Interior appointments weren't spared the engineering bug, either. The trap door was customized with a running-horse emblem by utilizing water-jet-cutting technology. The TMI seats were custom embroidered with the running horses as well, and three-point seatbelts keep everyone in place during launches. A JME gauge cluster full of Auto Meter gauges keep an eye on the drivetrain, and a Flaming River tilt column with Grant steering wheel complement the left-side seat. Dale then got in touch with his inner nerd and installed a Sirius satellite radio system and a 110-volt power inverter to run his laptop for tuning the engine computer.
With all of the engineering work done, Dale called on Ross Fones to lay down the '06 Mazda Dark Steel Gray paint job to highlight the smooth lines of the fastback and give it the right night-stalker look. Billet wheel centers and gas caps complement the clean lines of the fastback. The car was finished just in time for the '07 World Ford Challenge, where it took home an award in its first venture into the real world.
So the next time you're walking down the hallway with a stack of TPS reports and a chocolate doughnut, take a look at the quiet guy in the corner cubicle. Chances are he may be planning the next street screamer.
The Details
Dale Irwin's '65 Mustang Fastback
Engine
'03 Mustang GT 4.6 SOHC modular Eaton M90 twin-screw supercharger w/intercooler ACCEL Gen 7 w/custom wiring harness 42-lb/hr Siemens injectors Dual Walbro 255-lph fuel pumps Aeromotive fuel rails Griffin aluminum radiator Spal electric fan Derale remote water cooler w/fanTransmission
Ford 4R70W four-speed automatic Art Carr 9.5-inch billet torque converter Derale remote oil cooler w/fan Baumann Engineering TCS computerRearend
'00 Cobra R 8.8 IRS housing 3.55 gears Gerodisc posiExhaust
Ford Racing Performance Parts shorty headers Flowmaster two-chamber mufflers Custom x-style crossoverSuspension
Front: Total Control Products tubular coilover system modified for wider wheelbase, Aldan coilover shocks, custom power rack-and-pinion steering designed by owner Rear: '00 Cobra R independent rear suspension, DVS Restorations IRS installation kit custom modified for tire clearance, Koni coilover rear shocksBrakes
Front: SSBC Force 10 11.25-inch disc, four-piston caliper Rear: Factory Cobra 11.65-inch disc, single-piston caliper '03 Ford hydroboost-assist systemWheels
Front: Vintage Wheel Works vintage 45, 17x8 Rear: Vintage Wheel Works vintage 45,17x11Tires
Front: Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3, P255/40ZR17 Rear: Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3, P315/35ZR17Interior
TMI seats covers, Auto Meter gauges in JME cluster, Vintage Air A/C, Pioneer stereo system, Sirius satellite radio, Painless interior wiring harness, three-point harnesses, 110-volt power inverter, Grant steering wheelExterior
'06 Mazda Dark Steel Gray R-M Diamont basecoat/clearcoat, Maier Racing fiberglass front fenders, Maier Racing rear flares, billet gas cap