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When Kyle Tucker started building custom first-generation F-body parts in his home garage, he didnโt expect to help revolutionize vintage muscle car performance in the process. Working as a suspension engineer for GMโs Corvette development program in 1990s, Tucker brought the knowledge from his mechanical engineering degree and his experience with modern sports car chassis to the 1969 Camaro project he was putting together. The result was the best of both worlds, combining old school style with new school capability, and it helped form the pro touring trend that took shape in the early 2000s.
Today, Detroit Speed and Engineering components underpin some of the most capable restomod builds around. DSE-equipped machines are often found at the top of the leaderboard in series like Optimaโs Search for the Ultimate Street Car and the events at LS Fest, and the company has won SEMAโs Battle of the Builders competition on two separate occasions. โOur goal is to produce the nicest modern suspension components that you can buy for these cars,โ says Matt Butts of Detroit Speed. โThe philosophy here is basically that if a part weโre developing isnโt the best on the market, weโre not going to make it.โ
Given that, it comes as little surprise that when business mogul and car collector Chris Tawil wanted a 1966 Mustang fastback built, he knew that Detroit Speed was the right outfit for the task. โA while back Chris purchased a previous customer build that we had done, a โ69 Camaro that was originally built for Michael Manning of American Autowire,โ Butts explains. โHe owned that car for a few years โ he really liked the style of it and was impressed by the car overall, so he reached out to us about doing a build that was specifically for him.โ
The idea was to create a fastback Mustang that would able to seriously perform, but it also had to remain very streetable and not deviate too far from the carโs original iconic look. Butts says that Detroit Speedโs own โ66 Mustang test car had served as Tawilโs inspiration for the build, but after an on-track incident, the shop car was on an indefinite hiatus. โWe tore it up pretty badly at an autocross, but Chris really liked that car. So he basically purchased it as a parts car, and we built him a new version starting with a different bare shell. It still has a lot of similar characteristics to the shop car, but itโs refined to a much higher degree.โ
Tawil explained that he didnโt want to go overboard on the exterior mods, so Detroit Speed took a calculated approach to the aesthetic, applying subtle fender flares, flush-mounted the glass, and tucked in the bumpers to tidy things up. As youโd expect, Detroit Speedโs Aluma-Frame front suspension system replaces the stock components and a DSE Quadralink system is installed in the back, and DSE subframe connectors have also been installed to improve the Mustangโs structural rigidity. The fastbackโs hunkered down stance comes courtesy of JRI double-adjustable coilovers and DSE mini tubs, the latter of which make room for the wide Forgeline three-piece wheels. Baer brakes with six-piston calipers and 14-inch discs are installed at all four corners to provide modern stopping power.
Under the hood is a 5.0-liter Coyote V8 built by Roush Yates Engines. Outfitted with custom ground cams, a GT350 intake manifold, a Holley Dominator EFI system, DSE stainless Coyote swap headers, and a custom three-inch exhaust system with Hooker VR304 mufflers, the naturally aspirated mill puts out a healthy 530 horsepower at the wheels. The power is channeled through a Bowler T-56 Magnum gearbox to a Dynotech driveshaft with a billet Sonnax yoke, and it makes its way to the pavement through a Gear FX Ford 9-inch rear end with a TrueTrac 31-spline differential and a 4.56 ring and pinion. DSEโs C6-style full floater hubs and axles are also equipped to handle the additional grunt.
As with the exterior, a number of subtle tweaks have been applied to the Mustangโs cabin to refine its look rather than reinventing it. โThe whole interior is custom, but it also looks like it could have been there from the factory,โ says Butts. โItโs got Cobra front seats that have been upholstered in the same stitch and insert pattern as the original Mustang seats, and the door panels also have a factory appearance to them, but theyโve been reshaped to better integrate the arm rests and give them a sleeker appearance overall.โ The car also retains its factory folding rear seat, which has been narrowed to accommodate the mini tubs. Mark Mcdonald and Josh Smith handled the fabrication work on the Mustang, while Michael Neighbors and Austin Moore wrapped up the bodywork before laying down the PPG Wimbledon White paint. Jason Eads completed the electrical and tuning work on the car, incorporating items like the hand-made headlight bezels with integrated turn signals and the custom LED taillights with billet bezels seamlessly, among other details that require a trained eye to pick out.
Detroit Speed is putting the finishing touches on the Mustang at the time of this writing and then itโs off to Los Angeles to join Tawilโs car collection, which includes a Ferrari Enzo, a Pagani Huayra roadster, and a drag-tuned Lamborghini Huracรกn among other exotic hardware. And in the interest of bringing more muscle into the garage, Detroit Speed and Tawil already have another project lined up after the fastback. โWeโre also doing a Mopar for Chris,โ Butts tells us. โWe started with a โ70 Charger, and essentially what weโre building is a modern representation of a Daytona. Itโs a widebody with a full carbon fiber front clip, a one-piece carbon wing thatโs integrated into the body, and itโs powered by a thousand horsepower Hellaphant crate engine. Itโs pretty wild โ the entire car has been modeled in CAD by Gary Ragle and most of the body proportions have been altered from stock to give it the appearance weโre looking for.โ
Given the scope of the Daytona build, the expected completion date for the Dodge is a bit of a moving target right now. But thatโs just fine with everyone involved. โItโs such an extensive build, and we want to make sure we do it right,โ Butts says. โAnd that means sweating every detail. This isnโt something that you want to rush out the door.โ