Editor's Choice
Martin Buckwalter's '67 Shelby GT500 clone was our hands-down favorite Mustang at the NMRA's Toyo Tires/Ford Motorsport Nationals. According to Buckwalter, eBay provided the clean '67 Mustang, originally powered by a small-block with automatic transmission. Within 18 months, the car morphed into the trophy winner you see here.
Buckwalter's Mustang certainly has the power worthy of the Shelby logo. The bored 428 FE long-skirt block is fitted with 11:1 pistons, a Melling oil pump, a Canton Racing 8-quart oil pan, and is topped off with ported and polished heads, a Blue Thunder aluminum intake, and twin 600-cfm Holley four-barrels. Rounding out the powertrain is a Centerforce clutch that makes the connection to a four-speed Top Loader and a Ford 9-inch Traction Loc rearend with 3:70 cogs.
If you're going to build a Shelby clone, it has to handle. To accomplish that goal, Buckwalter installed a set of 1-inch lowering springs and Cooper Cobra GT radials mounted on reproduction Shelby 10-spokes measuring 15x7 inches. Stopping power comes from Stainless Steel Brakes Corporation's discs in front and stock drums in the rear.
Comfort and appearance were given the same treatment and attention to detail with a complete refurbishment of the interior, including a 10-disc CD changer, Moto Lita steering wheel, JME Enterprises' gauge cluster, and an A-pillar gauge pod from California Mustang. The beautiful dark red, metallic paint shines through five coats of clear.