Ghost Ford Mustang (Red Spirit):

There are several stories told about how this automobile was discovered. The most common story is about a pair of techno-wizards who were exploring ley lines one wing boards and were attracted to the location the Mustang was found for some unknown.

The story goes that in the Southeastern section of the Old American Empire, maybe the old states of South Carolina or Georgia and that the two techno-wizards found an old concrete building. The building was in the center of a ley line nexus but something felt calm about the location. The building had been huge but most of it had collapses throughout the centuries of neglect. The signs of an ancient park could be seen around the building. Even though the park had long gone wild, there seemed something still special about the forest. On the side of the building, part of a sign could still be read, "grove ind" surrounds by letters which had faded away from time. A corner of the sign was completely gone.

The two techno-wizards entered through the opening where there was once a huge garage door. The rusting remains of high tech equipment littered the inside of the building. The remains of several cars could be seen around the building. The roof was mostly collapsed but a few locations still remained intact. The rotting remains of a tarp was coving what appeared to be the form of an automobile. One of the techno-wizards decided to pull the tarp off the covered vehicle. Under the tarp, which came apart in the techno-wizards hands, the gleam of a gorgeous red car could be seen. It looked like it was in perfect condition and the tires showed no signs of rot like they should have, having been sitting un-maintained since at least the coming of the Rifts.

The techno-wizard pulled on the handle to the drivers side to see if it would open. It opened smoothly and the internal dome light turned on when the door opened. The techno-wizard sat in the drivers seat and it felt extremely comfortable. The keys of the car were in the ignition. Experimentally, the techno-wizard turned the key and amazingly the engine turned over. The engine purred like it was brand new.

Some things just seemed to come alive with the coming of the Rifts. Those versed in magic lore give various explanations on how and why this occurred but no one seemed to really know for sure. One explanation is that they were infused with supernatural or magical forces before the coming of the Rifts. There are believed to be several haunted cars which ride the remains of the pre-rifts highways. Some looks about ready to collapse under rust while others looks like they just rolled out of the showroom.

Red Spirit is a perfect looking cherry red Ford Mustang Boss 429 from the early nineteen-seventies and was already over a hundred years old before the coming of the Rifts. Her body is satiny smooth and her paint gleams like it has a dozen coats of wax and dust never seems to settle on the car. The chrome is as bright as the day she was first built. Inside of the car, the black leather seats are in perfect condition along with black carpeting. She has passed through a variety of owners since having been recovered and for some reason, psychics and mages seem to be attracted to the car. Several of these have been techno-wizards.

Even though she is in perfect condition, she is definitely not stock. The car had been extensively modified by one her previous owners. The modifications have lead some owners to believe the car was owned by a race car drive. The car has five point harnesses instead of standard seat belts, a roll bar in the drivers compartment, the powerful old 429 engine has been tinkered with to get better performance, and the car's suspension was improved. In her dash, she carries a radar detector alongside a CD player and a police scanners. Other equipment also included remote controlled locks and a remote controlled ignition. All of these equipment made the dash appear extremely high tech. None of these were standard on the old car either and were not even designed when the car first left its showroom. Other owners think that the previous owner was a mage and placed much of their own magic in the car. When found, the car had a case of CD in the back with runes embroidered on the front. No one has been able to translate what the runes on the case mean. An eclectic variety of albums were found in the case including Icehouse, A-Ha, Midnight Oil, Kate Bush, Rush, Thomas Dolby, David Bowie, Mannheim Steamroller, Pink Floyd, and Clannad. Beside the CD case, an old beat up leather jacket which is believed to be from an ancient science fiction series known as Battlestar Galactica.

