Franklin Mint 2007 Mustang Mustang - Nbr Ltd Ed 5000

Little by little it’s been creeping back. It was starting to wane in the mid-seventies and it was all but gone by the eighties. But it case you haven’t been paying attention and it snuck up on you when you weren’t looking, baby, it’s back! I’m talking horsepower, ponies, muscle motivation, get-up-and-boogie woogie, woogie. And speaking of ponies, how ‘bout a large dose of 500 wild mustangs please!

Franklin has replicated the all-new 2007 return to the Shelby Mustang; GT500 style. Carroll Shelby teamed up with Ford’s SVT (Special Vehicle Team) and revamped the current retro-look Mustang; not too dissimilar from when he placed his stamp of approval on the GT350 and the later GT500 models. This time around he mated up a 500 HP dual overhead cam V8, with supercharged induction, to a 6 speed tranny, added some spice in the form of twin hood intakes, special body modifications and SVT-cool wheels. The proper stripes were added, harkening back to the good old Shelby/Ford days, and positioned the special badgings. FM rendered them in chrome metal foil, all the rage these days, and securely fastened them, thank you very much.

The paint is beautiful and blemish-proof. My example has an exemplary top coat finish, waxed to the hilt. Doors are on the new-tech hinges; keep ‘em coming FM, and the details are adding up with almost each new issue these days. On this fresh new and current 1:1 replication, we see those great details everywhere. Check out the interior. You’ll love the scaled door sills in photo-etch metal. “SVT” is polished to stand out proudly. The dash gauges jump out, the floor shifter and console are well defined and the belts, front and rear, are stand-outs. Caution stickers lend great detail realism on the static visors and the driver’s door jamb.

The working suspension is very realistic and the articulation, especially in the rear, is quite authentic. Yet the model’s stance is spot on. Chassis detail is right up there with most of today’s better builds. The wipers are scaled dramatically and look nice in black. There’s a genuine fine detailing convergence where the wipers, slim antenna and “Shelby American Automobile Club” window sticker meet. It may force you to appreciate the detail of the lower edge of the windshield ‘matrix dot’ replication. The engine pushes the detail limit for FM very nicely. Cool little stickers are found on the underside of the hood, radiator top and lending some authenticism to the printed drive belt. The battery is not immune from detail touches either, as it is cabled and printed with safety warnings. The engine bay is stuffed with Pony power! Plumbing and wiring are scaled precisely too and the fine metal mesh-work on the grill halves, above and below the bumper line is magnificent.

How much better than today can you expect to see a model in the same year that the 1:1 is released in? Props to FM; their Shelby line and overall Mustang issues are alive and doing well thank you very much. Issue price is $120.

-Tony Perrone