From the “Never Too Late” Category: The Top 5 Mustangs of SEMA
by Patrick Rall
We’re not going to lie to you: SEMA happened. And it happened a while ago. But just cause a car show goes by more than a month ago, it doesn’t mean the cars stop being awesome, does it? Heck no! It is in that spirit of awesome that we felt compelled to share our list of Top 5 Mustangs at the all-industry SEMA show.
The Ford Mustang is very easily among the most widely featured models in and around the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, but we sorted through the masses (it took us a while, whatever) and have picked out five special Stangs that proved to be show-stoppers in their own right. Just click on the image to make it big n’ pretty.
The Ring Brothers 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback – while the modern Mustangs are one of the most popular show vehicles at SEMA, Royal Purple and the customization experts from the Ring Brothers brought out this incredible 1965 Mustang Fastback with the help of superstar wrestled and vintage car collector Bill Goldberg. This gorgeous ’65 Mustang was modified in literally every way, including widening the body by four inches and installing the ultra high performance V8 under the hood cranking out 740 horsepower.
The 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca – Featured in the Diablosport display, this 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca edition was the only track-purposed Boss in attendance at the 2011 SEMA Show. Packing a handful of go-fast goodies including a Nitrous Express system and a Diablosport tuning system, the best-handling Mustang in the history of the fabled performance car proved to be a popular attraction for show goers.
The 2012 Ford Mustang TKO V6 from MRT – MRT Performance took a different route from what most Mustang-builders did for the 2011 SEMA Show, beginning their build with the 3.7L V6 rather than the popular 5.0L V8. The new V6 engine in the 2012 Mustang is the most powerful base model engine ever offered in the Mustang, but MRT took it a step further, piling on a Procharger supercharger system, MRT high flow exhaust and a variety of other performance enhancing modifications to push the power past the 400hp mark. Like any good SEMA car, MRT then added a body kit with their own heat-extracting hood, high performance brakes, new wheels and tires and a flashy paint job to make for one great looking – and very fast – “base model” Mustang.
The 2012 Ford Mustang GT “Boy Racer” by Creations N Chrome – There are lots of cars at the SEMA Show that made people stop and say “wow” – but few did it as well as this incredible red-chrome 2012 Mustang GT offered by Creations N Chrome. The red mirrored finish is truly remarkable in person, with contrasting carbon fiber trim on the trunk, roof and hood making for a great looking Mustang GT. Under the hood, the 5.0L V8 has been equipped with the intake manifold from the new Boss 302, a Vortech supercharger, a Nitrous Express plate system and intercooler sprayer and Mishimoto cooling goodies – all of which combine to increase the output of this red chrome Mustang GT to over 700 horsepower. With power like that and such a remarkable exterior design, Creations N Chrome’s 2012 Mustang GT was easily one of the hottest Mustangs at this year’s SEMA Show.
The 2012 Ford Mustang GT modified by the Petty Garage – Richard Petty’s modification division known as the Petty Garage has previously offered a handful of high performance Dodge Challengers, but with Petty’s NASCAR move to Ford, The King’s custom car division turned their attention to the 2012 Mustang GT. The Petty Garage adds a handful of items from the Ford Racing catalog including the front fascia and the supercharger that helps churn out 624 horsepower, along with unique striping, badging and a Petty Blue paint scheme with black, red and white trim. These limited edition muscle cars look great and run great. But with very limited build numbers and a high price tag, this isn’t a model that you should expect to see at your local racing spot anytime soon. However, it is still one amazing Mustang.