The number of overseas visitors Ultrace attracts shows how big this annual European event has become. But it’s not just people making the journey to Wrocław, Poland – it’s cars too.
At the recent 2024 event one international build stood out to me above all others: Chris Marechal’s Ford Mustang from the USA.
Built by Timeless Kustoms in Camarillo, California, the Vicious Mustang is actually more custom than it is Ford. In fact, the only parts from the base 1965 Mustang coupe that remain are the A-pillars and the cowling; everything else is custom or aftermarket. ‘Bonkers’ doesn’t even begin to describe this one-off creation that reputedly cost over US$1M to build.
The exterior is presented in Vicious Black – a custom color mixed by PPG – with silver and red stripes to break it up. The hood is a one-off custom carbon fiber piece that weighs just eight pounds. My favorite detail? The Ferrari F430-inspired rear diffuser.
I met Chris, who was happy to show me around his car. Although not before letting the Ultrace crowd hear how it sounds.
I’m always fascinated by how quickly people surround a car when it’s about to be fired up. In this case, though, I can totally understand it.
Under the hood is a 5.1L Ford Performance Aluminator V8 engine that produces 1,003whp and 784ft-lb of torque on E85 fuel – with just 70% throttle.
These impressive numbers are thanks to a Magnuson MP2300 TVS supercharger and twin Precision 6466 ball-bearing turbos. That’s right, this thing is compound-boosted.
The turbos – hidden inside the front fenders – override the supercharger through piping that runs into the air-to-air intercoolers up front and then back under the car into the supercharger. Since the hood is equipped with a duct, once the air passes through the front-mounted intercooler and radiator setup, it creates some downforce to improve the Mustang’s handling.
Backing up the Aluminator engine is an EMCO CG46 sequential 6-speed transmission with a custom Centerforce DYAD clutch, running out to a Strange Engineering 9.75-inch aluminum rear end.
You might think the two holes beside the headlights are there to feed the turbos with air. In fact, they are cooling ducts for the front brakes, which consist of Brembo 6-piston calipers and 15.5-inch carbon-ceramic rotors. Brembo 4-pot calipers feature at the rear.
The wheels are center-lock Forgeline CF3C-SLs – 19×11-inch at the front and 19×13-inch out back, with 305/30ZR19 and 355/30ZR19 tires respectively. Despite the large front wheel and tire combo, the Mustang has no problem turning from lock to lock.
The suspension consists of Ridetech triple-adjustable coilovers with the front end benefitting from a complete Art Morrison C7 Corvette frame clip. At the rear, the Mustang sports a multi-link independent rear suspension arrangement also manufactured by Art Morrison.
The red detailing seen in the engine bay, around the bodywork, and on the Brembo calipers tie right into the custom cabin.
The all-red interior is function-focused but finished with an exacting attention to detail. Nestled within a 14-point roll cage, custom-trimmed Sparco Pro 2000 seats are paired with Crow Safety Gear 5-point harnesses. Everything you need to switch on or off and look at is right in front of you and under the MoTeC C127 color display. A Vintage Air heat/defrost system and DJ Safety fire suppression system elevate the spec further.
A custom fuel cell takes up most of the trunk space, but there is still room for the fuel supply system and Viair air tank and compressor for the paddle shifter actuation.
To those that live in the US, this car is old news. VSTANG been around the scene for a few years now – not that you’d know by looking at it – and has attended the SEMA Show no less than three times. For us Europeans, however, seeing something of this caliber is a very special treat.
Ultrace always brings out the best; it’s just a shame that we all need to wait a full year for the next event.
