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2013 Shelby GT350

Shelby is a name as synonymous with the Ford Mustang as marshmallows are with campfires. But unlike the short-lived sugary confection that is prepared on a stick, the late Carroll Shelby's name on the placard means added performance and exclusivity. Launched in 1965, the automaker's celebrated early cars were in production for a limited run - today, a mint concours-quality 1965 Shelby GT350 can sell for upwards of $350,000.
To coincide with the 45th anniversary of the original Shelby GT350, Shelby American reintroduced the GT350 in 2011. Like the original, it was only offered in white with blue stripes. Customers were offered a choice between naturally aspirated (440 horsepower) and two levels of supercharging (525 horsepower with a warranty or 624 horsepower without). The manufacturer calls the GT350 a "post-title" package, a term that means it starts out life as a stock Mustang and is modified outside Ford's factory (this is in contrast to the Shelby GT500, which is a standard Ford production car).
As the GT350 enters its third year, Shelby has made several changes. Mechanically, Wilwood brakes replace Baer units and Recaro seats and a tinted glass roof are on the options list. Cosmetically, the vehicle is now offered in most of the Blue Oval's factory colors, new multispoke wheels are available in Satin Black or Bright Silver Metallic finish, and customers can choose between Satin Black, Silver or Gloss White stripes (or Azure Blue Metallic on Performance White or Ingot Silver). Aesthetically, the look of the car has also changed somewhat - keen eyes will note that it actually appears more 'stock' than it did last year.

US Air Force Thunderbirds Mustang fetches $400K at auction

For the last six years, Ford has created a special version of the Mustang with a military aviation theme, and then donated the car to the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) to be auctioned off at the annual AirVenture event, also known as The World's Greatest Aviation Celebration. The money raised goes to the EAA Young Eagles program to inspire the "aviation pioneers of tomorrow," and this year's 2014 Ford Mustang GT US Air Force Thunderbirds Edition was won with a final bid of $398,000.
Celebrating 60 years of the USAF's Thunderbirds, this Mustang GT is the only one of its kind with a paint job matching the Thunderbirds' F-16 Falcon jets and some Ford Racing performance added on for good measure. Including this car, Ford has helped raise around $2.3 million for the charity with the biggest auction price coming from the first year of the program, the F-22 Raptor-inspired Mustang AV8R from 2008, which sold for $500,000.

Ford paying $750 million just to close plant in Belgium

According to a report from Reuters, Ford is shelling out $750 million in a severance deal that will see the automaker close its facility in Genk, Belgium. The automaker reached this deal with the 4,000 hourly workers employed at the plant last week, which means the company will pay out an average of $187,500 per worker.
Ford is still negotiating with the 300 salaried workers at the factory, which currently produces the Mondeo sedan. All told, Ford expects to lose around $2 billion in Europe thanks in no small part to the region's ongoing economic downturn, and two more plants are scheduled to be shut down in Europe this year. The company will log its $750 million payout under "special items" for this quarter.
As you may recall, Ford took a similar path in the US back in 2009 when the domestic market took a spill. Back then, the company shelled out around $50,000 per employee with at least one year of experience, plus either $25,000 toward a new car or an extra cash payment of $20,000. It would seem the cost of closing plants in Belgium is a much harder pill to swallow than in the States...