Unique expanded the GT500E...
Unique expanded the GT500E lineup with a convertible in 2005. The first in the series, seen here, sold for an astounding $550,800.
"With the Foose Stallion project, we know our limitations and our capabilities," Hasty said. "In our facility, we know all about musclecars. But when you jump into what the automakers are making today, it's a different set of rules. For any kind of modification you do on limited production basis, you've got regulations, validations, engineering, and a lot of other things to take into consideration. We don't have the flexibility that we have with the vintage vehicles.
However, Tecstar needed Unique's capabilities as much as Unique needed Tecstar. With Foose working his magic, Tecstar and Unique have created a Mustang to thrill enthusiasts.
Hasty added, "Tecstar does much more than build prototypes, having produced over a half million vehicles. They are a tier-one supplier to GM. All the Chevrolet Z71 pickups were built by Tecstar, something the general public doesn't know.
It's a small world because the Z71s roll off Tecstar's facility in Haslet, Texas, a 30-minute drive west of Farmers Branch. This same facility also turned out the famous SS Chevrolet pickups among other specialty cars. The Z71 is crossing over to another platform, so production is ending for now. At Haslet, Tecstar will pick up the slack assembling Foose Mustangs.
But, there's more specialty vehicles coming. Unique Performance Concepts will also assemble another specialty Ford, the Shelby F-150 Ford pickup.
During our visit to Unique,...
During our visit to Unique, we noticed a new series under construction, a Shelby GT500SR. Under the hood is a fuel-injected 427 FE big-block.
Foose Mustangs will be sold through Ford dealers with full warranties. Dealers are limited to 100 and will also sell the Shelby product line. Hasty and Unique are bursting with excitement. "The Stallion will have 30 hp more than a stock GT Mustang. We'll have a supercharged option as well, plus better braking and handling.
While at Unique, we also learned Hasty and company are putting together a deal with AC Cars in England. This is the same company that supplied aluminum bodies and chassis to Carroll Shelby to build his original Cobra. AC has developed a new Mark V, which has a carbon-fiber body. Unique Performance will be the U.S. distributor for that vehicle.
New programs will roll out with time. Employee count has passed 135 and continues to grow. What started out as a specialty shop building Eleanor Shelbys has blossomed into two companies, Unique Performance and Unique Performance Concepts, that design, engineer, build, and validate performance cars from classic to new. As you can see, Eleanor was just a jumpstart.