Alen Haseta
Instagram: hazetaa
Chris Marechal’s Vicious Stang
Engine: Ford Performance 5.2L Aluminator V8, 2x Precision 6466 ball-bearing turbochargers, Magnuson MP2300 TVS supercharger, GT350 CNC-ported heads, custom Darton Mid 3.700 Big Bore Sleeve Kit, Ford Performance Coyote Boss 302 forged crankshaft, Comp Cams custom Voodoo Head camshafts with MMR billet cam Adjusters & guides, Manley Performance custom 2618 pistons, Manley Performance Pro Series I-Beam 300M connecting rods, Manley valve springs, custom MMR titanium retainers, ARP main/head studs, Cometic head & exhaust Gaskets, Aviaid 4-stage dry sump with billet oil pan, XRP oil lines, fuel lines & fittings, custom exhaust by Timeless Kustoms with MagnaFlow components, custom stainless steel long-tube headers by Timeless Kustoms with MagnaFlow components and DEI heat wrap, 2x custom Fluidyne intercoolers, custom Fluidyne radiator, 2x Aeromotive Eliminator Stealth in-tank fuel pumps, Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator, MoTeC ECU & data acquisition system with GCU, trunk-mounted Optima battery
Drivetrain: EMCO CG46 sequential 6-speed gearbox with paddle shifters, custom Centerforce DYAD clutch, Strange Engineering independent 9.75 aluminum rear end
Suspension & Brakes: Ridetech triple-adjustable coilovers, front: C7 Corvette clip manufactured by Art Morrison Enterprises, rear: multi-link independent rear suspension (IRS) manufactured by Art Morrison Enterprises, Brembo 15.5-inch carbon-ceramic rotors, Brembo 6-piston front calipers, Brembo 4-piston rear calipers
Wheels & Tires: Forgeline GT3C center-lock 19×11-inch front & 19×13-inch rear wheels, Kumho Ecsta V720 305/30ZR19 front & 355/30ZR19 rear tires
Exterior: Dynacorn body panel shells, mini tubs with 2-inch custom fender flares by Timeless Kustoms, Ringbrothers billet hood hinges, Ferrari F430-inspired rear diffuser by Timeless Kustoms
Interior: Sparco Pro 2000 seats, Crow harnesses, DJ Safety fire suppression system, MoTeC C127 dash, Vintage Air air conditioning
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
O.k. let's do muscle car history. The Corvette came out in 1953. The split window came out in 1963. The girlie Mustang came out in 64 and it was a girlie car. Ford had some of the ugliest cars ever made in the early 60's! Falcon. Fairlane. Comet. Barf mobiles.
So someone decided to try and toughen up the Mustang. They came out with the GT350 fastback. Yawn...Chevy came out with the 427 and 454 big block in 67. Mustang counters with the 427 CjJ and the 429. Mopar, Pontiac, even AMC had big blocks.
The Corvette is TRULY the 1st muscle car. Chevys looked better than Fords anyway! I had a 66 Chevelle. I hate Ford. Always have. Always will. Fix Or Repair Daily. FORD.
go chew on a swisher and jerk off to the news
dude woke up and forgot to take his blood pressure meds :')
The corvette is a sports car. The mustang is a “pony” car like the Camaro. You could probably get away with calling the mustang or Camaro muscle cars but the corvette was never intended to be a muscle car. The corvette was created to compete against the European sports cars of that era.
I STILL don't know what a pony car is! WTH is a pony car? Sounds stupid. Madeup word that means nothing. Late 50's early 60's people were drag racing them. Neighbor had a 396 tunnel ram with L60s and 4" Moroso drag tires on it. That thing was nasty!
It usually refers to smaller unibody cars with small block v8s. Something that could compete against sports cars or on a drag strip with a few modifications. It’s a pretty common term.
You never replied when asked to show the stuff you’ve built after saying “you don’t want to dig that hole deeper.”
Please show what you have built.
I won’t post customers cars but here are a couple of mine that are in my shop right now
That’s what you’re bragging about? I hope you machine all those blocks and make your own valves because for the level of crap you’ve been talking that isn’t even on the level of you’re just swapping and putting legos together.
Ahahahajahahhahaha this is rich. Love it. Please elaborate. So you don’t even compete with your machines your just a customer building shop? Wow. Hahahahahhahahahahaha
lol, good try but building real cars isn’t like building your gokart. You should probably get back in your lane and let this one go.
Not sure if these are working but I’ve tried posting a couple
You’re scared to race for money I get it Nate. It’s ok.
In my early 20s I built a lot of Porsche race cars at a shop I worked at. We mostly did 914, 993, 996, and 997. Boss did most of the engines and I did tear down / cleaning / prep / and final assembly with him. Brakes, suspension, blah blah blah. Cars are fun but it's really no different than a kart if you're talking about machining blocks, fitting pistons and rings. Timing can be tricky on a flat engine but it's not like this stuff is rocket science and it's not like what you're showing me is something to ooh and ahh about.
Do you actually build the engines yourself? Do you actually go racing? What you just posted is no different than any typical garage where I live. I do my own engines and chassis assembly with the karts and a Formula Atlantic car with a guy who dominated the series running out of his mothers garage against some of the biggest names in the world like Villeneuve. Now that is impressive.
Not your run of the mil BS LS swaps and VW builds. lmao. Ur a joke bro.
gross
This has those "old man yelling at nobody about nothing they asked about" vibes...
Brian.
Nope. Just a history lesson. Cause most people don't read and aren't smart.
Love when folks poo on other's whoo by whipping out their "big" old ding dongs and proving they are fans of brands rather than of cars...
