To honor the death of Mustang 360, we are rerunning a review from June 10, 2020. The life of this legendary website was tragically cut short when it was folded into Hot Rod magazine, whose URL is now motortrend.com/hotrod/ — in other words, a section of MotorTrend magazine.
The story below has been updated by removing links that no longer work. Note that one of the last vestiges of Mustang 360 — which was an amalgamation of Ford-related publications — is a YouTube page (click on image to view).
What Motor Trend is doing these days is just HUGE. They are leading the car buff media into an amazing future. And, by the way, when you see that illustrious name, don’t just think of a printed magazine. Instead, picture a vast multimedia empire. They call it the MotorTrend Group.
One of the group’s brightest stars is Mustang 360. This is the current name associated with the URL mustangandford.com. A banner headline announces that this website is put together by the editors of four other brands: 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords Magazine, Mustang Monthly Magazine, Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords, and Modified Mustangs & Fords.
Imagine all of that expertise in one place! Actually, you don’t have to imagine — look at any page of Mustang 360. This is indeed the “ultimate source of Mustang news and reviews.”
The story of a very special Mustang
As a case in point, Dale Amy (2020) walks through the very special features of an exceptionally rare Mustang — a 1972 Sprint made exclusively for Canada.
Granted, this car looks similar to a Sprint package offered on the U.S. Mustang (Aaron65, 2020). Both cars share Wimbledon White paint with Grabber Blue stripes. And inside each Sprint are red, white and blue seats to make your butt cheeks feel patriotic.
What makes the Canadian Sprint unique are maple leaf decals on each rear fender. The American version also has decals, but they have much less exclusive “U.S.A.” letters atop a stylized American flag. Amy explains how the Sprint’s owner discovered the car’s legendary status — and restored the classic Mustang to its rightful glory.
This is the way all auto histories should be written! Amy gives collectors everything they want to know, right down to the rear-differential gear ratio. Who needs any of that pointy-headed business strategery or McCarthy-Leninist social commentary. Let’s instead talk about peak Mustang!
Are you ‘Babe of the Month’ material?
Amy’s story made my day right there, but there is much more to Mustang 360. Go to the front page and your eyes will be awash in dramatic pictures of NASCAR racing and informative ads about Valvoline Motor Oil. Mustang 360 is clearly trying to appeal to the regular Joe; the common clay of the interstate. You know, the car buff.
Happiness is a cool car, but — truth be told — there is more to life. This is why much of the right-hand column of Mustang 360 is devoted to “Ford and Mustang Girls.” With an easy, one-handed click you will find exclusive “Babe of the Month” photographs.
At the end of each batch of photos is a call to action: “If you think you’re Babe of the Month material, email your Mustang-related bio and a few photos to finish.line@enthusiastnetwork.com (please put “BOTM” in the subject line). Our editors will select a winner each month.”
I invite all Indie Auto readers to consider submitting photos. Don’t worry about your physical appearance, gender, age, race or sexual orientation. You could even get creative with a Ken doll and a scale-model Mustang. This being the year 2020, the editors are surely committed to championing objectification in all of its rich diversity (e.g., Wong, 2020).
You may also enjoy ‘Bitchin’ Boot Camp’
You can find a lot of excitement on the rest of Mustang 360’s front page. Indeed, you may never manage to make it to the bottom. But if you do, you’ll be rewarded with a link to “MOTORTREND GROUP.”
Click and ye shall find . . . cars jumping. Cars kicking up dirt. Cars catching fire. There’s even some reality stuff like “Bitchin’ Boot Camp.” Think you’re good enough to be a winner?
If all this gets your heart beating too fast, then chill at “About.” Here we can learn what’s going on:
“MotorTrend Group is the largest automotive media company in the world, bringing together Discovery’s fast-growing MotorTrend TV, formerly Velocity, and a vast automotive digital, direct-to-consumer, social, and live event portfolio, including MOTORTREND, HOT ROD, ROADKILL, AUTOMOBILE, and more than 20 other industry-leading brands.”
The above capitalizations are MotorTrend Group’s, not mine. These folks are so pumped about their many fine brands that they cannot help but twist and shout.
And why shouldn’t they? Even by itself, Mustang 360 is a brilliant example of “product synergies.” Four magazines in one brought to you as a continuous IV drip. Who could ask for anything more?
MotorTrend Group: Building on a legacy of leadership
For many years Motor Trend has towered above the other car magazines when it came to erudite writing, journalistic grit and sheer creativity. In addition, their Car of the Year Award has long been seen as the gold standard for relentlessly rigorous road testing unswayed by big advertising buys (go here for further discussion).
This is why I am not at all surprised that the MotorTrend Group is currently leading the industry in multimedia innovation.
What is their secret to success? The answer is clear: Size. No, really — size does matter. Only the world’s biggest auto media company could possess the vision and resources to publish websites like Mustang 360.
In conclusion, the future of the car buff media is hot! We are lucky that the dudes at MotorTrend Group have got such a firm, meaty grip on it!
NOTES:
This is an updated version of a story that was originally posted on July 20, 2020.
Share your reactions to this post with a comment below or a note to the editor.
RE:SOURCES
- Aaron65; 2020. “Car Show Classics: 1972 Mustang Sprint and 1974 Chevrolet Impala “Spirit of America”–Bicentennial Fever.” Curbside Classic. Posted July 4; accessed July 5.
- Amy, Dale; 2009. “1972 Canadian Sprint Mustang — Sprint For The Border.” Mustang Monthly Magazine. Posted April 1; accessed July 5, 2020.
- Wong, Curtis M.; 2020. “Valentina Sampaio Is Sports Illustrated’s First Transgender Swimsuit Model.” HuffPost. Posted July 12; accessed July 12.
All photographs are of Ben and Darby viewing the websites of Mustang 360 and the MotorTrend Group. This is a satirical piece. If you are unsure about what is real, go here.
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