Jim Curry's '92 Feature Mustang LX 5.0l Convertible
A set of angel wings and a halo in "MOM" air brushed around the trunk lock are a subtle key to Jim Curry's '92 Feature Mustang. Ford built these limited edition convertibles in 1992 and 1993-one variant was the Vibrant Red convertible you see here. Are they collectible? "Absolutely," Jim Curry said. This didn't stop him from modifying his Feature Mustang to his personality. However, radical changes to the Fox body were not part of his agenda. He replaced the original plastic decklid and fender badges-LX and 5.0-with airbrushed versions. Just about as subtle is the taillight swap-'93 Cobra lenses in place of the stock LX versions. Jim considers them a cool upgrade.inline_mediumwraptextright25492721/featuredvehicles/mdmp_0912_1992_mustang_lx_convertiblemdmp_0912_11_+1992_mustang_lx+front_headlights.jpgTrue

The '65 Mustang you see on these pages has certainly come a long way. While it didn't hap-pen overnight (in reality it was more than five years), Rick Lane's idea to build a drag car with some street manners he could enjoy at the local dragstrip started with a solid plan. The '65 had been sitting forlornly under a carport behind a friend of a friend's mother's house for almost 20 years. Time and the elements weren't kind to the little coupe, but that didn't matter to Rick, who hails from Mt. Airy, Maryland. He was building a drag car, remember? Sure, it'd have some minor creature comforts, but his main plan was to attack the nearby 75-80 Dragway with a stout performance package in a light classic Mus-tang. Rick has owned nearly a half-dozen Fox Mustangs over the years and knew that they were great performance machines. For this specific car, he wanted to do the same but in a classic Mustang body.inline_mediumwraptextright25495100/featuredvehicles/mdmp_0912_1965_mustang_coupemdmp_0912_01_+1965_mustang_coupe+rearview.jpgTrue

Matt Neuharth of Nash-ville, Tennessee, is a Southern gentleman and drag racer at heart. He is also the ambitious owner of this very cool '95 V-6 Mustang. The truth is that you can find good solid six-cylinder Mustangs for a reasonable price and they can be a real value-packed platform. That's what Matt was thinking when he started with his V-6 Mustang project. He had it in his mind to create a Mustang that he could take to the digs and put on a good show, but also wanted to march to the beat of a different drummer. When he was asked why he decided to make a racer out of a six-cylinder car he began by saying that everybody asks him that same question. In addition to the fact that it's easy to find an affordable six-cylinder car in great condition for much less than the cost of a GT version, he had the desire to create something truly unique. He also says that he enjoys situations where his opponent is an overconfident owner of a V-8 powered Mustang or some other unsus-pecting fodder.inline_mediumwraptextright30633177/featuredvehicles/mdmp_0911_1995_mustang_coupemdmp_0911_09_+1995_mustang_coupe+front_side_angle.jpgTrue

If you haven't heard of Vaughn Gittin Jr, you will soon. The Joppa, Maryland, native has earned the reputation of being one of the world's best drifters and is the next big thing at Ford Racing. His accolades include winning the 2005 D1 USA vs. Japan competition, the 2007 D1 World Championship, and the final event of the 2008 Formula D season at Irwindale Speedway. Gittin, piloting his well-known '05 Mustang, is also responsible for helping to bring American muscle to the sport, which has historically been dominated by Japanese cars.inline_mediumwraptextright30624204/featuredvehicles/mdmp_0911_2010_falken_tire_ford_racing_mustang_gtmdmp_0911_13_+2010_mustang_gt+drifting.jpgTrue

When the project was finally complete, Karl and his wife Jan didn't waste any time getting the Mustang out on the road. There were only 20 miles on the refurbished Pony when they left on a road trip for Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Car show and auto cross duty were included. Later on, when Karl tried to run the car at the Chandler, Arizona, dragstrip, a spider gear in the 9-inch axle let go. The dyno jet later recorded more than 480 horsepower at the rear wheels, so there's little doubt the car would have performed well in the quarter-mile. After some serious road time, Karl and Jan report that the car is very fast, handles and brakes incredibly, and provides endless big-time enjoyment. They also report that this Mustang generates a lot of interest at car shows, and that the real exclamations come when the hood goes up. We can see why.inline_mediumwraptextright26428081/featuredvehicles/mdmp_0911_1965_mustang_2_by_2_fastbackmdmp_0911_02_+1965_mustang_2_by_2_fastback+cobra_engine_cover.jpgTrue

Chuck Winters' '65 Mercury Comet Cyclone
As many of us older enthusiasts have found out, qualifying for Social Security is a definite plus, especially when the checks arrive every month. Probably the only downside is that it formally signals the end of childhood. However, if you work it right, you can get a second shot at that magical time. Chuck Winters, a postal employee in Tampa, Florida, isn't quite ready for Social Security yet, but is definitely taking steps to guarantee a second childhood, thanks to his beautiful '65 Mercury Comet Cyclone, a car he's been dreaming about since age 16.inline_mediumwraptextright26429611/featuredvehicles/mdmp_0911_1965_mercury_comet_cyclonemdmp_0911_10_+1965_mercury_comet_cyclone+1965_comet_cyclone.jpgTrue

