I’ve just returned from Detroit, where I had the chance to meet a ton of readers and also drive a bunch of different factory-modified Fords. The company is already one of the most polyamorous when it comes to the aftermarket (you can walk into many Ford dealers and find an RTR Bronco or Roush Mustang), and now it’s trying to offer even more choices with a range of options that come either pre-installed or dealer-installed.
A big thanks to Thomas for riding herd on The Morning Dump while I was traveling. It’s not often that I go to track-oriented drives these days, and the weather at Michigan International Speedway was absolutely perfect. Also, they let me do a bunch of launches in our favorite truck, the shorty F-150 FP700S. While doing brake stands was a blast, this is a real economic opportunity for Ford.
Price is obviously an issue, and not everyone can afford to put another $10,000 on top of their existing purchase. Harley-Davidson tried to increase market share by lowering costs and it was successful, if only moderately so. Could Volkswagen do this? Volkswagen probably should have done this, and continues to suffer for seemingly missing the future.
And, finally, the happiest dealers remain Lexus dealers.
Ford Wants A Piece Of The $57 Billion Aftermarket
One of my favorite things to do when I get to our HQ in Los Angeles is to walk through Galpin Auto Sports and the Galpin Ford lot to see what kind of wild custom cars exist. Galpin has a bit of a candy shop approach to selling cars, and I always find something I become a little obsessed with (I could not convince my family to get a lowered Maverick Hybrid, but I tried).
Not all dealers can do this, I suppose, and taking a page from Galpinization, Ford is investing heavily in rolling out its own aftermarket program via three different channels. The first two you’re already familiar with, which is Ford Accessories for the usual stuff most people want (bedliner, floormats), and Ford Racing for go-fast parts ranging from lug nuts to full crate motors.
“Every single part is designed for customers to get a new feeling out of Ford,” said Matt Simpson, Executive Director of Ford Customization.”These are still backed by the Ford warranty, and that gives customers peace of mind.”
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While Ford has a huge catalog and a lot of models that are just begging to be modified, this isn’t that different from what other automakers offer. Where Ford is differentiating itself is in these mild-to-wild custom builds. On the milder side are more appearance-oriented packages like the Ford Bronco Sinister Bronze, which gets you the Ford Racing 2″ lift and suspension kit, Sinister Bronze accessories, extended fender flares, and the Ford Performance ProCal Tool.
These can be ordered by customers or dealers, and pre-installed or installed by dealers. In fact, almost all of what I saw can be fitted to existing cars either in full or in part, depending on what you want. The cost for the pre-installed Sinister Bronze package is $7,300.
Somewhere in the middle is the Maverick SV300T package, which adds a turbocharger, cooling, and suspension upgrades to make a hot hatch with a mullet. This was a standout to me, and I appreciated that it could be installed on the lower-trim 2.0L AWD XLT Maverick or the super fast Lobo.
I got to drive around an autocross in both a relatively base Maverick XLT and the Lobo fitted with the kit, and both were more fun than a truck needs to be, although the Lobo with the modified rear-drive unit is very Focus RS-like and feels much quicker. Costs are still being worked out, but if you want just the kit it’s about $5,000 before installation.
On the wildest end, I was able to do a couple of laps in a Mustang FP800S, which is an 800-horsepower Mustang with a lot of custom suspension and tuning work to make sure the 3.0-liter Whipple supercharger doesn’t leave you with a ton of power and no way to put it safely to the ground.
I spoke to engineers for both the engine and suspension, and it was clear they took a lot of pride in making this Mustang, which sits alongside the RTR, the Dark Horse, the GTD, and the seemingly endless variants of performance cars you can get from Ford. While the $18,500 cost of the FP800S (not installed) is high, these packages are designed to be cheaper than what you could do yourself, warrantied, and better calibrated from the factory.
“We’re not just slapping a Supercharger on and telling you good luck, have fun, see you later,” said Simpson.
Of course, the other key piece here is that Ford and Ford dealers can roll this into your financing if you’re getting the car new without having to lift a wrench. This could potentially be a huge margin lift for the company, as it’s rare these days to see an unmodified Bronco. The popularity of Bronco Raptors in my suburban neighborhood shows there’s clearly a demand, though I think most people around here probably don’t need a Raptor.
“We can do these highly specialized builds because we’re vertically integrated,” explained Simpson.
