On April 2, 1990, the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) squared off against the powerhouse that was Duke University in the NCAA Men's Division Basketball National Championship game led by head coach Jerry Tarkanian. UNLV was the No. 1 seed in the West coming into the tournament, and Duke held the No. 3 spot.
Over the course of his career, Tarkanian's style of recruiting from the inner cities caused much friction with the NCAA, and the '89/'90 season was no exception. The UNLV Rebels had gained the reputation, being labeled as thugs or loose cannons, but the team's fast-footed, up-tempo style of play earned them the "Runnin' Rebels" moniker. When Tarkanian and the Rebels squared off against Mike Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils, it was a landslide to say the least. Many viewed the game as a battle of good versus evil, and on this day, evil prevailed. UNLV's crushing defeat of 103-73 still stands as the largest margin of victory during a championship game in NCAA history. Two thousand and ten marked the 20th anniversary of UNLV's championship season. It was also the first year for the redesigned Mustang we know today.
Jay Jacquemoud is the founder of Mustang Depot, a Las Vegas-based supply house for all things Mustang. Not only is Jay a UNLV graduate, but he also attended the university during its championship run. When he decided to build a Mustang for the 2009 SEMA show, his Rebel spirit inspired the build. "We built the car to rebel against the understated look," explains Jay. "We wanted to bring back the flavor and flash that makes a hot rod a hot rod."
This '10 GT has been named "The Rebellion" and is wrapped in UNLV's Scarlet and Grey hues with tribal-style flames emblazoned on each side. Joel Stevenson of Top Ten Custom paint took the body from rendering to reality, outfitting the exterior with a Street Scene body kit, Trufiber hood, Roush rear spoiler, and APR carbon-fiber mirrors. Color-matched American Racing Wheels wrapped in Pirelli rubber sit in all four corners to finish off The Rebellion's aggressive look.
Under the hood, the stock Three-Valve powerplant has been upgraded with a Paxton Novi2200 High Output centrifugal supercharger, and the supercharger was paired with an air-to-water charge cooler to keep the incoming air temps under control. Forced air enters the engine via a BBK throttle body, and the mixture is ignited with the help of coils from Granatelli Motorsports.
The suspension has been fortified with Eibach Pro-Series coils front and rear, and Tokico D-Spec shocks and struts cushion the ride. Upgraded sway bars from Eibach keep this Pony flat and level under hard cornering.
Inside, the modern theme continues. The dash has been treated with carbon fiber, giving it a super racy look. The doorsill plates are adorned with custom Rebellion logos, and Lloyds Lush floor mats sit under the occupant's feet. Auto Meter Phantom gauges reside in a triple gauge pod on the A-pillar and allow Jay to keep on eye on the happenings between the fenders.
The Rebellion was debuted at the 2009 SEMA show, but it wasn't without excitement. Just before the show, Paxton opted not to exhibit, and Jay's flamed Pony was left without a spot. In a last-minute decision, Ford Motor Company allowed Mustang Depot to display the car as one of Ford's featured Mustangs.
"We're not afraid to try different things with these cars," Jay adds. "We're staying true to what looks good. When the car launches, it's incredible! With a slight roll of the throttle, you can get to 100 mph in no time."
With this kind of performance and aggressive styling, The Rebellion is a championship-caliber Pony.
With a slight roll of the throttle, you can get to 100 mph in no time.