The Details
Nick Burch's '06 Mustang GT Engine

• MMR 281ci short-block
• '04 Cobra cast-iron block
• 3.55-inch bore
• 3.54-inch stroke
• Kellogg 4349 steel crank
• Manley connecting rods
• Manley forged dish-top pistons
• Ford Three-Valve cylinder heads
• Edge 60-lb/hr injectors
• Ford GT dual fuel pumps
• Master Power 70mm turbocharger
• HP three-core intercooler
• Kenne Bell Boost-a-Spark ignition

Inside, the design theme follows the lead of the engine bay and shares components from the current Shelby GT500. We're not talking about a few nuts and bolts-you'll see a complete dash assembly and the seats transferred over from the Shelby. The interior is definitely something very different than anything one normally sees in a classic Mustang, but it manages to blend seamlessly with the rest of the car. The cockpit also gets a custom Grant steering wheel, Auto Meter gauges, Electric Life power windows, Flaming River push button start, and Alcantara suede trim on the dash, console, and seats. A Sony sound system adds another nice modern touch, complete with a DVD navigation system and dual 12-inch subwoofers mounted in the trunk.inline_mediumwraptextright30549915/featuredvehicles/mdmp_0910_1969_mustang_sportsroof_enginemdmp_0910_07_+69_mustang_sportsroof_engine+interior_control_console.jpgTrue

Jerry and Pat Wallace of Tucson, Arizona, are the proud owners of this '56 F-100 pickup. Not only is the truck a rare surviving example of the classic F-100 body style, it's also a platform for many contemporary features. Jerry is an old hand at the Ford game and he recently restored a '68 Mustang convertible. When that car was sold to a Mustang enthusiast in New Zealand, he had the chance to acquire this F-100. He was interested in a truck that offered vintage appeal but also wanted to create a vehicle that would offer most of the amenities of a modern pickup truck. Jerry wasn't interested in going down the road with a six-cylinder engine at 50 miles per hour as its top speed. The F-100 had to offer modern power, overdrive for freeway performance, and air conditioned comfort for summertime outings. The Wallace's didn't want a trailer queen, but rather a truck they could drive in comfort, whatever the weather or destination.inline_mediumwraptextright26324227/featuredvehicles/mdmp_0910_1956_ford_f100_truckmdmp_0910_01+1956_ford_f100_truck+passenger_side_front_view.jpgTrue

Tom Ulrich has built a few cars in his day, most notably a '53 Suburban that he traveled more than 1,000 miles to retrieve. That truck has since been sold to pay for the stunning Mercury you see before you. But this rare Monterey required the same leap of faith. Although a Monterey with its accompanying headlights and trim had caught Ulrich's attention before this purchase it wasn't until a few years later that he found the model he wanted.

The original GT500 was the pin-nacle of the Mustang lineup. Introduced in 1967, the GT350's big brother featured a 428ci iron block V-8 complete with a cast-aluminum intake manifold and twin 600-cfm Holley four-barrel carburetors that produced a conservatively-rated 355 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. And, of course, there was the design. Shelby gave the GT500 a signature look with a longer front end, fiberglass hood with a functional scoop, two intake scoops on either side, a subtle spoiler lip at the rear, Le Mans racing stripes, and taillights from the Mercury Cougar. The result was a muscle car icon that has influenced automotive design for the last 40 years.

Troy Pumphrey of Tampa Florida acquired his father's '57 Fairlane hardtop in 2003 when he still lived in Maryland. The family heirloom was a gift from his father's sister Sheila, who knew that even though she had spent many trips at her brother's side in the car, that her brother would have wanted his only son to eventually have the car. When he got the car home a thorough inspection revealed that it was in better condition than might be expected after sitting out in the weather for 10 years. The Fairlane shared garage space and driving duties with Troy's '40 Ford coupe for about six months until Troy decided to sell one of the cars and use the proceeds to restore the other. Since the '57 Ford had been his father's car it was an easy decision to make and the '40 Ford coupe sold within days.

Some of you may remember Don Gasiunas' former Pony project ("Unbridled Lust," July '06), a highly customized convertible that he called "Unbridled"-a nice play on words, in our opinion. It was, in short, his vision of a drop-top '67 Mustang for the 21st century. Turns out someone else must have shared that vision because, shortly after our feature, Don was, let's say, fiscally persuaded to part with his '67-which was quite OK since he always seems to have another project in mind. With a freshly recharged bank account, this time our creative Canadian friend decided to tackle his favorite vintage of Mustang-the '70 Mach 1.

You may not recognize Lidio Iacobelli's yellow Fox body at a glance, but if you've followed the whole 5.0L Mustang movement since it began in the early 1990s, it should be a familiar sight. Starting in 1993, it's been featured in whole or in part in numerous tech story articles and, in 1997, it was featured in one of those distinctive BFGoodrich "color" ads that spawned count-less posters, T-shirts and more.

