SPEED-BREEDING PONIES: A pair of high-powered custom fastbacks that would be welcome in any stable
September 24, 2018
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
Written by independent automotive journalist Roger C. Johnson
How’s this for a pair of pretty ponies? This 1966 Ford Mustang Custom Fastback – Lot #733 (top) and 1968 Shelby GT350 Custom Fastback – Lot #698 (bottom) will be galloping across the block at the upcoming Las Vegas Auction.
To foster competitive race horses, it requires careful planning and the ability to use the correct DNA for ideal results. That’s exactly what you see here. These two galloping ponies have the genetics to run with anything, anywhere, at any time.
Lot #733 – 1966 Ford Mustang Custom Fastback
The ’66 fastback Mustang has the timeless look required to build car that can compete with, even defeat, whatever tomorrow brings. This custom machine is the product of Classic Restorations in Yukon, Oklahoma. And it’s designed to charge even further into the future.
Power comes from Ford’s newest and greatest powerplant, the 32-valve all-aluminum Coyote Gen-ll, 5.0 V8. This one also packs a Roush TVS supercharger, for great measure. A Tremec 5-speed manual transmission takes it from there and is plenty stout enough to handle the engine’s 600 rear-wheel horsepower. Out back, those horses are corralled and transported to the road through a 9-inch FAB9 differential and a set of 3.70 Truetrac ring & pinion gears.
This pony’s suspension system is set on fast-forward and consists of Rod & Custom front coilovers with Total Control units on the drive wheels. Beefier sways bars at both ends and tubular sub-frame connectors add greater rigidity to the platform. A custom rack & pinion steering setup further makes this Mustang a challenger for all comers, or corners. A freshly crafted steering wheel with a wood-grain rim, mounted on a Flaming River column, is your direct connection to all the excitement this horse was bred for.
Other interior features include Carroll Shelby SCAT Rally Series 1000 bucket seats that look incredibly comfortable, G-Force cam-lock seatbelts, Shelby signature gauges, Shelby aluminum pedals and even Shelby floor mats. A RetroSound vintage-style stereo offers another surprise for the unsuspecting observer and listener.
Despite the razzle-dazzle shifters most automatic cars have today_,_ this transmission’s conspicuousl_y_ retro shifter is an instant flashback to those glorious days when drivers had an actual mechanical connection to the engine right in the palm of their hands.
Wilwood 13-inch Track System disc brakes up front lead the way. That company’s Tour System rear brakes with slotted cross-drilled rotors and an adjustable rear proportioning valve allow you to dial in the system to your liking.
The engine exhaust gases and their accompanying music are directed under the car with BBK long-tube headers, along with Borla mufflers and a supporting 2-1/2-inch system. You’ll probably want to record the sound of this car starting up and use it for your phone’s ringtone.
This well-rounded machine – which was converted to a fastback from its original coupe body – sports classic colors, right down to the iconic blue racing stripes. A custom Pro-Touring fiberglass hood takes some weight off the front end and adds an even more aggressive look to this Mustang at the very same time. Notice the Shelby R-model front lower fascia. It’s another historical touch that keeps this car in the forefront of imagination and memory. Period-correct 5-spoke wheels, which just happened to be beautiful and a perfect fit, do the car even greater justice.
If you like the idea of blending the past and the present, then this Mustang has your name all over it. This is a fantasy car, but it’s not pure or simple. It is a purpose-built world-class machine created to beat up on lesser creatures when commanded. But thanks to modern technology, it will do so in a very sophisticated manner.
Lot #698 – 1968 Shelby GT350 Custom Fastback
It should be apparent to all by now that intrinsic beauty is at the very heart of the late ʼ60s Shelbys. Even today’s hot-selling versions trace their good looks and character back to the infinitely classic 1968 model. Stylists back then didn’t just make history when they designed this car, they made the future. This 1968 Shelby GT350 is a fantastic example of what timeless automotive styling looks like then, now and forever.
This ’68 model was given a complete rotisserie restoration to make it new again in every way. An Elite Marti Report confirms this car’s bloodlines as a champion. It’s new, Windsor-based 427 offers that 7-liter big-horsepower potential, but does so with a smaller and lighter block than the FE 427s of the golden age. This 560-horsepower V8 is a popular Roush Performance option that performs effortlessly from the highway to your driveway.
An automatic/overdrive transmission with an aluminum driveshaft and a Ford 9-inch differential housing a Traction-Lok, all combine to transfer torque and horsepower to the track, or street. Coilovers up front add efficiency and improved handling to package.
Responsibility for the “whoa” factor lies with 4-piston disc brakes, but a 22-gallon fuel cell means you’ll be stopping far less often than you think. Hand-cast GT40-style wheels wear the rubber in style. LED lighting all around means this machine is just as happy at night as it is in broad daylight.
The interior is immaculate and decked out with a complete and custom instrumentation package, just what you’d might expect for such a serious competitor. A 5-point roll cage keeps you safe in the saddle, and a custom sound system gives you something else to listen to, if you’re ever forced to turn off the engine.
If the idea of filling your own stable with thoroughbred talent is a temptation, your very own Breeder’s Cup hath just runneth over. Either one of these high-strung pony cars has the capability to be a true champion in every sense. All you have to do is whip your hand in the air when you favorite one is standing at the starting line on the auction block. Let the race begin.
For up-to-date information on these and other vehicles on the 2018 Las Vegas docket, click HERE.