Dealer Turns Up the Boost With 1,000-HP RTR Mustang

Custom build features a pair of 62-millimeter turbos, an E85 fuel system, and RTR cosmetic and suspension upgrades.

If you’re a regular visitor to this site, you’ve probably read about a dealership in Ohio called Lebanon Ford. It’s the one that offers 800-horsepower Mustangs for less than $40,000. As if that weren’t crazy enough, they’ve found a way to top that with their latest build for a special customer: a 1,000-horsepower RTR Mustang coupe.

As Lebanon Ford Performance’s Josh Hipp explains, the dealership originally came up with several possible approaches to modifying this car. The Mustang left Ford’s factory as a GT model with the 300A package and 6-speed manual. LFP thought of bolting in a supercharger, but changed its mind. Then it considered keeping the engine naturally aspirated. It decided against that and the idea of “an RTR-only aesthetics and suspension build.” Ultimately, LFP chose to use RTR cosmetic and suspension components, and hook the 5.0 up to twin turbos.

“So we have an RTR Spec 2 aesthetics package. It’s going to come with the 20-inch staggered wheels, the RTR Tactical suspension. That includes shocks, struts, sway bars, and a lowering kit, ” Hipp explains. LFP also applied RTR graphics, ground effects, and badges. To add color to the largely black car, LFP went with red brake calipers and red seats.

The engine upgrades went through several phases. According to Hipp, “We threw twin 62-millimeter turbos at it from the Hellion Sleeper kit and we started on 93 [octane] and made a cool 700 wheel horsepower at 10 PSI.” As impressive as that figure was, it wasn’t enough. LFP upped the output by beefing up the fuel system and running E85. That seemed to do the trick. Hipp says, “This car, with the RTR exhaust and only a Ford Racing X-pipe made 865 wheel horsepower. And that was only on 12 and a half PSI.” That translates to 1,000+ horsepower at the crank.

The best part? The Hellion Sleeper layout mounts the turbos under the engine, so someone just casually glancing under the hood wouldn’t be able to tell this particular Mustang is ready to absolutely annihilate unsuspecting Camaros and Challengers. No word on how much its owner spent on it, but given how affordable LFP horsepower seems to be, we suspect he got a bargain on this beast.

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Derek Shiekhi

Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.

After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.

While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.

Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.

In addition to writing for a variety of Internet Brands sites, including JK Forum, H-D Forums, The Mustang Source, Mustang Forums, LS1Tech, HondaTech, Jaguar Forums, YotaTech, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts. Derek also started There Will Be Cars on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.