At least I have a big one unlike the 1/2" you were born with! You ever notice that people love to get on the internet and just HAVE to say something negative because they're miserable aholes? Me either! And did I mention I worked in IT 16 years in DC and I write comedy and I worked at Langley.(C.I.A.) headquarters and I'm from New Jersey and don't give a rat's ass? I just did!
... Cool? Weird flex, but ok.... I'm just saying rabid fandom doesn't equate to being correct. It just generally leads to boring cars and nationalism. My dad had a '76 Capri that walked all over malaise era GMs until guys figured out dealerships in Southern California would take off the emissions garbage for a little extra cash, so he swapped in 331 stroker after hearing about Perana form SA (another great writeup from a few years ago on that). Met my mom who drove a baby blue mach 1 with a stroked Blueprint Cleveland. I've never own a Ford, tinkered with some Hondas, blew up an underbuilt and over boosted Audi or two, and am negotiating a 996 rn (finally getting to my dream car). Maybe shake it up some time, you might be surprised when you get behind the wheel of a car that's easy to crap on (hell, a Miata is the poster child of that). And maybe I don't have ANYTHING swinging down there, but I've always said I'd take a 1/2" grower over a quick draw shower!
Great write up. There's a youtube channel called AutotopiaLA that does a walk around and discusses the ins and outs of it with the owner and builder.
Also, Ford had beautiful cars in the 60s and the mustang is most definitely up there in looks. To each their own I guess.
I checked it out and this build is wilder than I previously thought. Thanks for the tip!
Oh I remember seeing this on Instagram I've been following this car for a while now
Never thought I'll see this build on Speedhunters great way to display the craft and workmanship
I love seeing builds like this, showing amazing crafstmanship. But imho, that usually doesn't go hand in hand with good taste (subjective, I know).
Wheels can make or break a build. In this case, again, imho, the broke it.
And... SO MUCH red in interior also broke it. It's ok to play with colors inside, textures... Be more like Singer, less like Vicious
Cool car and great photos and write-up.
I roll my eyes when somebody says "I'm a Chevy guy" or a "BMW guy, or whatever marque they like.
Brand loyalty is the antithesis of hot rodding / tuning. For example, my car has a lightweight Ford body and 9" rearend, Chrysler Hemi engine, and GM overdrive transmission. All chosen because they performed better than other brands' offerings.
BTW, the term pony car basically covers sporty American cars (Mustang, Camaro, Challenger, Javelin) that could handle in the turns as well as straight line drag racing. Competition versions were limited to 302 CID (5.0 L) and competed in the Trans Am series on road courses in the mid-'60's -mid '70's.
Cheers'
Gary
Gary,
Good points but if people are "brand loyal" so be it! When did that become illegal?! I'm a German car guy. Period! And gonna stay that way. If people are loyal to a brand or type why should we get upset? Doesn't bother me in the least bit! Find that weird...
David, I'm not upset and didn't mean for anyone else to be. In fact, I encourage and applaud your enthusiasm.
The point I'm trying to make is that by artificially constraining yourself to one marque or nationality, you're missing out on other- possibly better- options.
For example, the L-88 427 Corvette, MX-5, Dodge Viper, Ferrari F40 and Toyota AE86 are each wonderful machines, none of which originated in Germany.
BTW, I've been working in DC and Arlington since 2000.
cheers
Gary
Die hard brand loyalty is an instant red flag -- usually indicates someone who isn't too bright and has been sucked in by advertising claims or campaigns. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE!
Actually there is. There are a lot of substitutes. Faster, more comfortable, better looking, cheaper. Take your pick. All car manufacturers make some great cars and all car manufacturers make some atrocious machines. Anyone who thinks otherwise isn't living in reality and probably will vote for Joe Biden a 2nd time under the guise he is a genius.
Brand loyalty is ALWAYS a red flag and a sign of a person who isnt well rounded about cars. This why I avoid pretty much all car meets and "the community" at large. Sheep mentality -- not people who are interested in what is possible and exploring physics, going racing, etc.
Gary
No offense taken! Yeah I kbow about all those cars. Don't like JDM stuff. Seems like kiddie stuff. When I lived in Maryland a woman sold an F50 for $1.5million. Her husband died and she sold it for him. And Sugar Ray Leonard lived 3 miles from me. He had alot of cars. Never liked the Viper.
You lived by Sugar Ray Leonard!? Wtf!? That is amazing!
Checkout AutopiaLA on youtube there is a few videos of this on there
Looks awesome, congrats! Too much red inside for my tastes.