Big Turbo S550 Mustang Rips the Strip
Wicked 5.0 Turbo S550 Runs 8s With Independent Rear Suspension
When you’ve got a big turbo and you put it on a great platform like the S550, you’re ready for some quick times at the quarter mile. This car, fitted with Mickey Thompson Big n’ Littles, looks the absolute business. And it performs just as well as it looks.
When you’re putting that much power to the ground, you’re bound to find a few weak points in the power delivery system. But that doesn’t seem to be the case with this car’s independent rear suspension setup. For years, the Mustang was believed to be superior for drag racing with a stick axle. Even when the Cobra had IRS, many racers swapped that system for a standard GT’s live axle. Whether Ford planned for the S550’s IRS to handle this much power, or whether they have just been lucky up until now, it’s held up.
This drag pass, filmed at Maryland International Raceway, is impressive in a car that still looks relatively stock from the outside. Running an 8.41-second time with a trap speed of more than 160 miles per hour is impressive no matter what. The fact that it was done in a car that weighs some 3,700 pounds out of the box just makes me appreciate the speed all the more.
The sound of the turbo spooling at the staging lanes is simply intoxicating. It portends the domination the car is about to lay down. The best part is when the ‘Stang spins up the turbos, just before that front-end-lifting launch. And seeing the timing lights light up with an ultra-quick time probably gets the owner’s heart beating just as hard.
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