Danny Shaffer wanted a super car that could still be an effective street machine, and with Ironworks Speed and Kustom‘s work on his 1967 Ford Mustang, he got that and more: an award-winning, bad-a$$ machine that turns the heads of enthusiasts and casual observers alike.
“Danny wanted to build a 1967 Mustang that was like a Super Car Mustang, but was still very much a MUSTANG!,” explains Ironworks owner Rodger Lee. “We pretty much built everything but the main structure of the body from scratch.”
The vehicle, called DS-500R, definitely still feels like a Mustang. Ironworks took the blueprints of the 1967 Fastback and amped it up, using a combination of CAD design, machined parts, and 3D printed parts with old school fabrication techniques. A custom hood scoop, front valance vents, spoiler and honeycomb grille give the front a distinct look while wider fender flares, custom EVOD wheels and low-profile Michelin tires, and quadruple exhaust tips fitted to a custom rear lower valence complete the look. Metallic gray PPG paint applied by Cotati Speed Shop brings the whole look together for a sleek, menacing take on the classic Fastback aesthetic.
DS-500R not only looks amazing, but it’s got a powerhouse of a powerplant driving it: the 5.4L V8 driveline from a Ford GT500 engine which helped propel it through the AutoCross track, an essential component of the Street Machine competition. Adding to that muscle is control offered by the Bowler Performance Transmissions Tremec T-56 six-speed transmission and a Holley Dominator carb.
The judges at the 2023 Goodguys Summit Racing Nationals in Columbus agreed, awarding the car the prestigious PPG Goodguys Street Machine of the Year amidst tough competition. Shaffer’s Mustang went through rigorous judging– two laps of AutoCross to showcase the vehicle in action, and then was evaluated for its “quality of craftsmanship, body & paint, overall engineering, the three F’s (fit, form and functionality) stance and overall creativity in design and concept.” And this pony car was NOT found lacking.
“Street Machine of the year is one of the most prestigious awards in the country for Muscle Cars that get actually driven,” emphasized Rodger Lee.
The Goodguys award was not the first go around with face, however. This winter, DS-500R took top honor for engineering at the 73rd Annual Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, CA with the Al Slonaker Memorial Award for Outstanding Engineering, which is quite a feat considering the considering the GNRS is a showcase for exquisitely built vehicles from all over the country. The recognition helped to solidify this Mustang’s place among the stars.
For now, the DS-500R is heading to the city of sin, and will be on display in the RacingJunk booth (#24211) at the 2023 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, October 30 – Nov 2 where it will undoubtedly turn some heads.
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