4,805 Actual Mile Roush Blackjack Stage 3 Supercharged

You don't need me to tell you who Jack Roush is, or to explain his extraordinary career with Ford in just about every racing venue there is. Roush does OEM tuning and calibration work on Ford's gnarliest hardware because nobody else seems to make Ford engines sing the way he can. So when he builds a Mustang for himself, you know it's going to be a very special machine. This supercharged 2009 Blackjack Stage 3 is one of only 47 built (out of a planned 100), and thanks to Ford's truncated Mustang production in 2009, it's one of the rarest models built by the company. Is Jack Roush the Carroll Shelby of the 21st century? I wouldn't bet against him.

This Blackjack carries serial number 008, and has been fitted with just about every option Ford and Roush could throw at it. Of course, all the performance-enhancing stuff is there, including the blower and killer suspension mods, and it has been expertly maintained by a passionate owner since it was new. Today it shows just 4805 miles, all of them on sunny, dry days, and there's not a mark on the car. In fact, I'd much rather have a car that has been gently and properly exercised now and then to one with zero miles that has just been sitting—if you're a fan of driving your cars, THIS is the kind of collector piece you want to own.

All Blackjacks were, obviously, black. Ford's paint process is pretty good, and Roush's experts do one hell of a job matching the factory finishes on the added body parts. You can't tell which parts were installed by Ford and which were done by Roush, creating the ultimate turn-key Mustang that you could buy at your local dealer. Modifications include the front fascia with blacked-out grille, custom hood with scoop to clear the blower, side skirts, quarter window louvers, a custom rear bumper with ROUSH spelled out in bold letters between the giant exhaust pipes, and a trick 3-piece rear spoiler. The net effect is a Mustang that looks like it's been working out at the gym 7 days a week. Roush also adds a flat black stripe down the center of the car, even atop the roof, which gives it a subtly sinister look. Blackjacks also got some special badging, including Roush emblems on the front fenders, that killer Stage 3 gas cap out back, 'ROUSHCHARGED' decals on the hood scoop, and the giant ROUSH banner across the top of the windshield. Mustangs are already some of Ford's highest-quality cars, and it shows here, with everything being in like new condition. The chin spoiler isn't scuffed, the rockers haven't been pelted by gravel, and there are no door dings from careless people in a parking lot. This is a seriously clean Mustang.

Horsepower is Jack Roush's specialty, and he delivers in this Blackjack. Combined with the Roushcharger supercharger, Ford's 4.6 liter V8 cranks out a very impressive 430 horsepower. But they don't just slap a blower on there and call it done, the engine is thoroughly upgraded to handle the power, and Roush's commitment to OEM levels of drivability, economy, and reliability are evident even at these high horsepower levels. The custom intake manifold has a built-in intercooler for the blower, which is fed by a custom radiator to keep everything cool, even under track conditions. There's also that custom air intake that feeds the whole thing, and Roush's powertrain engineers give it a custom ECM calibration so it drives like any other stock Mustang. While you're in the spotless engine bay, you'll also notice a strut tower brace that keeps everything rigidly aligned during aggressive driving, and pays big dividends in terms of steering accuracy and feedback. Other special details include the Roush serial number plate under the hood, as well as a second plate with the signature of the engineer who personally built the car. And as you can see, everything is in absolutely new condition, highly detailed, and without any signs of use or wear.

Roush's expertise also extends to the chassis, where some of the Blackjack's most significant modifications have been added. The transmission is Ford's 5-speed manual, augmented by a short-throw Roush shifter, and it spins a stock Ford rear. Jack's suspension magicians add their own components to take the Mustang to an entirely new level, including struts and shocks, specially developed springs, bigger sway bars, and a special pinion snubber to control axle wind-up. The Blackjacks also received a wheel hop reduction package that is specially designed to plant the Mustang's live rear axle and when you're dealing with this much horsepower and torque, you'll be amazed by how effective it is. Front brakes are massive 14-inch 2-piece rotors clamped by gorgeous red 4-piston calipers with Roush logos, while the rear brakes are augmented by Roush-grade brake pads and custom slotted rotors. Roush also created their own forged alloy wheel, which on the Blackjack is coated in awesome black chrome and fitted with staggered 18-inch BFGoodrich G-Force T/A radials.

Roush also gives you a thoroughly upgraded interior to go with the performance modifications (and shocking $62,000 original sticker price). The seats are every bit as comfortable as they look, with grippy suede inserts and Roush BlackJack embroidery on the backs. Fresh white-faced gauge faces have been fitted to the stock gauges, giving them a totally new look, and a trick boost gauge pod replaces one of the A/C vents, yet still allows air to flow around it. The short throw shifter features a black chrome knob that matches the other metal fittings on the car, including the wheels, and has a beautifully stitched leather boot wrapped around it. And, as with Carroll Shelby, there's a personally autographed panel in the center of the dash that really was signed by the man himself, not manufactured or glued on. This car also received Roush floor mats and a set of Roush-logo door sill plates, just in case you couldn't figure out whose car it was. In the trunk, Roush fans know to expect the ultra-cool drop-down tool kit fitted to the underside of the deck lid, but you'll probably find like most other folks that the tools are just too pretty to use.

Documentation on cars like this is always important, and we have it all, from the original Ford manuals to the build sheet, and things like the original order form and BlackJack manual, which is a beautiful little book by itself. And as documented by Roush, there were only 47 (instead of 100) Blackjacks built in 2009, making them a sure-fire future collectable.

If you were around in the '60s, you probably saw Shelbys and figured they were just another Mustang. Nobody thinks of a Roush that way, they are something special today, which practically guarantees future collectability. With Jack Roush's name on it, you know the quality is first-rate, and this one has been gingerly maintained by an enthusiast since it was new. Buy this one, enjoy it sparingly, and see if in a few years you don't have a highly in-demand collector car sitting in your garage.