Ford's SEMA Display Looks Back on Past Performance as well as Future

Ford's display at the SEMA show this year is meant to look back the the marque's performance history and look forward to its future. It is showing a new complete body shell for the first generation Mustang convertible available to people wanting to restore their cars. Ford also is exhibiting some of its most successful racing cars. For new vehicles, Ford has handed off its cars to select tuners to show how it is possible to modify them.

Ford is using the SEMA show to debut the Focus ST and ST-R to the US. It will be the first time a Focus ST is available in the US. It will get a full reveal with specs and other information in a few more weeks at the LA Auto Show.

To show the performance abilities of the Focus ST, Ford has also brought the Focus ST-R to SEMA. The ST-R is a track-only version of the Focus ST that comes with a roll cage, performance brakes, track-tuned suspension and the 2.0 liter Ecoboost engine from the Focus ST. The car qualifies to compete in Grand-Am ST, World Challenge TC and the Canadian Touring Car Series. Ford also plans to campaign versions of the ST-R in European racing series and the 24 Hours of the Nuerburgring next year. 

The other portion of Ford's SEMA display was handing off its cars to performance tuners to see what they can do. These cars include four versions of the Mustang, three versions of the Explorer, four tuned pickups, seven versions of the Focus and four Fiestas. You can see the photos of these cars above.

Part of Ford's SEMA show is an exhobit looking at its past successful racing cars. These include the 1901 Ford Sweepstakes that Henry Ford built and drove. The car's success got Ford the funding he needed to build the Ford Motor Company. The exhibit also includes the 1965 Lotus-Ford 38/1 Indianapolis 500 winner, Le Mans winning 1967 GT40, 1987 Nascar-winning Ford Thunderbird and the 2011 Nascar-winning Ford Fusion. 

Ford's performance parts line is offering for the first time the entire body shell for the 1964.5,1965 and 1966 Mustang Convertible. The body shells are made from steel, an even higher grade of steel than the original cars and includes the doors and trunk lid and all the sheet metal from the radiator support to the taillight panel except the hood and front fenders. The body shells start at $15,000 and will be available at Ford Restoration Parts

Ford already offers the 1967-68 and 1969-70 Mustang Fastbacks in this form.