In lower than three weeks, we’ll be again in Las Vegas for the 2024 version of the annual SEMA Present.
Whereas SEMA is an automotive aftermarket commerce present at its coronary heart, it’s additionally one of many world’s largest phases for customized and modified automobile debuts. From the weird to the really beautiful, we’re assured to see all of it. Ten years in the past in Vegas, Dino featured arguably the best brand-new sixth-gen Ford Mustang on the present – Vaughn Gittin Jr.‘s Spec 5 Mustang RTR. Let’s revisit that story for this week’s throwback put up.
2014 Function
For those who noticed my put up on the 2015 Spec 2 Mustang RTR, there’s one query you may need been left asking your self: What in case you wished extra? The Spec 2 is an superior and highly-capable avenue automobile in its personal proper, however simply think about what you may find yourself with in case you upped it a couple of notches… Nicely, you don’t truly need to think about, as a result of Vaughn Gittin Jr. didn’t waste any time placing that automobile collectively both. Then he spent every week thrashing it exterior the Las Vegas Conference Heart in the course of the 2014 SEMA Present…
Seeing as how the new 2015 Mustang created such a buzz all through the present this yr, we simply needed to borrow the ‘Spec 5 Mustang RTR’ – our favorite palms down – and immortalise it in opposition to an unmistakably-Vegas backdrop. Coming from Japan, the place transferring a automobile from a present would require you to fax (sure, fax!) numerous requests to the occasion organizers months prematurely, and have them countersigned and authorised by at the very least 25 individuals, I’m at all times impressed by how straightforward it’s to do issues like this in america.
Larry acquired on the cellphone to Vaughn and advised him to drive the automobile out of the Las Vegas C0nvention Heart, throughout the again streets, after which meet us up on the highest flooring of a large parking construction. Quick ahead 10 minutes and that is the view that greeted us.
You have most likely gathered that I’m fairly a fan of this new ‘Stang. Ford has managed to create a design with bucketfuls of presence, and one that enables just about anybody with a distant curiosity in vehicles to immediately know what it’s. However within the house of some months, Vaughn and his crew have taken the base automobile and pumped it filled with steroids to create the drift machine you see right here.
The automobile was in-built a collaboration between Vaughn’s RTR model, MA-Motorsports and ASD Motorsports, and was put collectively with the objective of getting enjoyable. That mentioned, it not solely needed to look robust, but additionally have all the power required to carry out each as a grip and drift, a fully-fledged observe weapon if you’ll.
On high of the enjoyment that Vaughn had creating this automobile – after which driving the hell out of it at SEMA’s exhibition – this Spec 5 idea can also be serving as a growth platform.
As you’d count on, the Spec 5’s exterior is far more in your face than the Mustang RTR Spec 2 highway automobile. The visible impression begins on the entrance finish, the place the RTR signature grille with back-lit ‘nostrils’ is carried over, albeit with inexperienced lighting to tie in with the opposite shiny particulars and the Crew Monster motif.
Environment friendly cooling is super-important in drifting, and to assist direct extra air to the radiator is a secondary grille reduce into the bumper.
An aggressively-contoured chin spoiler can also be fitted, and beneath {that a} skinny carbon fiber splitter which protrudes additional outwards to assist enhance front-end downforce.
Every nook of the splitter is related up with a canard that mounts instantly onto the bolt-on over-fenders, and it’s right here we discover the principle promoting level of the Spec 5 conversion.
The over-fenders fatten up the Mustang by 50mm on the entrance and 75mm on the rear, and naturally permit loads of room for extensive RTR wheels with an aggressive offset to widen the observe and permit numerous suspension modifications to be made.
The additional girth actually works wonders for the general stance of the automobile, which is extraordinarily aggressive from all angles.
The rear finish is complemented by a diffuser that’s completed in black to offer distinction in opposition to the flat silver wrapped physique.
Totally adjustable coilovers are fitted at every nook to offer Vaughn the power to fantastic tune the automobile to any particular course or observe, whereas ASD Motorsports entrance decrease management arms permit for the proper kind of steering geometry to stability the massive coupé in full-lock slides.
Then after all there are the huge 20-inch 3-piece RTR wheels made by HRE – 10-inch and 11-inch extensive entrance and rear respectively, and fitted with Nitto NT05 rubber.
