6-liter Kenne Bell supercharger to replace the V8's standard blower and take power up to a claimed 850 horsepower for the latest models. To keep things running at the proper temp, the mill gets an upgraded radiator, heat exchanger and aluminum cooling tanks, too. The rear brakes are also improved to slow this stallion down. In addition to the boosted power, buyers get some extra style. These special Super Snakes are available in all of the colors available on them from Ford, plus a range of shades for the stripe, and the wide body package can also be added as an additional option. The limited version wears 20-inch forged wheels from Weld that are 9.5-inches wide at the front and 10.5-inches at the rear and feature Signature Edition center caps. Inside, there's a commemorative badge with Shelby's signature on the airbag cover and Signature Edition floor mats. Finally, customers get a day training at the track to learn how to control this beast as part of the package. Orders for the Signature Edition are being accepted through January 31, 2015, and the modded model is priced at $44,995.00, which is in addition to the price of the stock GT500. Read below for Shelby American's full announcement of this limited Mustang. SHELBY AMERICAN'S SIGNATURE EDITION GT500 SUPER SNAKE PACKAGES TO HONOR FINAL 2007-2014 MODEL YEAR CARS NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE · Shelby American to offer 50 total Signature Edition Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snakes · Special badging and stripe colors offered for every model year for first time in history · Offer expires January 31, 2015 LAS VEGAS – Dec. 20, 2014 –Shelby American, a wholly owned subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International Inc. (CSBI:PK), has unveiled a Signature Edition Super Snake package to honor the end of production for the current generation Ford Shelby GT500.

2015 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Review

"It's just a V6 Mustang." That phrase, so often spoken with derision and disdain, has haunted owners of Ford's more affordable and economical pony car since roughly April of 1964. Even after Dearborn finally paid some attention to its entry-level muscle car by eliminating telltale V6 features – the company fit dual exhausts in place of the single-exit pipe in 2011, negating the budget offering's biggest visual giveaway – the car was still hard pressed to shake its reputation as a hairdresser's car and rental fleet queen. For the Mustang's 50th year in service, Ford went back to the drawing board, we think with the distinct goal of eliminating the stigma of the non-V8 Mustang. While the V6 is still being offered (your local Avis and Enterprise lots wouldn't be the same without them), it's best to think of the new, four-cylinder, turbocharged Mustang EcoBoost as the entry-level model. But will the addition of forced induction – from an engine that will see action in the upcoming, enthusiast-centric Focus RS, no less – be enough to appease those pony car fans that believe that only Mustangs with eight cylinders are worthy of the galloping stallion badge? After a week at the helm, we certainly think it is. The new Mustang's looks have been covered ad nauseam. Chances are good that you either love the fastback styling, or you think the original pony car now looks a lot like a Fusion Coupe. We'll ignore the bigger styling remarks for the 2015 Mustang, and instead, focus on what's done right with the EcoBoost model. Like the V6 before it, certain boxes are correctly ticked. Dual exhausts? Check. 18-inch alloys? Check. (Our EcoBoost Premium model even shares its wheels with the base GT). HID headlamps? Check. Up front, there's a surprisingly meaty chin spoiler while the muscular lines of the 'Stang's long hood tie in nicely with the fastback shape, which terminates in a neat rear spoiler. There's even a body-colored diffuser at the back, between the chromed exhaust tips. The bottom line is, unless you're a true Mustang aficionado, you'll be hard pressed to tell the difference between the turbocharged car and its 435-horsepower brother. Simply sitting in the redesigned cabin isn't enough to give the EcoBoost away, either. The leather-trimmed seats (standard on the Premium trim) are cozy and supportive, with plenty of bolstering to help keep both driver and passenger in place while the 'Stang exhibits its newly enhanced cornering abilities.