'05-06 Twin Turbo Mustang GT - Turbo Twins

Turbo. Even the name sounds cool, but having one (or two) on your Mustang is even cooler. Turbo power is efficient, to a degree exotic, and few do it better than Turbo by Garrett. Turbo by Garrett manufactures turbos for production cars and trucks including Audi, BMW, International Truck Company, Saab, Volkswagen, and Ford Motor Company, just to name a few. It also manufactures and sells kits to the public for cars and diesel trucks. In the world of Mustangs, however, Garrett is most well-known for supplying turbos to some of the industry's leading turbo specialists. Whether for the street or for the strip, there's no arguing that turbos are big power-makers.

'06 GT, Pro Outlaw 10.5
Pro Outlaw 10.5 is the NMRA's "big boys" class. Six-second elapsed times are a must to be competitive, and trap speeds over 200 mph make the action very hot. Obviously, this class is not for amateurs. So when Turbo by Garrett made the decision to venture into the deep dark abyss of 6-second drag racing, it turned to the Bothwell brothers, Gil and Steve, who had already created a winning NHRA Sport Compact Pontiac Sunfire. The Garrett-powered Sunfire, driven by Ron Lummus, had already set NHRA and NDRA records in its class. So the crew and driver were redirected to the new project, an '06 Mustang GT.

Unlike most 600ci-plus Pro Outlaw 10.5 competitors, the Garrett/Bothwell engine is a small 388 ci. Using a Ford Racing Performance Parts cast-iron Windsor block, Ed Hanson Racing Engines (Santa Paula, California) assembled a boost-friendly 9.5:1 powerplant. A Sonny Bryant crankshaft controls Dyer rods and CP pistons, and a pair of FRPP heads were ported by Chapman Racing Heads (Woods Cross, Utah) and topped off with a set of Jesel rocker arms.

In the boost department, twin 88mm Garrett turbines feed 35 pounds of boost through the 106mm Wilson Manifolds throttle body and into the Edelbrock intake manifold. Unlike many Pro Outlaw 10.5 engines, which are fueled by alcohol, this one runs on gasoline, which is supplied by a DSR pump and 160-lb/hr injectors.

BMS enlisted Smith Racecraft (Dallas, Texas) to build the chassis, including the rollcage, front control arms, and a four-link setup in the rear. A Mark Williams 9-inch with 4.10 gears sits out back, and Weld Racing wheels wrapped in Mickey Thompson rubber sit on the corners.

The team took the win at the 2008 NMCA/NMRA Super Bowl, and went on to compete and win at the 2008 Street Car Super Nationals in Las Vegas, where the car ran its best e.t. of 6.72 at 212 mph. Though not built to compete for champion status, it has certainly been competitive, and most importantly, done its job to promote the product. "We built the car to run the same turbos all season," says Gil Bothwell of Bothwell Motorsports. "It's a testament to the quality and durability of the Garrett turbos."

'05 GT, True Street
Though they have been gaining popularity in recent years, turbo Mustangs aren't a common choice for a street machine. When not properly set up, they can produce massive amounts of underhood heat, require a significant level of mechanical aptitude to install, and can be very difficult to tune. Though these things may be hurdles, big power and ease of streetability are the reward and this GT has it done right.

To showcase Garrett's twin-turbo kit for the S197, the Garrett/Bothwell team assembled this '05 GT. It features twin GT35 turbos, fuel upgrades, an aftermarket throttle body, and a pair of Mickey Thompson ET Streets. Bothwell created a street tune, which produces 450 rwhp at 7 pounds of boost, and a race tune, which makes 490 rwhp at 9 pounds of boost.