There are landmark moments we remember in our lives-our first kiss, that first drive with a new driver's license, and-that first car.
Once, long ago, there was a used-car lot in Blackburg, Virginia, housing a '67 Mustang fastback that had the GT Equipment Group, a 390 4V High Performance V-8 backed by a four-speed and limited-slip rear diff. Inside was an AM/FM radio, Interior Dcor Group, and the odo showed just 38,000 miles. Ahhh, the naivet of youth that brought temptation and surrender.
Meet Larry and Pam Anders of Atlanta. That youthful purchase in rural Virginia cost Larry $900. More recently in 2001, Larry got involved in a restoration project that surely cost him more than the original purchase price of the car. As you can see, it is more than just a restoration. It is a restomod. In this new age of modding, we are free to express ourselves without fear of condemnation from the purists. We can build our vintage Fords any way we see fit.
Since the car was fairly rare, the Anders kept their approach tasteful. they installed '90 Mustang GT bucket seats, which look as though they could have come from the factory. They're comfortable, which is why we use them in classic Mustangs. And they look sharp in a slippery fastback. That's a LeCarra steering wheel, so popular with vintage-Mustang builders, as well as a JME instrument cluster with Autometer gauges.
Where interior gives way to the underworld of a transmission tunnel and engine compartment, it is more like 1967 than 1990. Poking up in the engine bay is a FE big-block, just like Larry remembers from long ago in Virginia. On the surface, it looks like a 390. Inside, it is a 427 block stroked to 455 ci of brute torque and low-down baditude. Larry achieved this displacement with a 427 block, which has a 4.23-inch bore. When he installed the 428 crankshaft, it increased the 427's 3.78-inch stroke to 3.98 inches. How much wind can you huff through an FE block? Plenty, when you bore the 4.23-inch cylinders .030-inch oversize.
Larry also used a 950-cfm Holley atomizer on top. Ceramic-coated Hooker headers scavenge the spent, rich fumes. In the valley is a flat-tappet mechanical camshaft from Comp Cams. There's more than one-half inch of lift, with 282 degrees of duration. This is old school, and ain't it wonderful? When Larry idles by, listen for the crisp clatter of 16 adjustable, shaft-mounted rocker arms slapping out a tempo at idle. There is a lot of displacement going on here.
Keeping that displacement moving is a good old-fashioned Hurst Super/Shifter and Top Loader four-speed. That sends power to the nine-inch and its Detroit no-spin rear axle; which in turn helps spin 15-inch Torq-Thrust IIs wrapped in BFGoodrich rubber. Efficiency and fuel economy, who needs 'um! Larry and Pam don't-they're just having too much fun.
Classic Mustangs don't get this good without a lot of hard work. Larry gives much of the credit to Murphy's Restorations in Hampton, Georgia, specifically, Sam Murphy, Tommy Vincent, Kenny Salter, and Bill Bundy. It takes the creative power and mutual respect of great friendships to get through challenging restorations. Larry forged his way through this one with a whole lot of help from his friends. He has taken three Best of Shows, one second place, and five first place awards. Not bad considering what these guys started with three years ago. All things considered-priceless.