The Details
Shawn Simpson's '72 Maverick Grabber

The project's culmination was a quick cruise to Sonic to hang out with some friends and club members and give the car a few break-in miles. Aaron was happy to report that not only did the freshened Cobra run great, but his leery '93 Cobra owning friends gave him the big thumbs up when they saw the finished project (it is, after all, built off of a rare, low-production Fox body). The only deviation from the Cobra body's stock looks, besides the extreme paint of course, is a Cervini's Heat Extractor hood, and the '04 Cobra chrome wheels. Otherwise it's as stock as the '93 Cobra came. Inside Aaron used a combination of the '93 and '04 Cobra's interior bits (mostly the '04 though). The major changes, of course, are the seats, dash, steering column, and console.

The Details
Jim Esson's '01 Mustang Bullitt

Also like the Flashback, the Equus' cabin is where the technological advances of the last four decades--as well as Classic Design Concepts' innovations and craftsmanship--are harnessed in creating an environment fit for a king--or a maharajah. At a couple inches over six feet, I really appreciate the floorpan mods CDC made to increase seat travel by over half a foot, and bump headroom by a couple inches. That and the upscale materials and modern electronic amenities should certainly prove just as irresistible overseas as they do here. But if its looks, handling and comfort don't seal the deal in those distant nations, one stab at the electronic-throttle-control (ETC) gas pedal certainly will, as a torque-twisted, face-splitting grin means the same thing in any language or culture. Indeed!

The Details
Chris Muchata's '67 Mustang Hardtop

Sometimes in our Ford hobby adventures we set out to look for one thing and end up finding another that's somehow even better. The right Ford actually finds us. Andy Carrano of Ringwood, New Jersey, has a story a lot like that. Like many of us, he was originally a Mustang fan, and he has owned a '65 2+2, a '67 Shelby GT500, and a '70 Mach 1. However, when the time came for yet another classic Ford he yearned for something unique. Andy began to search the world for a different sort of car to scratch his persistent high performance itch. After checking out other offerings in the classic Ford lineup he decided that a Fairlane of the '66-'67 variety would fill the bill. He knew he wanted a GT version equipped with a 390 or 427 big-block engine, knowing that such a car would come with disc brakes and a 9-inch axle. The trouble is that nice big-block Fairlanes are rare and can get expensive. It was a frustrating search but Andy bided his time.

Bill Birch of Indianapolis, Indiana, is a dedicated Ford enthusiast. When Bill decided he wanted something extra in a Mustang, he dreamed of a car with all of the attributes of a Mach I and with a convertible top to boot. Since Ford didn't offer the Mach I package on the latest Mustang incarnation, Bill contacted Scott Hoag, founder of MRT (Mustang Racing Technologies). While Scott was at Ford Motor Company, he was the driving force behind the Mustang's popular Mach I package for '03 and '04 with its retro interior, graphics package, and immediately recognizable Shaker hood and scoop setup. Who better to contact when the plan was to create a Mach I using the '05 convertible platform?

Interior
Driver on center seating upholstered by Collin Auto Trim, Stillwater, Oklahoma, American Auto Wire wiring, Flaming River chrome steering column, Billet Specialties steering wheel, Lokar shifter, Lokar pedals, Classic Instruments gauges with Kicker Audio faces, Vintage Air heat and air conditioning system, Auto Loc solenoids on windows and doors, Specialty power windows, Specialty windshield wipers, Dynamat sound deadener throughout the interior

Like many Mustang owners, Mark Kauffman comes from a family of racers. Unfortunately, they also happen to be diehard GM fans. So when Mark decided to purchase a Pony car sporting the Blue Oval logo, you can imagine the heckling he received from his Bow Tie-loving relatives. "When I said I was going to build a Mustang, they all told me I was crazy and that I should just work with Chevys because I'd never make a car that could hang with any of theirs," Mark tells us. Of course, this just made him more determined to build the ultimate Mustang that he lovingly named ChevyKiller.

Carl Phillips' '69 Shelby GT350
"This is you." Carl Phillips' friend and car co-conspirator Gary Alsobrooks slapped a copy of Victory Lane magazine into Carl's lap. Gary pointed to a classified ad entitled, 1969 B-Prod Shelby, Boss 302 power. Carl tossed the folded magazine into the back seat of his car. He dismissively answered, "Yeah . . . right."

Josh Besore's '04 Mustang SVT Cobra CoupeJosh Besore, who hails out of Louisville, Kentucky, was raised with an automotive restoration background, as his father was very interested in vintage Corvettes. As a young man Josh started out his automotive life with a Merkur XR4TI. Like many of us, his interests were soon focused on Mustangs, and his first one came in the form of a '94 GT. He hopped up the GT's 5.0 engine in many significant areas, but still yearned for more in the way of performance. Josh says that he gets a lot of support and enthusiasm for his Ford fanaticism from his wife Amanda, who, for many years piloted their '04 F-150 Lightning pickup.