Restomod 1978 Mustang II Gets New Life with Triton V10
Dubbed the Mustang Evolution, this 1978 Mustang II has been treated to a thorough redesign and plenty of modern performance.
Forgotten Mustang
The Mustang II is, sadly, almost a forgotten part of the legendary history of the Mustang nameplate. But every once in a while, we come across a neat build that reminds us of the awesome character beneath the surface of the Mustang II. This particular pro touring build blows every other one we've seen right out of the water.
Photos: Mustang360
Distinct Character
The project started when Brett Behrens, who considers himself a Ford guy, wanted to pursue a unique build. Admittedly, he wasn't a massive fan of the Mustang II prior to taking on this project. But the quirky personality of the 1978 sports car was what caught his attention.
Potential
Despite the unusual proportions of the Mustang II, Behrens saw potential in the car. And to begin to maximize that potential, he knew he needed to bring the right people onboard. And to kick things off, he enlisted the services of an automotive illustrator to virtually imagine what the Mustang II could look like.
Perfecting the Body Work
The plan was to give the Mustang II a nice stance, with flared-out fenders, larger wheel arches, and of course, wider and bigger wheels. Additional bodywork was also designed to give the car a more aggressive look. The vented hood, the redesigned front, and rear fascia, and modifications to the interior all help achieve that goal.
Performance Upgrades
But the visual upgrades weren't the only thing on the agenda. Behrens also imagined a Triton V10, six-speed transaxle, and Corvette suspension and brakes for the build. And A-Team Racing’s Gordon Aram was the man responsible for making sure these dreams can physically be built into reality. Part of the extensive rebuild was extending the wheelbase, which gives the car a far more attractive side profile, if not better handling.
Let the Build Begin
The work began in 2012 with a Mustang II shell as a building block, and a wrecked 2008 Corvette Z06 for the parts. The frame was custom-made for this particular build. And the Corvette suspension parts were assembled onto it. That included the 6.8-liter V10. And the motor adds even more to the distinct character of Behrens' Mustang Evolution.
Turning Challenges Into Opportunities
In the end, the build has come together beautifully, and effectively reincarnated the Mustang II as an impressive pro-touring machine. Amazingly, through the journey of this project, like many of us, Behrens was faced with the challenge of financing the build. That lead him to create Specialty Car Solutions, which is a platform through which people can secure loans for builds commissioned to a select number of approved shops.
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