Martini Meets Mustang: The T-5r

There could not be a harder task than choosing a single favorite car at SEMA. I’m sure each one of the thousands of people that came through the show doors this week all have a different idea of what the “best is”, but I think I’ve made my pick. It’s the T-5R Martini Mustang from Pure Vision Design.

A ’66 Mustang Fastback may not be be a bold choice in terms of platform, but once you see this thing I think you’ll know why it’s at the top of my list. Known as the T-5R, the car takes the motorsport heritage of the early Mustangs and creates something at a completely different level altogether.

The idea here was to create a car from an alternate universe in which Ford truly went wild with its Mustang racing program in the mid 1960s. It comes from a “what if” scenario where Ford campaigned the Mustang in Europe with the help of Martini. The Martini Racing livery is of course heavily associated with Porsche, but how does it look on an early Mustang? Absolutely fantastic if you ask me.

But it’s not just the livery that gives the car its hyped up 1960s feel. All around, the Mustang is filled with elements of vintage rallying, endurance racing, and open wheelers. Check out the custom-built Evod Industries wheels for example. The four spoke, single nut design clearly brings to mind images of Formula 1 and Indy cars from the ’60s.

The interior is absolutely stunning. It all looks period correct for a race car, but it’s somehow amplified with an incredible eye for the details and a big focus on aesthetics. Notice the simple analog gauges, dark blue low back bucket seats, and the Momo Prototipo steering wheel – which is another homage to Porsche.

But all the stuff that I just mentioned only serves to compliment the car’s engine setup. When I first peeked under the hood, I wasn’t quite sure what I was looking at. After all, an aluminum Ford Indy V8 is not something we expect to see in anything but an Indy Car. The 300 cubic inch quad cam race motor is mated to a NASCAR four-speed transmission and is right inline with the car’s weight saving philosophy . I don’t think I’ve seen an another engine swap that is so unexpected, yet so fitting.

So there you have it. My personal favorite of SEMA 2012.

What say you?

-Mike

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1

damn, guys, the fact is that this livery would fit perfectly almost everywhere! and let me tell that for many people, martini is more lancia than porsche... ;-)

2

According to Hot Rod, the engine in this car is from the Indy cars from around the same era (1965), since they mention it's the same engine used in the Lotus 38 that was driven by Jim Clark. However, in that car, the exhaust headers are mounted in the vee of the engine, in this Mustang, they seem to be in the usual location. Did they just swap the heads between banks so that the exhaust ports were facing down instead of up, or is there a lot more involved in this engine? That's gotta be the straightest intake path I've ever seen! It was 500HP in the Lotus, I'd imagine this should have more with the extra displacement.

3

Just watching a video of the Lotus 38 to get an idea of what this car sounds like and realized that the wheels on this car are definitely inspired by the wheels on the Lotus. 
 
The Lotus 38 was the first mid engine racer to win the Indy 500, and did so in '65.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZxPP9DvxJU

4

whats up with the rear windscreen? is it bent in at the top?

5

whats up with the rear windscreen? is it bent in at the top?

6

Love this build.  Thanks for showcasing something other than the FR-S/BRZ.  (dont get me wrong, sick car, but it's taking more than the lions share of the attention lately)    Any chance of getting some desktops of this?

7

Love this build.  Thanks for showcasing something other than the FR-S/BRZ.  (dont get me wrong, sick car, but it's taking more than the lions share of the attention lately)    Any chance of getting some desktops of this?

Author8

@SVT_Bryan I'll try to add some as soon as I have a spare moment :)

Author9

@SVT_Bryan I'll try to add some as soon as I have a spare moment :)

10

sweet build, would love to hear this thing!

11

sweet build, would love to hear this thing!

12

I really like this. I am not a big muscle fan but this is right up my alley... Old school sub-zero cool stuff right here. Good choice Mike, and like SVT_Bryan says thanks for not choosing an FR-S/BRZ/86... Desktops would be great!

13

I really like this. I am not a big muscle fan but this is right up my alley... Old school sub-zero cool stuff right here. Good choice Mike, and like SVT_Bryan says thanks for not choosing an FR-S/BRZ/86... Desktops would be great!

14

The Martini and the Gulf liveries look good on any cars...<3

15

The Martini and the Gulf liveries look good on any cars...<3

16
Roberto_Roy_Londero

"The Martini Racing livery is of course heavily associated with Porsche"...wait, I think that first of all we can associate Martini Racing to Lancia: 037, Delta, Delta S4...

17
Roberto_Roy_Londero

"The Martini Racing livery is of course heavily associated with Porsche"...wait, I think that first of all we can associate Martini Racing to Lancia: 037, Delta, Delta S4...

18
Roberto_Roy_Londero

"The Martini Racing livery is of course heavily associated with Porsche"...wait, I think that first of all we can associate Martini Racing to Lancia: 037, Delta, Delta S4...

19

What's the story behind the name T-5R here? Being a Volvo guy it makes me think of the 90's Volvo 850 T-5R.

21

@KristianTjessem The Mustang was sold as a the T5 in Europe because a German company, I believe made bicycles or motorcycles had already copyrighted the name Mustang in Germany, the R is probably for the racing version.

22

@Slackinfux Yes, the heads were designed to be flipped around for a different exhaust path when necessary for different chassis.

23

@Roberto_Roy_Londero Just because it is also associated with Lancia doesn't take from its association with Porsche. Stop being so pedantic.

24
Roberto_Roy_Londero

@TomHoward When I think about Martini Racing, the first thing that comes in my mind is the Lancia Delta. That's what I'm saying. If you think it's Porsche it's ok, but I think that a blog like this with the passion for cars can't forget those rally legends.
There's a comment section in every blog so we can say what we think, not just to say "wow you guys are cool, great photos, great this, great that, ..."
But again, I just expressed my opinion, I'm not hating on Speedhunters, neither Mike.
 
Hope I explained myself. My english sucks.

25

I'm not to excited about those wheels. But the motor got my blood pumping. Is there any video of this monster anywhere?

26

@Roberto_Roy_Londero @TomHoward I get. Exactly whaty you are saying Roberto!! The whole reason I clicked on this is because when I read "Martini Mustang" I immediately thought of the Lancia Rally cars & thought that they had made a Rally version of the Mustang. This car is not what I expected... but im not disappointed either!

27

@ComJive It's a factory works plexi rear window from the GT350R and bent like that because it's actually open at the top leading edge to vent positive pressure. It's cool but weird looking!
j!

28

awesome!!

29

Too cool. I want one! But I agree about those wheels – a set of American Racing Torq Thrusts would do just fine.

30

A Gulf livery would be more true to Ford's European racing history, but with that engine they could put a Hello Kitty livery on it and I'd still want one.

Author31

@freeskier7791 @KristianTjessem That's correct!

Author32

@freeskier7791 @KristianTjessem That's correct!

Author33

@Dusty Monkey Ah yes, should have mentioned Lancia as well but for me personally "Martini" first brings to mind 917s, RSRs, and 935s. Heck Porsche is even running the colors on its 918 Spyder prototype.

Author34

@Dusty Monkey Ah yes, should have mentioned Lancia as well but for me personally "Martini" first brings to mind 917s, RSRs, and 935s. Heck Porsche is even running the colors on its 918 Spyder prototype.

35

Mike Garret, you are the master. Congratulations for the photos ... I'm your fan!

36

Very, very nice. I just don't understand the choice of livery...

37

<3

38

Desktopssssssssssss!

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