Vehicle Description
Some people called it perfection, others cried blasphemy. But one
thing's for sure, when The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift lead
Sean Boswell lowered a pristine RB26 Skyline GT-R motor in to his
dad's 1967 Mustang, it made for a great story. And when it comes to
premium collector cars, appeal is directly linked to story.
FAST, FURIOUS AND ALL FORD
In reality, being a documented stunt car for The Fast and the
Furious: Tokyo Drift is only a small part of this Mustang's
appealing narrative. Its tale began back in 1967 when the car met
its first proud owner through legendary Rhode Island dealer Tasca
Ford; that's right, the place that belonged to Bob Tasca, father of
the Cobra Jet. Back then, this Mustang was a simple Burnt Amber
over Saddle commuter that made do with a 289 cubic inch Windsor V8
and 3-speed automatic transmission. Over the next 37 years, the car
would pass through the hands of many enthusiasts on a cross-country
tour that eventually ended in southern California.
A total of six 1967 and 1968 Mustangs were built for Tokyo Drift,
the third installment of Universal Studios' long-running Fast &
Furious franchise. Contrary to popular belief, the only car fitted
with a Skyline engine was the 'beauty queen' used for close-up
shots. The actual stunt cars, including the unfortunate pony
wrecked beyond repair, combined trick suspension components with
good ole fashioned American cubes! That's where this coupe comes
in. As one of the cars that was resto-modded to handle drifting
duties, it always featured a thundering V8. And today, this Ford
joins one other V8-powered stunt car and the Skyline-powered
'beauty queen' as the only three Tokyo Drift Mustangs known to
still exist.
But that's not where the car's story ends... Not by a long shot.
After filming, the Mustang was, along with the studio's other
unrestored survivors, sold to a So Cal enthusiast. And by 2011,
still unrestored, the car had made its way to a classic car dealer
in Florida. That's when this Ford's restorer entered the picture.
He didn't plan on buying a project, but used, abused, and wrapping
presentable paint around a spartan interior, this Mustang still had
undeniable charm. So, he pulled the trigger and made plans to turn
the car into a nice driver. Of course, we ALL know what happens
from here: one thing leads to another, small repairs turn in to big
projects, a hobby grows into a passion and, before long, this coupe
was treated to a 6-year, ground-up restoration. That rehab,
completed in 2017, wasn't just a run-of-the-mill build. Rather, it
was a professional job in which much of the work was conducted by
R&A Motorsports of Lee's Summit, Missouri. As astute Mustang
fans might know, R&A Motorsports is run by Jeff Yergovich, a
certified Mustang Club of America judge for both Mustangs and
Shelby Mustangs. And today, this Ford rolls as an incredible,
Roush-powered resto-mod that still retains official stunt car
branding from its appearance in the Fast & Furious franchise.
A CUSTOM BULLITT
Green has always been one of the Mustang's best colors, and it's
not hard to understand why Universal chose a green coupe as their
Tokyo Drift hero car. Naturally, this Ford still wears all its
Bullitt-inspired regalia which, post restoration, is reflected on
five coats of custom-mixed PPG Dark Moss 2-stage. At the front of
the car, a stainless-trimmed grille hangs a small Roush emblem
between modern headlights, a bright bumper and a Shelby-style
apron. At the top of that grille, a custom hood, installed for the
movie, incorporates a 1967 Shelby scoop between 1968 Shelby
louvers. At the sides of that hood, a tasteful profile hangs
traditional door handles and stylish Mustang badging over
Shelby-style stripes and functional, Shelby-spec brake ducts. At
the top of that profile, polished stainless frames date-coded glass
while factory mirrors reflect functional pillar scoops. Behind that
glass, a stainless-trimmed tail panel plants a polished fuel filler
between contoured taillights and intricate "M U S T A N G"
lettering. And at the bottom of that panel, a second bright bumper
guards a movie-fresh valance that centers untouched Shelby roof
stripes between JDM-style exhaust cuts.
ROUSH PERFORMANCE - THE NEWEST ACCOLADE
There are a lot of things to love about this Mustang. For starters,
it's one of the best years of the car, sold through a well-known
dealer. Then there's the bit about starring in a hit movie that's
part of a blockbuster franchise. There's subtle tie-ins to epic
Fords of the past. There's also the car's restoration, coordinated
by an MCA officiant. But this accolade, Roush Performance, is
perhaps the thing you'll be able to feel the most - especially when
the car's 347 cubic inches of R stroker motor pin you against the
seat! Twisting 450 dyno-proven horsepower into a heady 420 lb./ft.
of tire-killing torque, that weight-reducing mill wraps a sturdy
Dart block around a steel crank, H-beam rods, forged aluminum
pistons and a hydraulic roller cam. At the top of the surly engine,
a Roush-branded air cleaner floats a reusable filter element above
a Brawler 750 carburetor, a liquid-filled pressure gauge and
quality AN fluid lines. That carb feeds an Edelbrock Victor Jr.
intake, which is seated between lightweight aluminum heads. Those
CNC-massaged caps hide tough hydraulic roller lifters under a
polished breather, billet caps and trick Roush valve covers. Fire
is provided by an MSD Blaster 2 coil, which is connected to an MSD
distributor and loomed Roush plug wires. Cooling comes courtesy of
a big Be Cool radiator, which fronts dual SPAL puller fans and a Be
Cool expansion tank. Custom stainless headers, built by George
Kooks Jr., evacuate spent gases in to 3-inch pipes. At the front of
the block, Vintage Air Front Runner serpentine components spin
modern power steering beneath a fresh alternator and a proven
Sanden AC compressor. And the clean engine bay is lined with a
roster of well-planned details, including a deep-sump oil pan, a
spry Optima battery and a familiar Wilwood master cylinder.
PETTY DOES FORDS TOO
According to its restorer, most of the car's post-restoration miles
were racked up driving from his house to Petty's Garage for minor
suspension tuning. Far from stock, that independent front and
4-link rear suspension is a fully adjustable foundation that cages
RideTech coil-overs and a full set of tubular control arms between
front and rear sway bars. Behind the buff small block, a hydraulic
clutch kicks a Keisler-sourced Tremec TKO600 5-speed. That
transmission twists a trusty Moser 8.8-inch third member, supplied
by Legend Gear & Transmission, that's finished with Moser axles, a
limited-slip differential and big, 3.73 gears. Turns come courtesy
of modern power steering. Stops are provided by a full Wilwood
drift set-up, which cinches a quartet of calipers around drilled
and slotted rotors. Stainless exhaust, built by George Kooks Jr.,
centers polished mufflers between an X-shaped crossover and
polished tips. Power scorches the pavement through original Volk
Racing wheels, which twist 245/35ZR19 Michelin Pilot Super Sports
in front of 285/35ZR19 Michelin Pilot Super Sports. And first-rate
detailing includes stainless fluid lines and a custom Rick's
stainless fuel tank that's been signed by King Richard himself.
CLASSICALLY TAILORED
Between the doors, a crisp interior mixes custom, Ferrari
Daytona-inspired vinyl with timeless Shelby GT500 trim. Front and
center, Mach 1 Hi-Back buckets stretch French-stitched TMI covers
and requisite Simpson belts around a 1-inch lowered ride height for
the driv...for more information please contact the seller.
