Whether you’re a Ford fan or not, the auto enthusiast in you has to give Henry and family their due. Racing since the golden ere of motoring, Ford Motor Company has turned out some of the finest racecars, and more importantly for the everyman, some of the fastest road cars ever produced.

Since we’re just a simple automotive blog—a mere blip on the radar of motoring journalism (some may say a scourge)—we have to turn over the list making to the big guys. Here’s a list of the some of the fastest road-going Fords ever built, compiled by that most respectable auto-journalism outfit Winding Road.

If you’re between the ages of 35 and 45, and a car fan, there’s no doubt that Smokey and the Bandit played a huge role in your automotive coming-of-age. That movie had it all: Sally Field in her prime, Jackie Gleason at his nastiest, 18-wheelers, bikers, chase scenes, car jumps and of course, the Bandit Trans Am.

Now that you’re older and more financially capable, there’s no reason to settle for Revel Trans Am models and closed-eyes fantasies of Sally. Well, you’ll still have to settle for the latter, but you CAN get the Trans Am. And even better, you can get a brand new bird built on the 2010 Camaro chassis.

The guys at Gear Head Performance Group have a new Trans Am conversion in the works, and get this; it comes with an optional twin turbo 6.2L LS9 pushing out 900 hp! These guys are obviously smoking more than smokies over there—and we like it!

Last week we ran an article put out by Autocar UK about a possible BMW 1-Class M model. Well, this week Jalopnik has some pictures of a possible test mule being flogged through the stormy streets of Garching, the M-Division’s hometown. Take a look at the photos and compare the unmodified 1-Series sitting right behind the heavily flared M possibility.

Source: Jalopnik

Would Ford GT owners be jealous if you took a Ford GT chassis, added bright green fiberglass bodywork and propelled it with Bowtie LS9? Prolly not, but the guys at Revenge Supercars are banking on it. The Revenge Verde is all of the above, but to really drive the envy factor home, they’ll even swap the Chevy V8 for an Hp2g Hybrid drivetrain as a green option. With a pants-bulging $190K price tag and a 200 mph top speed, the Verde will be the fastest and most expensive mid-engined hybrid on the market. Revenge expects to equip the less endowed by year’s end.

Source: Jalopnik

What has 2 doors, 2 turbochargers, 6 cylinders, and an ‘M’ badge on the back? The new M version 1-Series BMW, that’s what. Thanks to the overwhelming popularity of the latest mini-Bimmers (not to be confused with the Bimmer Minis); the boys in Bavaria have decided to crowbar 350hp and nearly as much torque into their most affordable class of cars. Look for it to come the UK’s way in 2011. And stateside? No word yet.

Source: Autocar UK

Happy Birthday Elvis! “The King of Rock & Roll” would have turned 75 today, but unfortunately a penchant for PB&B&B (peanut butter, banana and bacon) sandwiches, pharmaceuticals, and the rock-n-roll lifestyle dethroned the king well before his time.

Remembered by most for his poor diet, jump suits, impact on American music and pop culture, us car folks remember him for his extensive collection of extraordinary 2, 3 and 4 wheel machinery. However, one of the most beautiful cars to ever grace the Graceland garage was his ultra rare 1970 Maserati Ghibli.

Originally registered to the queen of Graceland Priscilla Presley, the car has a sordid history of theft, bad paint jobs and a stint on ebay motors. Follow this link over to Enrico's Maserati Pages, scroll to the bottom, and read all about and to see the images the King’s Treasure.