Building The Martini Mustang

One Saturday morning, I was on my laptop drinking my usual coffee surfing the net when I came across a Petrolicious video of an incredible 1966 Mustang. The video was narrated by Steve Strope.

- David Thibodeau

Steve is the creator and owner of Pure Vision Design which is a custom car shop in Simi Valley California. Steve is responsible for churning out some seriously “Bitchin” cars as he would tell you himself! Cars that have graced many movies in particular the “Fast and Furious” franchise of movies. What makes this car so special? It is a powered by a circa 1960’s Ford Indy motor. Yes folks, you heard that right. This Mustang has an engine in it that was solely proprietarily meant for an Indy car! The car has Indy and rally themes all wrapped up in one of the most infamous liveries. Steve’s “what if ” vision with this car is Ford decided to go rally racing back in 1966 and decided to pull out the old 289 V-8 and install the already successful Indy 4 CAM motor coupled with Martini as a sponsor and what do you have? THE MARTINI MUSTANG.

THE BUILD:

The video was the catalyst that sent my brain into build mode and how I could accomplish it in 1/24 scale. I procured a Revell 1966 Shelby Hertz GT-350 kit as my basis for the build. Then I contacted Jim Littiken at Micro Nitro to create the distinctive Indy Magnesium wheels that are a center point on the car and had to be right. Jim delivered with flying colors not only a set of finely machined wheels, but also a really nice set of brake rotors as well! Next up was the decals needed to create the Martini Livery. My good friend Mate Mayer owner of Gravity Colors USA, which is the paint of choice, created the main hood, roof, and trunk stripes along with the side rocker stripes as well. Clay Kemp made me the “T5R” logos for the trunk. The rest of the build went as follows.

ENGINE: