The project was begun by Ford's Styling Department in winter 1966,[2] before the debut of the Cobra Jet the next year;[3] the project was then turned over to Special Vehicles.[4]
Designed by the team responsible for the Mustang,[5] it used a Logghe Bros.chassis and a fuel injectedSOHC427 Ford, prepared by Ed Pink,[6]Connie Kalitta and Tom Marsh, mated to an automatic transmission.[7] The front axle mounted the usual bicycle wheels, while the rearend was a modified JaguarIRS[8] (when most dragsters used a solid-mounted axle[9]) with limited-slip differential, plus coilover shocks and an anti-sway bar, along with the usual ladder bars.[10] The body was a sleek wedge, designed by Ford Design Center and refined in Ford's wind tunnel,[11] which enclosing the engine (except for the blower scoop), cockpit (which had a large canopy, but was "incredibly cramped"[12]), and rear tires.[13] It was designed by Ford and tested in a wind tunnel.[14] The 150in (3,800mm)-wheelbase chassis was completed in December 1966 and bodied in California.[15]
Driven by Tom McEwen, the car debuted at the 1967 Winternats, where, in one pass, it lost its canopy.[16] Its best pass of the meet was an 8.60 at 180mph (290km/h).[17][18]
Super Mustang never exceeded mid-8s at 180mph (290km/h), when contemporary conventional fuellers were turning in low-seven second passes at 220mph (350km/h).[19]
The car's problems were never successfully solved, and after six months, it was parked.[20] Though a poor race performer, the car was popular as a show vehicle.[21]
The car was sold to Don and Joan Lyons of Dowagiac, Michigan, in 2003; they restored the car, and auctioned it off in 2009 for US$154,000.[22]
Notes
↑ Taylor, Thom. "Super Mustang", in "Beauty Beyond the Twilight Zone", p.36.
↑ Burgess, Phil, National Dragster editor. "The Super Mustang", written 27 April 2018, at NHRA.com (retrieved 16 September 2018)
↑ Burgess, Phil, National Dragster editor. "The Super Mustang", written 27 April 2018, at NHRA.com (retrieved 16 September 2018)
↑ Burgess, Phil, National Dragster editor. "The Super Mustang", written 27 April 2018, at NHRA.com (retrieved 16 September 2018)
Sources
Taylor, Thom. "Beauty Beyond the Twilight Zone" in Hot Rod, April 2017, pp.30–43.
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