Buddy’s 1966 Ford Mustang With Dirt Track Racing Influence
By Brian Brennan – Photography By NotStock Photography
When you have a 1966 Ford Mustang convertible in your family for as long as you can remember, you never part with it. But you do make changes to ensure it will last another generation. Buddy Biever of Pennsylvania was gifted his father’s Mustang back in the ’90s. It was a special car for Buddy, as he had learned how to drive stick shift in it.
In the day, it was a three-speed ragtop with a red and black interior and a black drop-top. It was during the ’80s that it underwent some alterations, but when Buddy’s father died he thought it was time to redo the Mustang drop-top. This time, he upgraded it to something Dad would have liked and represented their love of dirt track modifieds.
Read More: 1969 Mustang Fastback with Boss Flare and 460 ci
We think that Dad would most assuredly be pleased with the result. The final look was developed from a get-together with Ryan Korek of Korek Designs, also out of Pennsylvania. As with any hot rod it’s what’s under the hood that counts and that’s where we begin. The Blue Oval sports a BluePrint Engines Ford 347-inch small block engine V8 engine that features an iron block, BPE aluminum heads, and a Holley Terminator EFI that supports 415 hp and lb-ft of torque. The satin black finish can be seen on the Korek Designs custom air cleaner, as well as the finned valve covers. The ignition system comprises a PerTronix ignition consisting of distributor and coil, Ford Racing spark plug wires, and a Powermaster alternator. Next up, the exhaust system is based on shorty headers with 2-1/2-inch pipe and a pair of MagnaFlow mufflers, all dialed in at Korek. Cooling the potent V8 engine is a Stewart water pump based on a Vintage Air Front Runner serpentine belt system and Maradyne dual electric fans.
From here, the small-block Ford is bolted to a TREMEC TKO-600 five speed transmission with Fifth gear 0.64 overdrive and a healthy 2.87 First gear ideal for stoplight acceleration. A Bowler Transmission shifter runs the TKO at its own pace. Moving the ponies rearward, the TKO-600 utilizes a Ram clutch and flywheel that links to a Moser Ford 9-inch rearend equipped with 3.90 gears and 31-spline axles.
Positioning the rearend is a Rod & Custom Motorsports triangulated four-bar setup utilizing QA1 coilovers, a 1-inch sway bar, and equipped with four-piston Wilwood brakes. The front suspension is based on a Fatman Fabrications kit with coilover shocks, a 1-1/8-inch sway bar, and a rack-and-pinion steering. Wilwood disc brakes are also found in front. Tying the front and rear suspension together are subframe connectors. These subframe connectors are ideal for cars such as early Mustangs as they strengthen the body rigidity by greatly increasing the unibody chassis. The rotating stock consists of Boyd wheels measuring 19×9 and 18×7 with Hankook rubber: 285/35ZR19 and 225/40ZR18.
Read More: Period Perfect Panels For Vintage Ford Phaetons
The 1966 Ford Mustang convertible sheet metal is mostly in stock form, but there are a few styling cues that take place. The center of the hood was raised and widened while the door locks were shaved (handles remain) and the bumpers were tucked. (A common touch to nearly all steel bumper cars as it immediately enhances the nose and tail appearance.) To accommodate the wide rubber, 2-1/2-inch mini-tubs were installed at Korek. All the sheetmetal modifications and bodywork were performed at Korek Designs while Ryan Korek himself sprayed on the PPG gray custom mix.
Inside the drop-top, the factory dash is wrapped in black leather with parallel red stitching. The factory gauges were replaced with a set of Dakota Digital custom gauges painted to match the car, and the owner’s artwork was included on the Speedo/Tach combo gauge. The ididit steering column is one of their adjustable models. The stock bench seat was massaged and then covered in black leather, and, once again, a set of parallel red stitching was used around the outside of the seat back. The factory rear seating was reupholstered in black leather utilizing a pair of factory lap belts. The carpeting was redone in back while the door and kick panels were covered in black leather, and the door panels also feature perforated inserts. R. P. Interiors aptly handled all the stitchwork.
Read More: Drop Top C2 Corvette With Big-Block Flare Masquerading its LS Heart
If you are wondering about the “BRB114” on the rocker panel, so were we. Once again, it’s about the backstory. There are three generations of Biever sons, and they all have the same initial: BRB. The number 114 would normally reside on the side of their dirt-modified racer, which had been around for years and was a very successful team, having had a number of top drivers over the years. This became a means to remember the entire family, including Grandpa and their racing heritage. Now you know more of the story. To listen to Buddy, he tells us he can hear his dad now, “I can’t believe what you did to my car,” and smiling from ear to ear. MR
Click on this issue’s cover to see the enhanced digital version of Ragtop Mustang With Racing Heritage.
