1991 Fox Mustang Fresh Off the 7th Street Strip

Eric Dreamed a Dream

Last month we featured several Mustangs of the LA Auto Show. One of them really stood out to us and we thought it would be nice to do a spotlight piece on it. So here it is, the 1991 Mustang GT owned by enthusiast Eric Armstrong. Eric was kind enough to share his story with us and provide some really cool photographs of his Mustang.

When he was 18, Eric moved from his hometown of Bloomfield, New Mexico to San Francisco, California to attend a design college. As a kid, he had always been infatuated with the Ford Mustang and had a great appreciation for the car's rich heritage and Americana history. He had always dreamed of buying a Mustang as a project car and restoring it. 

>Join the conversation about this 1991 Fox Body right here in the Mustang Source Forum.

The Dream Becomes Reality

A few months after moving away from home, Eric found this '91 GT and picked it up as his first project. "I bought it from the third owner, who told me that the first or second owner had auto-crossed the car," Eric told us. "It sat for a long time before the third owner had purchased it." In the hands of its third owner, the car was street raced on Oakland’s infamous 7th Street "strip". Needless to say, by the time the keys made it into Eric's hands, the car was pretty tired. 

>Join the conversation about this 1991 Fox Body right here in the Mustang Source Forum.

Reality can be daunting

"There were a lot of small parts that were worn out and needed replacing," Eric told us while reflecting on the condition of the GT when he first took possession of it. "And the paint was a dull, satin-red, but the car was straight and (mostly) mechanically intact." As the first "stage" of the build, Eric wanted to focus on getting the car cleaned up. This included hundreds of hours of detailing to bring the paint back to life, as well as replacing the old, worn, titanium grey carpet and the cracking factory leather seats with racing buckets. 

>Join the conversation about this 1991 Fox Body right here in the Mustang Source Forum.

Out with the old, in with the new

"Next, I wanted to get the car running and driving reliably," Eric tells us of his process, which included an extensive list of replacements including the clutch, a whole new rear end, water pump, timing cover, injector o-rings, fuel pressure regulator, upper intake manifold, brake rotors and pads, and other miscellaneous gaskets, seals, and sensors. "The car is currently in the modification stage, and I have slowly been adding small modifications to the car to make it stand out on the road and perform better."

>Join the conversation about this 1991 Fox Body right here in the Mustang Source Forum.

Daring to be different

As a designer, Eric made it his goal from the very beginning to build something that is well-considered, unique, and clean. He wanted to stress the details and add subtle personal touches to the car and make it different than the other Fox Bodies on the road. "While I feel this has been accomplished, it is to strive to be different and my inner adrenaline junkie that continue to fuel the build."

Future plans for the car include a full rebuild with added performance and further brake and suspension modifications to suit the car for autocross and time-attack style racing events.

>Join the conversation about this 1991 Fox Body right here in the Mustang Source Forum.

Eric's Long List of Mods

Engine / Exhaust:

• 5.0L 302C.I. V8
• 1.7 ratio roller rockers
• 24lb injectors
• Accufab 75mm throttle body
• Cold air intake
• Centerforce Dual Friction clutch
• Fidanza lightweight aluminum flywheel
• BBK equal length ceramic coated shorty headers
• BBK offroad H pipe
• Custom stainless catback, Borla XR1 Race Mufflers dumped at axle
• Ford 8.8 rear end, limited slip differential w/ 3.55 gears
• Moser street axles, ARP extended studs

 Brakes / Wheels / Suspension:

• 5lug swap
• 18x8.5, 18x10 Saleen SC Motorsport replicas
• Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires
• Custom EA spoke decals
• SVE Cobra disc brakes, 13" front, 11.65" rear
• Baer brake proportioning valve
• Maximum Motorsports Steel-braided brake lines
• Maximum Motorsports dumpster kit
• Subframe connectors
• Maer racing strut tower brace
• K-Member brace
• Caster / Camber plates
• Lowering springs
• KYB shocks and struts
• Tubular rear upper and lower control arms

Exterior:

• Ultraclear headlights
• 1979 Mercury Capri tail lights
• Saleen wing
• 1993 Cobra R antenna delete plate
• Custom-made EA fog light delete plates
• 2015 Mustang 5.0 Badges

Interior:

• Black carpet, headliner, arm rests and rear quarter panels
• Corbeau FX1 Pro microsuede driver’s seat
• SVE S1 passengers seat
• Hurst short throw shifter