Harley’s Plan Is Sort Of Working
As previously mentioned, the plan for Harley-Davidson is to grow the brand by lowering costs and reaching new riders. It’s sort of working.
Reported motorcycle shipments of 39,200 were 9.4% higher than the same period the year before, but missed projections for 40,810. Harley’s revenue of $1.2 billion also missed analysts’ estimates for $1.3 billion in the second quarter.
Shares fell 1% at 9:34 a.m. in New York on Thursday.
Harley reported adjusted earnings per share of 75 cents, beating analyst estimates for 67 cents and raised. The company raised its full-year guidance for motorcycle unit income to between $10 million and $50 million, up from a $40 million loss to a $10 million profit.
So, mixed news, but progress.
Volkswagen, Woof Part 900
Volkswagen, having set expectations as low as possible, has somehow come in even lower as CNBC reports:
Europe’s biggest carmaker posted an operating profit of 3.5 billion euros ($3.98 billion) for the April to June period, down nearly 10% from a year ago and missing expectations of 4.3 billion euros, according to an LSEG-compiled consensus.
The company also flagged it expects sales revenue in 2026 to see a decline of up to 3% this year, versus a previous forecast of sales revenue growth of up to 3%.
Woof.
What I’m Listening To While Writing TMD
“Black Hole Sun” is one of those songs that doesn’t really match the rest of the artist’s catalog, as it’s way more alt-rock than what Soundgarden usually offers, but this doesn’t mean it’s not an all-time jam and an all-time video.
The Big Question
Have you ever modified a vehicle? How?
Top graphic image: Ford
I’ve never NOT modified a car. I mean, it’s what I do for a living, but all cars get tweaks to make them better for their purpose. Cars are a compromise, aftermarket parts are a way to bring those compromises closer to your own needs instead of the greatest number of people.
The normie daily driver has shocks and a few interior bits. The tow vehicle has engine reliability mods and upgraded shocks as well as big lights for the empty Southwest at night. The street Miata has better shocks (there’s a theme here), upgraded lights and some audio-related bits. The track Miata has everything it takes to make 500 hp safe and reliable on the track. The MGB doesn’t have a single moving part with an MG part number on it anymore except for maybe the door handles 🙂 The Vanagon has a high compression 2.5 Subaru engine with a matching six speed and Wilwood brakes. You know, the little stuff that everyone does.
I still remember to this day the disappointment when I purchased the Black Hole Sun CD and listened to it…
I bought (and installed myself) Tokiko adjustable shocks with H&R springs in my A1 GTI. Of course, once installed, I almost never adjusted the shocks since the ‘softest’ setting was more than stiff enough and those Westmoreland, PA VWs were already pretty rattly.
I don’t really ‘mod’ my cars much anymore. If some part needs to be replaced, I’ll do a bit or research first to see what options/upgrades might be worthwhile, but generally I’m happiest with cars fairly close to stock. I certainly don’t want low-profile rubber on big wheels (my biggest, an ’04 Volvo, came with 18″ wheels and those tires are expensive enough) or degraded ride quality. Also, all of them seem fast enough as-is, even with decades of use on them… sure, my early Miata would benefit from another 30 horses I suppose, but TBH it always feels quick enough to make me smile even with 30 years under its belt. Same goes for the ’89 Volvo 245 with its non-turbo red block: it’s not fast of course, but it is fast enough for normal use around town.
Just keeping a trio of old cars running/registered/insured is expense enough TBH, plus I’ve got a whole old house to maintain too. There’s 40 solar panels on the roof (only half currently connected) and I’d love to have an EV, but nothing currently around has been desirable/tempting enough to make me pull the trigger. If I could buy a Twingo, I would.
But I probably wouldn’t mod that either.
I was thinking about this, and every modification I’ve ever done to a car has involved replacing crappy aftermarket equipment that the PO had fitted with OE spec gear. Does this make me a bad person?
Oh heavens, no! 🙂 It makes you sensible, and able to learn from the mistakes of others, which is a valuable skill. 🙂
My PRHT Miata has an aftermarket controller to allow one touch operation, so I don’t have to hold the button for 12 seconds. Does that count?
Does removing rear seats from all of my vehicles count as “modifications”?