She is definitely the right word in the Red Spirit's case. She seems to definitely prefer male drivers and the man will simply find himself comfortable in the drivers seat when she likes him. She absolutely loves racing, the driver can be driving sedately and find himself traveling at over eighty miles an hour without realizing that he had been accelerating. Even though her paint never seems to dull, she loves being washed and waxed and her engine seems to purr after having a good wash or wax. She appears to be a good spirit although a bit on the mischievous

In addition to the car herself, sometimes people will feel an additional presence in the Mustang. The presence appears to be that of a young man. Some assume the young man to have been one of the original owners of the car. He usually does not say much but just appears to enjoy the ride. Occasionally, he will offer suggestions to those who can see and hear him. What is even more interesting is that other haunting entities seem to be unable to enter the car. Only two entities have been detected with the car, most likely the car itself and the young man in the car.

Many haunted vehicles have a large amount of magical energy but Red Spirit dwarfs the magical energy in most vehicles her size. Various spells or enchantments are known for her to be able to cast or use. She is know to be able to fire lightning bolts from the air scoop in the center of the hood. She also use the same energy to be able to jam the radios and sensors of other vehicles. Another magical ability she is well know for is the ability to fly when needed especially when terrain makes it unable for her to drive over the terrain or to cross such barriers as rivers and cliffs. She has known to be able to disappear when she is in trouble and she has been able to create a force field and make herself impervious to energy to protect herself. An interesting fact is that the trunk seems to have far more space than one might expect and seems to be larger than the space available.

Unlike many other haunted vehicles, Red Spirit does not seem to mind modern modifications. One of the previous owners installed a pair of concealed mini-missile launchers in the wheel wells. Each mini-missile launcher carries four mini-missiles for a total of eight missiles. Much of the electronics on the car have been replaced including an advanced heads-up display, thermal imaging, night vision optics, and a advanced radio system. Even with the advanced radio systems, the car seems to select music from the last three decades of the Twentieth Century.

Type: 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429
Class: Haunted Pre-Rifts Commercial Automobile
Crew: One (Can carry one additional comfortably and can carry three to four passengers cramped)
Horror Factor: 10 (If known to be haunted)

M.D.C. by Location:

	[1] Headlight (4)	10 each
	[1] Retractable Mini-Missile Launchers (2):	45 each
	[1] Tires (4):	30 each
	Crew Compartment	100
	[2] Main Body:	225

Notes:
[1] These are small and difficult targets to strike, requiring the attacker to make a “called shot,” but even then the attacker is -4 to strike.
[2] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut the unit down completely, making it useless.
Note: The Mustang will regenerate at 20% of the hit locations M.D.C. per day, meaning all damage will be restored within 5 days of being damaged. This includes new systems such as the mini-missile launchers. Also, the Mustang can create an “Invincible Armor” force field of 200 M.D.C.

Speed:
Ground: Top speed on roads of 200 mph (322 kph) with a normal cruise speed of 80 mph (129 kph.) The car is not really designed for off road travel, top speed is 40 mph (64 kph)
Maximum Range: Runs on magical energy, 500 miles (804 km) before the Mustang needs to shut down for an hour before needing to recharge. If the driver only for a percentage of the full range, the recharge only requires that percentage of an hour to recharge. A secondary advantage is that the vehicle can be activated immediately if all of the magical energy has not been expended.
Note: The Mustang can use the Magical Ability of "Fly as the Eagle" to actually fly.

Statistical Data:
Height: 4.2 feet (1.28 meters)
Width: 6.0 feet (1.82 meters)
Length: 15.6 feet (4.76 meters)
Weight: 3530 lbs (1601 kilograms)
Power Source: Magic, Mustang's systems seem to work as if run by magic
Cargo Capacity: Trunk appears to contain an extra-dimensional space with a volume of around 125 cubic feet (3.5 cubic meters) of volume. Still, no single object in trunk can take up more volume than the original size of the car's trunk (assume about 4 feet / 1.2 meter wide, 1.5 feet / 0.45 meter tall, and 3 feet / 0.9 meter long.) In addition to the truck, the vehicle has additional storage ability in the rear passenger seats and side passenger seat.
Black Market Cost: Not for Sale, price for the automobile is virtually impossible to estimate

Weapon Systems: She can also cast the spell of Lightning Arc in addition to mini-missile launchers.

