PAGEVIEWS: 16,667,123

VISITORS: 2,227,422

SEARCHES: 9,594,036

What do you do with a former Hertz rental with 254,000 miles, is 40 years young and who has gone from yellow blonde to red all-over? Well, first of all, this Trader Publication-advertised 1966 Mustang coupe was just that, a black and white picture, nice…but just how nice was yet to be realized. As with any 40 year old, no one wants to really tell your age, so it was look-and-see time. Upon a personal inspection at the seller's home, a drive around the block and a fair price of $8,000, my red-all-over pony found a new home. But this is where the fun begins.

As a Cal State University Director in the College of Business I put my thinking cap (American Racing) on and noodled a bit to see who could come to my aid in a complete restoration makeover. The local auto tech students at Citrus College were just hungry for such a challenge and 8 months later we had an award winning SEMA Show feature vehicle with over 31 manufacturers and aftermarket suppliers contributing to our cause of creating the Motor Press Guild Best Oldie of the Year.

Actually, this started out as a simple "change-this, add-that" project and became a complete cluster of idea exchanges - a "resto-mod gearhead" delight. Truly a back-to-the-60's theme driver with all the horsepower a Roush 347 stroker could produce.

Backed by over 1,800 man-hours, this pony can dance! Crate GT-40 with aluminum heads, Holly/Edelbrock equipped, MSD ignition, Powermaster starter and alternator, Probe Industries performance cam, Roush stoker appointments, custom-built 4-core radiator from Hoffman Radiator, Pertronix coated shortie headers, Magna Flow stainless exhaust, Centerforce clutch and B&M pro-ripper with Roush shifter, mated to a BW World Class T-5. Only one wire into the engine bay makes this a killer-clean motor compartment. The Flaming River rack & pinion with polished stainless tilt column and 3-spoke 14" aluminum steering wheel from Impy's yields much WOW appeal. Auto Meter gauges, billet CNC'd dash panel and glove box with Scat ProCar seats and a Diest 4" lap belt sit you just right to the tunes from Custom Auto Sound. Four-wheel disc brakes and American Racing torque-thrusts round out the package with a complete Currie rear end and suspension by Global West Suspension complete with Koni's, round out this truly gone-in-60-seconds wild pony.

So, turn loose a group of hungry gearhead students who want NOT to be controlled on a project like this, and you have a trophy winner dialed to perfection.

Thanks Citrus College for the ride of a lifetime.

Dick Dixon,
Director - College of Business - International Motorsports Alliance
Cal State U San Bernardino