I have grown out of the embarrassment of modifying my 1983 Renault Alliance. I figured thicker sway bars and wider tires would turn it into a … something.
Most of my vehicles have some kind of modifications for practical reasons. I’ve kept most of my bevs stock. Maybe mess around with Chinese hubcaps for better aero or other Chinese aftermarket accessories. I replaced the battery for a larger capacity newer one on my beater leaf. A few have go fast parts. Some have their body’s chopped and reinforced to be more useful. I rebuilt and modified my grandfathers c10 over a number years. It has more performance then factory with fuel injection and better handling but nothing crazy.
Maybe ford can help stop this wide doesn’t fit doesn’t steer stretched low profile street tire on trucks thing. I doubt it but someone has to. One of the stupidest things I see consistently.
What about removing mods to Miata from previous teen owner?
That ‘performance’ exhaust sounded good accelerating, but that steady speed drone got old quick when were mostly just cruising around. That, and it scraped on speed bumps/driveway curbs.
The Japanese company “up garage” is apparently scaling that into a business model. They buy modified cars return them back to stock then sell the used aftermarket parts and returned to stock cars.
I netted a small profit on the exhaust swap…used factory exhaust w/ extra cat was much cheaper than I sold the fancy exhaust to another teen for.
Luckily, he still have the axle brace he had to remove for the exhaust to fit…although he had lost the bolts. He also still had the original air intake parts from when he installed the hot air intake (which did sound cool).
There is money to be made there I think.
I knew some guys that used to buy stanced cars off the idiots that were doing it. No one wants a car that doesn’t car anymore. Not even the people that did it. They got deals. Then took all the nonsense off turned it back into a car had to under coat them from all the scratches. Sold the car for profit. If they had anything that wasn’t dangerous to a car like hot boi coil overs they would sell it and scrap the rest.
Goes back to nobody wants to buy someone else’s ‘project’ except maybe some naive HS kid (me guilty). If a car appears mostly stock/clean, better impression that it was ‘well taken care of’ vs ‘thrashed’.
For the most part. I think they just went something that’s not been beat on too bad. Tastefully modified by someone who wasn’t thashing on it vs factory thrashed on most probably go not thrashed on.
It’s always amusing the Subaru wrx ads that read “responsible adult owned” because just about every single one of them otherwise has met a utility pole and ditch.
The current Miata we have was originally on an ‘adult’s’ Marketplace ad, show up and obviously driven their teen son.
Takes deep breath:
Took a stock 1984 Ford LTD LX, replaced the entire front suspension/k-member, dropped in LS engine, put turbo on said engine, custom cooling, custom made the exhaust, the intake, custom tuned it, rewired about 95% of the car, at the back did a whole new rear suspension and built a ford 8.8, custom transmission brackets for the 4L80 swap, gutted the interior for roll cage, then modified the interior to put as much back in as possible while cutting weight, put a slew of gauges into the glovebox, custom fuel tank and fuel system. Somehow wedged 10.5in slicks in the back and ran XR4Ti wire wheels on the front as “skinnies”.
Took an ex rally car Galant VR4 and built a very stout 4g63 (aluminum rods), custom cooling, piping, exhaust, new suspension, custom tuning and drag radials on all 4 corners. rebuilt the trans with twin disk clutch, stronger rear differential, custom brakes and fuel system.
1966 chevelle, replaced entire suspension, steering, braking systems for autocross, did LS swap, keeping the 4 speed muncie, custom fuel system.
Those are the 3 that got the most real work/effort/custom stuff that I built. But I have owned many other DSMs and chevys that I have modified as well. Heck my daily driver Cruze hatc back I converted to be E85 capable, swapped the turbo, custom tuning and a few other smaller things to get it closer to hot hatch territory. I plan on upgrading the suspension a little bit whenever my stock struts give up. My next project is stock for now (c6 vette) but this winter will be getting the usual complete suspension and braking overall with plans in the future for serious aerodynamic improvements and supercharging.
Lets not even get into the work done on friend’s cars….
I should be in the key targeted area for what ford is doing but I just know I can put together my own packages for cheaper and that will probably be better (more power etc). As I get older I am moving more towards the OEM performance mindset, as I would think of a dream daily driver being a CT5 blackwing. I would still of course do small mods on that like a smaller pulley and custom tune.