Mini-Missile Launchers (2): Added to the car post Rifts, the Mustang has a concealed mini-missile launcher in each wheel well. Both launchers hold four (4) mini-missiles for eight (8) total. Even though not an original system, the car can control the system if she sees the need.
Maximum Effective Range: Varies with mini missile types (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
Mega-Damage: Varies with mini missile types (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), four (4), or eight (8 - all) missiles. Can be fired equal to the pilots combined hand to hand (usually 5 or 6).
Payload: Four (4) Mini-Missiles each launcher for a total of eight (8) mini-missiles.

Sensory Equipment:

Radio/ Video Communications: Long range, directional, has a range of 500 miles with short range directional radio of 5 miles.
Thermal Imager: Range: 2,000 ft (609 m). Finds the infra-red radiations of things that are warm. Also enables pilot to see in smoke, shadows and darkness.
Nightvision Optics: Range: 2,000 ft (609 m). Uses light amplification to make a picture. Emits no light but will not work in absolute darkness. System can be dazzled by sudden bright lights but does not physically blind the pilot.
E.S.M.: Radar Detector, Passively detects other radars being operated.

Special Abilities as a Haunted Vehicle:

Will of Its Own: The car sometimes has a will of its own and carry out up to six actions in a twenty-four hours. This can include refusing to operate, change course, and activate the Mustang's magical abilities. The Mustang can also make minor actions such as turning lights on, turning on the radio or switching radio stations, changing gears, and similar actions on its own without counting as an action.
The Mustang seems to be generally nice and friendly although a bit of mischievous. She also has a bit of a disdain for following the exact letter of the law. Still, she is a good being and will likely not follow the direction of those who act in evil ways.
Magical Propulsive Force: The Mustang runs of magical energy and while the tank cannot run forever, it can run for up to about 500 miles (804 km) before the tank needs to shut down for an hour before needing to recharge. As the magical energy is used up, the gas gauge will slowly travel towards empty. Still, the range is far better than the vehicle's original range. Smart drivers will not allow the gauge to go below a half tank to keep a reserve.
Regenerates Damage: The Mustang will regenerate at 20% of the hit locations M.D.C. per day, meaning all damage will be restored within 5 days of being damaged. Even if a hit location is completely destroyed, it will slowly regenerate until completely restored.
Modification Ability: The Mustang WILL accept modern upgrades and newer systems, the only requirement is that the modification is that they do not ruin the appearance of the vehicle. Also note that any new additions will become part of the vehicle, and under her control.
Spiritual Advisor: The vision or voice of a former owner of the Mustang will occasionally appear to the driver and or passengers, and appear to assist them; pointing out how to operate something, advising them or warning the driver at a crucial moment of some threat. The presence appears to be a young man wearing a leather jacket and blue jeans with long hair.
Natural Sense of Direction: No matter how lost one might get, somehow the Mustang will find its way to the destination; +20% to Navigation rolls, or else a base Navigation skill of 65%. The driver will just get a "feeling" of the right direction to take.
Natural Warding: Evil Beings, entities, demons, vampires, and faerie folk CANNOT approach the vehicle or get inside it.
Natural P.P.E. / Spell Casting: 200, the sports car virtually fairly hum with magical energy. The energy regenerates at the rate of 12 P.P.E. per hour. Double P.P.E. and regeneration on ley lines and triple P.P.E. and regeneration at a Ley Line Nexus. Magical energy can be used by the car's crew for spell casting. The Mustang can also cat the following spells with spells considered to be cast as if cast by a eighth level spell caster:

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[ Beyond the Supernatural®, Heroes Unlimited®, Nightbane®, Ninjas & Superspies®, Palladium Fantasy®, and Rifts® are registered trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]

Special Credit to Talis D. Merrill (taalismn@pop.tiac.net) for many of the concepts and enchantments / powers for Ghost / Haunted vehicles.

Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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