Custom Built 2005 Mustang GT350 (Tribute)

[2k05gt]

I want to share a little story on why I like the Mineral gray and why I built a GT-350 Tribute Car.......

I was a Chevy guy and did not think much about fords but one day while out with my wife late October 2004 looking at cars for her, we had seen a Mineral Gray Mustang GT on the corner of Battlefield ford, this car caught my eye and I had to stop, I fell for the car right there but we were looking for a car for my wife so I did not think about it again until May 2005, I was interested in the 05 GTO but the looks were less than appealing. In June my wife was visiting her parents in Coral Springs Florida and took her Dads F150 in for service, while there she noticed a mineral gray Mustang GT coupe on the showroom floor, if anyone remembers that in 05 most dealers were marking up the GT’s 5-10K bucks, but my wife is a master negotiator and made the salesman a deal he could not refuse, 1000 under sticker (I don’t know how she does it) She called me up and revved the engine and said “that’s your Baby Crying, Happy birthday”

I flew down and made the 1000 mile drive home on July 6 2005. Since then the car has made over 500 passes as the track and several laps at VIR, I have over 90,000 miles

So why did I make a GT350 Tribute Car? …

I remember as a child when we went to visit my Grandparents home in Omaha I would always go into the garage to look at my Uncle’s 1967 Mustang GT 350 that he bought before he went off to fight in Viet Nam. It was a Gray Metallic color that was unique to the Shelby in 67.

It was July 1972 when my uncle’s plane landed at the airport, we all waited there with welcome back signs and flags, while outside the airport people were protesting the war, it was a stark contrast from the family area. A lot of people looked down on Military service members back then, I was not one of them, I would stare at his service picture that my grandmother hung on the wall, I'd sit there hoping and praying he returned home safe.

When we got home we had lunch, after all the kids went out to help my uncle clean and prep his car, I was so thrilled to be helping, I was the smallest so I was assigned to wash the wheels; after the washing and waxing he starts it up, my heart was racing at the anticipation of finally going to get to live out all those daydreams over the past few years and get to ride in the coolest car I have ever seen.

I got to go first in the front seat, I was “riding shotgun” with my hero driving around town, we were waving flags and I felt so proud, I really admired my uncle; So I built my car as a tribute to that Car and my Uncle back in 1972.

Last year I ran my Fastest time 12.299 @ 110.06 with a completely Stock 5R55S Automatic Transmission and Stock Rims with BFG 275/40 17 Drag Radials. (Before Cams and converter)

My Current Mods Include:
C&L Racer Cold Air Intake
Comp 127300 XFI VSR 3V Camshafts
Comp Beehive Springs
Steeda Under Drive Pulleys
Steeda Charge Motion Delete Plates
FRPP 4.10 Gears
TruTrac Locker
CHE Lower Control Arms
TCI Superstreet fighter 3500 stall
TCI Ratchet Shifter
Steeda Adj Upper Control Arm
Spyder One Piece Aluminum Drive Shaft
JBA Long Tube Headers
JBA Catted H-Pipe
FRPP Stingers

(Photos By Rygen)

 

[sgirgiss1214]

Thats a beautiful car!!!! And ur uncle sounds like a great guy too, a true American hero.

 

[StreetsideStig]

Awesome car, and awesome story!

 

[SPCChavez]

you know, im usually a pretty big critic on whenever people try to convert their cars into something theyre not, but im an even bigger fan of when people stick to an oem style (roush, shelby, svt, saleen, FR,), and do it right.
If ford was to come out with an actual gt350 for our year, i can see it looking like that. great job on the car man and from a veterans seat, thanks for your support man. every time i go somewhere in uniform and someone thanks me, i always tell them "its people like you who make it worth it"

 

[Modenausa1]

Very nice looking.. It's very clean and classy looking..not a bunch of stickers and such everywhere. It's nice to be able to relate to your car that way, just means you will take care of it and enjoy it all that much more

 

[LAVAgt2012]

Yes that is an awesome looking car, and well job at putting it together at a tribute car....I like that style of louver on the window, and yes great story (even though u did get the shaft as a kid, i hate cleaning my wheels)

 

[2k05gt]

you know, im usually a pretty big critic on whenever people try to convert their cars into something theyre not, but im an even bigger fan of when people stick to an oem style (roush, shelby, svt, saleen, FR,), and do it right.
If ford was to come out with an actual gt350 for our year, i can see it looking like that. great job on the car man and from a veterans seat, thanks for your support man. every time i go somewhere in uniform and someone thanks me, i always tell them "its people like you who make it worth it"

After 9-11 I quit my job and went to work for the Army, I am too old to serve but I figured I could serve by supporting the Men and Woman in the military.
I worked for the DOD, Army contract PM-JAIT developing an RFID Tag system that tracks all shippments to the troops, it monitored tapering, heat and moisture. it also cut shipping time because the container had realtime tracking via sat / interogator units in ports. I was on a team responsable getting the body armor to the troops, we found the containers and got them in country in less than 4 days. I am one that Thanks each and every service member I see in or out of uniform. God bless you guys and what you do.

I have been to the sandbox and I had you guy guarding me while I was there, I asked one soldier "what if we get fired at, should I get a gun and shoot back?" He said, "no that makes you a combatant, I am here to cover you incase this happens" in otherwords he would laydown his life to protect mine.... I tear up evertime I replay this in my mind. I am in debt to you HEROS, that soldier died a month lator, I will always carry his picture with me because he did not know me but would die for me......

THANK YOU for your service

 

[Cory281]

Glad to hear that your Uncle made it back home safely. I like your Mustang as well, what grille do you have?

That soldier is a true hero, thanks for that story.

 

[2k05gt]

Glad to hear that your Uncle made it back home safely. I like your Mustang as well, what grille do you have?

That soldier is a true hero, thanks for that story.

Thats Stock Grille, I custom made it.

I was trying to go for this look