I like your style
When I took over my Wife’s 89 Suzuki Sidekick:
-Goodies from the Calmini parts catalog at the time:
-dual Mikuni 44mm sidedraft carbs w/ intake manifold
-longer duration cam
-long tube header
-2″ exhaust w/ ‘test pipe’
-Ran and sounded great!
Put another 100k more miles on it with this setup.
Not me slowly bolting every big Cup car part onto my ND. (Not to mention the Mazda Motorsports discount)
I am on jeep #5 so, lots of modifications. Jeeps are never finished. Most of the modifications over the years have been lifts, shocks, tires, roof racks, nearly nothing cosmetic just functional modifications.
Let’s see, I did an LS swap on my C10 squarebody which involved replacing nearly the entire drivetrain. 6.2l engine 4l80e transmission, new rear end gear set and trutrac differential, a large aluminum radiator, gauges that worked via can bus, and a fully custom exhaust system to catch the major items, but there’s a lot of smaller details that went into each of those.
My Evo was purchased pre modified because there are no stock Evos, so I’ll just talk about the mods I have done personally. I have swapped the coilovers for better ones, replaced and relocated the active center differential pump, and most recently added new wheels.
In typical fashion neither of these vehicles will ever be “done”
TBQ:
Somewhat ironically, the only vehicles I have owned and not modified are my Jeep Wranglers. Now that everyone customizes their Jeeps to oblivion, bone stock Jeeps look unique. I am going to add invasion star decals to my new JL, but other than that I plan to keep it 100% stock like I did with the JKU I drove for a decade.
Aside from my Jeeps, all of my vehicles have at least some modifications. I don’t do anything particularly unique or interesting (mostly because modifying vehicles almost always makes them worse), but I tend to make aesthetic changes that can be undone without too much effort or expense.
I bought a ’16 JKU Sport back in January as a second vehicle to save miles on my work truck. I looked for a long time to find one that was unmolested. Got pretty lucky and found a local trade-in – low miles, single owner (old couple), with extensive service records. It’s completely stock, apart from the hitch receiver and backup camera I installed, and I have no interest in doing any other modifications.
Despite this, it still rides and drives terrible. I can’t imagine what it’s like driving one with a 4″ lift and 37″ tires on it.
My 1973 CJ-5 was one big modification, like a Jeep version of the Johnny Cash song One Piece at a Time. Had parts on it from the late 60s to late 70s. Some were improvements (power steering, front discs, T-18 ) others just because the parts happen to be around (windshield, 304 engine) and were poor choices, in retrospect.
In response to car mods, my friends Dad always used to say “They build ’em pretty good from the factory, eh?”
My CJ7 is mostly 1 ton chevy from the 80’s. TBI 350, SM465 with an Atlas 4.3 and GM axles. Stock Jeeps are kind of not great looking or really efficient for use as daily’s though. JMHO.
Yours sounds like a crusher! I have a mid 50s CJ-5 project my neighbor gave me. I’ll probably leave it mostly stock if I ever get around to it. Has an overdrive unit which is pretty cool.
1986 SVO. Fully ported head and exhaust manifold, 3 inch downpipe, big cam, big injectors and pump, FMIC, big turbo, custom pistons, aftermarket ECU, running on E85. When last running it made 415hp at the wheels.
2013 SHO. CAI (which does nothing), 3 bar map and tune. Best quarter mile 12.1.
415HP out of 2.3l with mostly 80s tech is nothing to sneeze at, and I’ll bet it handles well too.
It’s a shame the 2-door Pintos are thin on the ground these days, I wonder how much hoopy fun you could have with a stripped-out one.
It does. The SVO had one of the best factory suspensions of any Mustang. I’d eventually like to replace the live rear axle with an IRS from a later cobra. There are guys with 700+hp versions, but we’ve been able to blow it up just fine at 400.
I’ve done several things to my 2014 Sportwagen TDI, mostly to make it a bit more like the GTI I used to have and more engaging to drive.
Malone stage 2 tune
H&R sport springs
Bilstein sport shock absorbers
Stiffer rear sway bar
Dogbone mount insert
Special edition GTI shift knob
Audi shift linkage
Hella horns
Android Auto compatible head unit
Additional soundproofing (and more yet to do)
Foglights, which I have yet to install
17″ TSW Nurburgring wheels
Window tint, properly done at the legal limit