Story by Evan “Evo” Yates
Photography by Gabriel Milori
Custom-car culture is undergoing a bit of a revival as fusion between various genres has yielded vehicles that represent the best the game has to offer. And even though the purists may resist change, this progression is inevitable. Leading the charge are guys like the owner of Nutek Wheels, Anthony Thompson, and his pro touring ’67 Mustang.
Anthony’s story goes back decades to an unsavory experience his father encountered at a Chevy dealership in the 1960s, ultimately guiding Anthony down the blue-oval path. “My father disowns Chevy altogether,” Anthony explains. “He tried to buy a Camaro in ’68 or ’69, and they wouldn’t come down $200 on the price, so from that point, we were a Ford family.” Anthony purchased the ’67 ’Stang more than a decade ago but didn’t begin the build until 2009. “I initially bought it for my son,” says Anthony. “I wanted to build a car for he and I to work on together, but as he got older, he decided he wasn’t into cars anymore, and from that point on, I just built it for myself.” An engineer by trade, Anthony took nearly three months to sketch out the entire project, pinpointing every dimension precisely. The non-negotiable cornerstones of the build were 24×15-inch wheels in the rear and a 527 tripower big block under the hood.
To properly fit the 24×15-inch wheels out back, Tony used ’69 Mustang wheel wells, shortened the axle and tubbed the rear. The list of modifications is extensive, and some even go unnoticed to those not familiar with classic Mustangs. “I lowered the rear valance and rear quarter four inches, molded and tucked in the rear bumper, and fabricated everything out of metal—no fiberglass,” he says.
If the custom work isn’t exactly your cup of tea, (then you’re crazy) the drive train will ultimately win you over. The 750hp big block under the hood is mated to a T56 transmission, making it possible to transfer every possible pony to the pavement. At first glance, it could be assumed that this sexy ’Stang is a trailer queen, which couldn’t be further from the truth. “This is a pro touring car; I don’t just put it in shows. It’s a car I drive,” proclaims Anthony. “I hit the Santa Barbara mountains or cruise up the PCH, and I don’t have to worry about anything—we built it right.”
Anthony also explains that when he does bring it to car shows, it’s there for everyone to enjoy, not some work of art hanging on the wall. “I don’t want it to be a museum piece,” he says. “I let people get in it and check it out. I want to create the next generation of car guy, and I want people to enjoy the car. I want people to take something from it that they like, and to build their own design.”
Spec The Technique:
Year/Make/Model: 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback
Performance: 750hp street-driven 527 big block aluminum Carroll Shelby engine block with tripower (three two-barrel carbs); T56 Magnum six-speed transmission; full carbon-fiber driveshaft, carbon-fiber engine bay and dash panels by 1 Of Composites in Oxnard, CA; 16-inch Wilwood six-piston brakes; Hawaii Racing top end and bottom end by Keith Kraft Engines
Exterior: Pure Black custom mix by Body And Paint By Jeff in Oxnard; 3.5-inch body lowering; custom-fabricated all-metal lower valance and mini tub by WC Fabrication in Ventura and Rod Childs in Oxnard, CA
Interior: Italian black leather and Arctic White stitching, suede headliner and handmade custom dash by “Ramon” at The Upholstery Zone in Simi Valley, CA; Dakota Digital climate control; Billet Specialties steering wheel; HURST shifter
Ice: 1,200-watt Arc Audio Black series amplifier; iPad-controlled, custom-fabricated sub box and center console with wheel-matching; billet grilles by Kompression Wheels
Wheels/Tires: One-off custom billet-fabricated 20×10-inch front wheels and 24×15-inch rears by Robert Jones at Kompression Wheels; Pirelli P Zero Nero tires, 245/35/20 front, 405/25/24 rear
