Rotisserie Built Mustang GT Stage III 427 Dart V8 Tremec 5 Speed TCI Strange

SUMMARY

The beneficiary of a detailed rotisserie restoration that was completed in 2011
351 cubic inch Dart Windsor V8 / Bored to 427 cubic inches / Professionally assembled with nitrous capability
Keisler Tremec TKO 5-speed manual transmission / Dual-disc clutch
Strange Ford 9-inch rear axle / Posi-traction differential / 2.70 gears
Total Control Products suspension / Flaming River steering box
Shelby-style body components / PPG Viper Blue and Wimbledon White paint
Customized interior / Custom, 6-point chromoly roll cage
17-inch American Racing wheels
4-wheel power disc brakes
Sale includes restoration receipts and a detailed specs sheet

Over the past few years, we've certainly seen some nice resto-mods. But this 1966 Mustang, with its massaged Dart small block and solid Shelby-styling, is definitely one of the coolest! Fully sorted and ready to hit the road, this awesome Ford combines the stump-pulling power of Dearborn's best muscle cars with vintage Detroit style that's classy enough to lead a parade. And today, thanks to meticulous restoration, not only is it a reliable and exceptionally comfy place to spend a sightseeing summer, it's also an authentic piece of Americana that'll be welcomed at virtually any car show in any town. If you're looking for a choice classic that's as alluring as it is powerful, who says you need a high maintenance original? This awesome pony will look just as cool rolling down the road, show just as well at the local drive-in and provide just as many miles of carefree cruising!

BODYWORK/TRIM

A slick '60s fastback that features an exceptionally straight body, this Mustang benefitted from a detailed rotisserie restoration that subjected rust-free metal to strict media blasting and roughly $25K of PPG 2-stage. Many hours were spent ensuring that clean metal had a solid foundation, including widened wheel tubs and reinforced factory welds. That vibrant PPG, a combination of traditional Wimbledon White and exotic Viper Blue pigment, came courtesy of Tucson, Arizona's Hood's Etc. And today, this Ford rolls as one head-turning thoroughbred that's right at home reflecting a summertime car show!

Back in the day, Dearborn designers made sure every year of the first-generation Mustang had plenty of visual sizzle. And in the 21st century, it doesn't get much better than this Ford's racy combination clean factory accents and Shelby-inspired trim. At the front of the car, a polished grille hangs a patriotic pony emblem between bright headlights, a body-matched bumper and a custom, all-steel Shelby R-style valance that's finished with tri-bar driving lamps. At the top of that grille, a pinned hood founds familiar "F O R D" lettering in front of a custom scoop, polished wipers, mirrored stainless and like-new glass that's detailed with plexi quarter pieces. At the sides of that glass, a simple profile hangs functional, Shelby-style ducts and traditional Shelby rocker stripes around classy fender emblems, traditional door handles and a flashy driver's mirror. And at the back of that profile, a second body-matched bumper reflects fresh taillights, a Shelby-style fuel filler and coated exhaust tips that pierce a stainless-trimmed roll pan.

ENGINE

Hoist the lightweight hood and you'll find an aluminum Dart small block that builds on the car's theme of tailored performance. Professionally assembled by Criss Engine & Machine of Tucson, Arizona, that monster mill features an increased bore that nets a whopping 427 cubic inches of Ford power! At the top of the buff engine, a polished air cleaner feeds a 950cfm Holley 4-barrel that's wired with Earl's fluid lines, an Auto Gage pressure gauge and a custom nitrous switch. Beneath that juice box, a ported Edelbrock Victor Jr. 351W intake feeds ported Dart Stage III heads. At the front of those heads, a chrome MSD Blaster 2 coil jolts an MSD distributor, which sequences spark through loomed Taylor plug wires. Behind those wires, polished valve covers float billet breathers above custom, Jet-Hot-coated Hedmans. Between those headers, a cross-drilled Callies knife-edge crank spins Callies Compstar H-beam rods, which jerk forged JE 11 to 1 pistons. Between those pistons, a custom, solid roller cam bumps heavy-duty Chrysler lifters, which jolt heavy-duty chromoly pushrods and billet, shaft-mount rocker arms. Cooling comes courtesy of a big Ron Davis radiator, which circulates water around large SPAL puller fans. You'll be happy to see that the $19,585 V8 has been firmly seated on heavy duty motor mounts in a Satin Black engine bay. You'll be excited to know that first-rate detailing, like billet reservoirs, ARP fasteners, a polished master cylinder and a 110-amp alternator, rounds out a very impressive engine display. And you'll be delighted to feel that the fully sorted powerplant makes roughly 700 horsepower by itself and roughly 900 horsepower with the help of nitrous!

DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION

What would an excellent restoration be without a great foundation? Take a look under this Mustang and you'll find solid floors that are highlighted by smooth PPG 2-stage and a roster of choice performance hardware. Behind the hot 351, a dual-disc clutch utilizes a hydraulic throw-out bearing to engage a Keisler Tremec TKO 5-speed. The transmission twists torque to a Strange Ford 9-inch, which spins a posi-traction differential and mild, 2.70 gears between an aluminum center section and 35-spline axles. That drivetrain rolls on a proven Total Control Products 4-link that's finished with adjustable coil-over-shocks. Opposite that clip, a Total Control Products front-half cages a Flaming River steering box. And at the corners of the car, big Wilwood calipers utilize an SSBC proportioning valve to clamp two vented rotors behind two drilled and slotted rotors. Step on the throttle and electronic Mallory pumps drain a 20-gallon Fuel Safe fuel cell while a 3-inch, ceramic-coated exhaust system fills Mandrel-bent pipes, an H-shaped crossover and aggressive Dynomax mufflers. Power meets the pavement through polished American Racing wheels, which spin 245/40ZR17 BF Goodrich g-Force Sports in front of 315/35R17 Nitto NT555 Extreme Drags. And everything under this Ford, from its stainless fluid lines and custom subframe connectors to its 8-quart oil pan and Lakewood scattershield, is fully sorted and ready to roll!

INTERIOR

Swing the doors and you'll find a fully restored cockpit that's been updated with a perfect amount of style and safety. Front and center, bolstered Recaros stretch tight vinyl under Deist 4-point safety harnesses. A painted and striped dash hangs rebuilt telemetry next to a large Auto Meter tach and an old school AM/FM radio. Fresh carpet floats Ford-themed floor mats around a simple TKO shifter. Factory door panels front power-operated windows. The driver carves curves through a Momo Race wheel, which laps a tilting Flaming River column. Behind the passengers, JL audio speakers bridge the gap between a painted trunk and carpeted storage that's centered on a 10lb. nitrous bottle. And everyone stays safe thanks to a custom, 6-point roll cage that bathes 1.5-inch chromoly tubes in PPG 2-stage paint.

OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION

Title copies from the 1980s
Vintage registration cards
Restoration receipts
Component literature
A detailed specs sheet

When it comes to maximizing the amount of metal your money buys, you simply can't go wrong with a purpose-built pony car. Thanks to its thorough restoration, this legendary Ford is a great driving piece that's fun, historic AND reliable. If you're looking for a stylish classic that commands respect on both the boulevard and the show field, this red-hot Mustang is just your style!