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Three Mustang Projects I’ve Always Dreamed Of Building

As a car enthusiast, not a single day goes by that I don’t think about making one of my many project car dream builds a reality. Over the last decade or so, I’ve dreamt of building around 10 or more Mustangs of various generations all for different purposes.

The diversity of the different generations of Mustangs allows for almost endless possibilities to build a dedicated racecar. However, time and money sometimes never permits – and like 99.9 percent of the population, I too, have financial obligations I must meet. Nevertheless, we’re going to visit three different Mustang projects I’d like to make a reality in the future.

Makeshift Cobra R – The Dedicated Corner Carver

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to make my own version of a Cobra R. Ideally, I would purchase a ’99-’01 SVT Cobra rolling chassis for as cheap as possible. With the engine and the transmission out of the way for now, I’d first focus on building the independent rear suspension (IRS) that came on the car. Wheel hop is a tricky situation, as there’s no ‘one part’ that can cure it, so I’d start with weld-in subframe connectors, a complete IRS bushing kit, a larger set of front and rear sway-bars, and a set of adjustable coilovers on all four corners.

It's hard to decide what engine I'd want to swap into this dedicated track beast. On one hand, a naturally aspirated Coyote 5.0-liter V8 would sound amazing and make a great engine for a track car. On the other, a Trinity 5.8 liter V8 from the '13-'14 GT500 would pay a huge tribute to previous SVT cars in general. Plus, who doesn't love the instantaneous amount of torque from a TVS 2300 supercharger? Either engine would of course be paired to a TR-6060 6-speed manual transmission from the '07-'14 GT500.

After massaging the new engine, transmission, and suspension together, I’d throw a set of 17 by 10-inch wide wheels on all four corners paired with a set of 315-series sticky R compound tires. I’d also gut it, cage it, compliment it with a full Cobra R exterior treatment – and finally, paint the entire car gloss black for a sinister appearance.

This car would mostly be dedicated to all road-racing events like autocross and time attack with the occasional canyon run on the weekend.

Check out this cherry ’69 Boss 429 here.

Straight Line Hero – The Dedicated Drag Racer

Even if you’re the most hardcore of the corner carving type, we all love to go fast in a straight line. For a dedicated drag car, I’ve always wanted to build a ’69 Fastback. The ’69 Boss 429 has always been one of my favorite Mustangs ever produced. From its giant hood scoop and aggressive front splitter, to its 4-speed close-ratio manual transmission and semi-hemi 429 cubic-inch displacement V8, the Boss 429 is a legendary machine.

Realistically, fastback models are becoming increasingly rare. With that said, I’d probably settle on finding a clapped out one, so long as it’s not too far gone. After a complete body and frame restoration, the fun would begin. To keep things short and sweet, I’d throw every single component found on the ’16 Cobra Jet from the Ford Racing Performance Parts catalog onto this car. The solid rear axle, the blown 5.2-liter V8 engine, the race prepped automatic transmission – literally everything. Maybe after making a few 8-second quarter mile passes, I’d upgrade the engine with a 4.0-liter Whipple supercharger or a Hellion twin turbo kit.

The greatest attribute from this car would be the sheer amount of acceleration I’d experience. Unlike the makeshift Cobra R above, I probably wouldn’t gut this car – but I’d definitely cage it. There’s something special about a first generation Mustang, even if it’s built to be a dedicated drag car. So with that said, I’d probably throw some meaty drag radials on the rear-end and take it to shows and car meets as often as possible. And to those who are wondering, I’d paint this ’69 my favorite Mustang color of all time – Grabber Green.

This Shelby wide-body is one heck of a kit for the S197.

Cruise Missile – The Dedicated Daily Driver

My current daily driver is a ’05 3-valve GT, and I absolutely love it. While the car may not boast 5.0 Coyote numbers, it’s still fun regardless. I’ve owned my GT for almost a year exactly – and over that year, I’ve contemplated about three different routes I’d want to take with this car. I’ll try to keep these short as well.

The first route that I find myself coming back to is the obvious 5.0 liter DOHC Coyote and TR-6060 6-speed manual transmission from a GT500 swap. I’d have fun with the naturally aspirated engine for awhile until I found myself wanting more power. At which point, I’d probably do the simple bolt-ons and get myself a good set of tires. The second route I’m highly considering is building the current 4.6 liter SOHC 3-valve mil. I’d love to forge, stroke, and bore the engine to 5.0 liters, then throw a ProCharger P-1SC-1 or a Roush R2300 supercharger at it and beat the ever-living heck out of it.

The third and final route is a little more unique. Some of you may even consider this sacrilege. Recently, I’ve wanted to swap a supercharged 4.6 liter DOHC V8 from the ’03-’04 SVT Cobra and a matching T-56 6-speed manual transmission into the car. The finishing touches would be a full GT500 exterior treatment, minus the Cobra badges of course. I probably wouldn’t even run the factory GT badges just so I could keep people guessing. Couple this with a full ’13-’14 GT500 interior with leather Recaro seats and touch screen navigation, and you have the ultimate daily driver with comfort and power.

That’s All Folks!

I have plenty of other ideas for older generation Mustangs and such, but that’s all that came to mind at the moment.

Let us know which idea you thought was the best – and feel free to chime in with any ideas of your own, or if you’d like to see another article like this again.