Last year at the SEMA show, the Ring Brothers debuted their latest project – a '64 Ford Fairlane two-door sedan known as the Afterburner. The car would end up winning Ford's "Best of Show" award at SEMA, and every time I walked by, the Fairlane was literally swarmed with people.
So much for getting any usable photos…
So when I spotted the car at the Grand National Roadster Show sitting in the open, I figured I'd shoot a few pictures to make up for the lack of of this car in our SEMA coverage. Really though, the car's got so much work in it that a Car Spotlight can't really do it justice.
While it doesn't look too extreme from a glance, there's been no panel left untouched on this thing. For starters, the roof has had a mild chop, yet care was taken to make it look like a factory job.
Some people have said that carbon fiber is getting "played out", but builders like the Ring Brothers are always finding new ways to use the material. Check the side vents…
…and the custom molded bumpers.
Just the engine bay on this car is worthy of a whole article in itself. The motor is a Roush 427R with a wicked looking set of individual throttle bodies.
Here's a view of the interior. How often do you see a bench seat in pro-touring show stoppers like this?
The car gets its "Afterburner" name from the recessed tail lamps on the custom-built rear panel.
This hardly scratches the surface of the work done on this car. If you want to see it for yourself, it'll be touring around with some the USA's biggest hot rod shows this year.
-Mike Garrett
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
replace the steering wheel with something more conventional... and i'd totally dig one
class car man. love 2 see more
Stunning!
It's not really the style of build I like, but the craftsmanship on this is just incredible! Great job Ring Bros, you knocked me out my sneakers.
That V8 ITB set-up is simply sick... I really like the dry carbon fiber bumpers
Sick! Basically it's a modern incarnation of a Thunderbolt
The name "afterburner" could also come from that thing in the midddle of the rear
I think I spent at least a half hour looking at that car at the show...the attention to detail is amazing.
yes more american classics .. JDM is on its way outtt..its good to see you guys are CUTing edge!
Amazing craftsmanship!
~Madness!!! Is that dashboard all custom, or sourced from a contemporary car?
wow the level of work and craftsmanship is unbelievable
Whoa!! i like this car sooo much! the bumper in carbon is a work of art, i like the arm rest up front too, but that engine bay is detailed to a tee.. old school look with elements of a modern twist - Stunning!!
Oh my..The engine bay is just...WOW..22century..Wonderful car,even though I`m not a big fan of muscle..cars
Mad. love how it looks like it could be produced like that today.
The workmanship is beautiful! Definitely an awesome machine, but the side vents look really out of place?
o_0 the engine bay !!!!!! wow
this look like much work ! respect
The owner is Ken Smith who is the part of the family that owns S&S Cycle who builds some sick V -Twin motors. I met him at the GNRS while we were both waiting outside to get in before the show started. Great guy and beautiful car!