I’ve been around Mustangs heavily for almost twenty years now both as an enthusiast and a journalist, starting like most of us do as a teenager. As 2013 is just getting started, I thought I would share my thoughts on what I think is going to remain hot for 2013 and what’s heading out the door.

Performance

In: Coyote Swaps

These will continue to be everywhere, showing up in everything from Fox bodies to street rods. You can hardly build comparable, reliable horsepower on your own with the drivability that the Coyote 5.0 offers, especially when you consider the price. So buy one and put it in your next project, it’ll save you time and aggravation.

Fits nice and tidy under the hood of a Fox Body

 Out: LS Swaps into Mustangs

I understand the reasoning by the Chevy guys and maybe even the jaded Ford fans who didn’t have a solid engine before the Coyote debuted. Today though, with the power the Coyote makes, there’s no excuse to commit such blaspheme. Keep a Ford engine behind that blue oval badge, tell your Chevy buddies to make due with their own cars.

In: High Output Street Cars That Can Do It All

Project Wild E Coyote is the perfect example of a car that can do it all.

These days 50 0hp is the standard for respect, and relatively easy to obtain with the technology we have available. 750 is no longer a lofty goal for race only cars, and will get you bragging rights at the local cruise night. 1,000 will make you the king in your hometown. You should be able to hit the first two and still maintain the air conditioning as well have a car that’s capable of cruising several hours at a stretch comfortably. There’s just no excuse to set the bar that high and not at least be able to do that.

Also under this category, I don’t consider a car a real street car if it’s a prima-donna. Street cars require typical maintenance and maybe a tire change for the track. They don’t require valve spring changes or valve adjustments. They don’t overheat in traffic, and they don’t break down every time you take them on a long trip. You should still have a radio, air conditioning, power steering and decent brakes. Personally I think your car should go around the cones of an autocross as well as it can go down the quarter or standing mile. The total package is what it’s all about these days.

Racing

In: Racing Spec or Crate Engine Classes

Coyote Stock is the next big thing in Ford drag racing.

Racing is expensive. With the economy still in recovery, many of us can’t run a twenty thousand dollar a year (or more depending on the class) race program for the purpose of “having fun”. Spec classes like Coyote Stock right now are offering racers and enthusiasts who want to drag race a low initial investment, with little maintenance between rounds, races or seasons. Things will probably get more expensive in these classes as time goes on, that is inevitable in all forms of racing. If you want to drag race, get in on these types of classes now and be a pioneer.

RIP Ten Inch Tire Freak Show. Thanks for the memories.

Out: High Dollar, Niche Market Racing Classes

Let me offer some clarification first. I’m talking about amateur/sportsman street car racing, not professional level, Pro Mod and up racing. This one is tough for me to say. I was at the NMRA All Star Nationals in Columbus, OH in 2000 when Super Street Outlaw was expanded from a 16 to a 32 car field. This fall, 12 years later I was there at the NMRA World Finals where the “Ten Inch Tire Freak Show” was laid to rest. What other heads up street car classes will see the chopping block in the coming years is hard to say. The economy, and technology are having an impact that is changing the face of the sport that got me into this business. Racers, racing associations, and the media will have to adapt.

In: Standing Mile and Top Speed Racing

Drag racing is great for some Friday night fun. However, many of us with street cars (myself included) really want to see what our cars are capable of. Look for events like the Texas Mile, East Coast Timing Association, and others to play an increasing roll in our hobby. These events are generally affordable and often require minimal changes to your car to allow you to make a run. They bring out the little kid in all of us, who doesn’t want to see how fast their car can really go?

Styling

Out: Crazy Factory Colors and S197 Retro Looks

It’s like the mid 90’s all over again, when obscene colors made a brief appearance. In about four years cars in some of these weird hues will be ugly oddities. Although in 50 years they could be valuable collectibles.

Lund Racing's GT, looks pretty stock from the outside. Runs 9's in the quarter mile, over 200 mph in the standing mile.

The Retro styling theme was cool when the S197 debuted in 2004. The car is already retro enough in it’s styling from the factory. It’s time though for things like Eleanor kits to ride off into the sunset.

In: Sleepers

Sneaking up on the competition. Your car should not look like something that came out of the first The Fast and The Furious movie. Cars that look just like a nice stock or near stock ride, with a ton of horsepower under the hood, a capable chassis underneath, and a driver with skills behind the wheel is where it’s at. These cars are like a high powered concealed carry pistol, your competition has little reason to suspect you’re fully prepared.

Regardless of whether I’m right or wrong about any of this, 2013 looks to be another bright year if you’re a Mustang owner and that my friends is something we should all agree on.