You’ll be able to virtually make out the massive Brembo stoppers behind the wheels’ spokes – 6-pot calipers up entrance to make sure there’s no scarcity of stopping energy.
In my opinion, aftermarket facet skirts are a number of the more durable aesthetic additions to design, however the RTR Spec 5 objects add simply the correct quantity of continuity between the pumped entrance and rear fenders.
The automobile oozes presence and it seems prefer it desires to go fully sideways even when sitting nonetheless.
I’ve fairly a lot come to the conclusion that the seems have been nailed to perfection right here, so it’s over to the remainder of the main points that make up this spectacular drift machine.
First up it’s Vaughn’s workplace. Very similar to the skin of the automobile, what actually makes the inside stand out is the sheer simplicity of all of it. However that doesn’t imply it was straightforward to attain.
Opening the paper-thin composite doorways you’re confronted with an array of particulars, from the Wilwood pedal field to the customized dashboard and heart console the place the change panel is positioned.
Climbing over the rollcage’s door bars will land you in considered one of two supportive Recaro buckets – constructed from carbon fiber after all, and geared up with Takata 5-point harnesses. Like in all race vehicles, the seating positions are shifted barely rearwards to assist with each weight stability/distribution, but additionally to align the seats with the B-pillars for added security within the occasion of an impression or crash.
See what I imply once I use the phrase ‘simplicity’? Take a look at the sprint – a contoured part of polished carbon fiber that has the job of hiding the bar work, body and miscellaneous wiring, in addition to offering a excellent mounting level for the Bosch Motorsport DDU 7 digital show unit.
As Vaughn rapidly demonstrated, that is one trick little bit of package that’s capable of provide some fairly cool and customizable shows. His teammates even added some photos of necessary moments in his life for a little bit of visible motivation.
All of it comes collectively to kind a enjoyable and really succesful new venture automobile for Vaughn to drive, however most significantly of all, develop from.
However after all, a drift’s automobile true potential all comes right down to the power-making bits, and within the RTR Spec 5’s case it’s all hiding below a composite vented bonnet.
Raise it up and your eyes immediately word the Ford Racing brand atop the consumption plenum that feeds the V8 beneath it. The Mustang RTR Spec 2 Larry and I drove impressed us for its broad unfold of torque mated to a punchy mid and top-end – to not point out a pleasant willingness to rev. However the engine fitted to this explicit automobile takes these qualities even additional…
Appropriately named the ‘5.0L Aluminator V8 XS Crate Engine’, this 500hp-plus motor runs all kinds of top-notch elements to boost each side of its naturally aspirated character. It reliably revs all the best way to eight,000rpm because of Mahle exhausting anodized solid pistons with a low friction coating, Manley H-beam connecting rods, and a lighter but stronger aluminium block with particular cross-bolted essential bearing caps. CNC-ported Boss heads and high-lift cams handle the remainder, making this a robust and impressively responsive setup.
Vaughn’s guys added American Racing headers and a Magnaflow exhaust system, whereas the engine breathes via a Okay&N cone filer, Ford Racing consumption and the massive throttle physique you see pictured right here.
To benefit from the engine setup, the driveline makes use of a close-ratio 6-speed Ford Racing transmission working right into a Driveshaft Store Ford 9-inch diff conversion with 4:56 gears. For additional energy, bulletproof Driveshaft Store aluminium driveshafts and axles are additionally fitted.
As soon as all of the mechanicals had been sorted, Revolution Automotive had been left to extract copious quantities of energy and torque, which they did.
This automobile actually represents what the brand new Mustang is all about – an incredible bundle that’s begging to be personalised, constructed up and refined for no matter its finish use could also be.
And if that’s drifting, then Vaughn and his crew have already proven us the power this automobile has when it comes to tearing up tyres!
Because the solar set over the Vegas Strip I used to be happy that I had the chance to take an in depth have a look at this RTR idea. I used to be impressed by the general execution and seems, to not point out the efficiency. The Mustang legend is unquestionably right here to remain in all its completely different guises!
To wrap issues up, try this clip of Vaughn drifting the Spec 5 (and different machines) at SEMA.
The Speedhunters
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Dino Dalle Carbonare
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Further Images by Mike Garrett
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