Brought back from the dead!...
Brought back from the dead! This '02 Mustang had a date with the crusher, until Manny Costeira of Motor City saved it.
Today we are bombarded with saving the planet slogans and going-green laws-we cannot escape the madness. Last year, the government instituted the Cash For Clunkers program that was aimed at wiping out old cars deemed inefficient and bad for society. Under this program, a person was given credit towards a new vehicle if they turned in an older one that fell under the program's rules.
The goal was to rid the world of inefficient cars and replace them with better ones. We won't get into a political debate or get on our soapbox, but its positive environmental impact has been largely debated. The program crushed numerous Mustangs and even a highly-collectable Grand National GNX-what was that guy thinking? Some politicians touted the environmental gains, while others pointed to an economic stimulus effect.
The crumpled and damaged body...
The crumpled and damaged body parts were removed and replaced with fresh sheetmetal from Ford. That included a new door, front fenders, and rear quarter-panel.
Our goal this month was to take a car that was rendered useless and considered a clunker-by the government's standards-and turn it into a suitable and viable mode of transportation. This can even be considered helping our carbon footprint by restoring an existing vehicle rather than spending valuable resources on building a completely new car from scratch. We doubt the Sierra Club will be sending us a Christmas card, but bringing a wrecked Mustang back from the inevitable crusher certainly helps. We are just trying to do our part and have fun in the process.
We turned to our friends at Motor City (Newark, New Jersey) to revive a discarded and left-for-dead Mustang, effectively saving it from the crusher. For those who might remember, Motor City has painted several project vehicles for MM&FF over the years, including the Ice Box, Frightning, and Red Hot Chili Pepper. This time the gang in Newark was tasked with repairing an '02 Mustang GT.
"I found this car at an auction and it was in pretty bad shape. It had front and rear damage that would scare off most people, but we are used to bringing cars back from the dead," said Manny Costeira of Motor City.
We tapped Cervini's for its...
We tapped Cervini's for its '00 Cobra R package, and the guys there sent us the front bumper cover, hood, and rear wing. The techs at Motor City fit all the new body parts before anything was prepped or painted. This is so that if adjustments needed to be made they could do so without wasting materials.
The GT needed more than just a few dents removed. New fenders, door, nose, and rear bumper were procured from the local Ford dealer. We took advantage of the situation by adding a Cervini's Cobra R conversion kit since the entire Mustang needed to be repainted. It would help add a little style and flair for this once beaten, broken, and scarred ride.
We love the Cobra R program, which was activated in 1993, 1995, and 2000, as it represents everything that is right with Ford Motor Company. The program built street-legal race variant versions of the regular production Cobra models during those three years. The cars were stripped down versions with greater output (except in 1993 when it featured the same 235hp engine as the Cobra). We replicated the '00 Cobra R, which is based on a New Edge style body ('99-'04), like the banged up car at Motor City. "We've installed a lot of Cervini's parts over the years and each time they fit just as advertised," commented Costeira.
The outside might replicate the Cobra R, but underneath the skin we still had a stock 4.6L and wimpy suspension system.
The rolling stock consists of authentic Ford Racing Cobra R wheels, and as Ford Racing's Jesse Kershaw says, they are made in the U.S., unlike some R knock-off wheels on the market. We selected Nitto's latest NT05 tires as Costeira plans on street driving this vehicle, but there are also plans to make some laps on the dragstrip and drive it hard on the autocross courses in New Jersey. The tires are a blend of street and track, and according to MM&FF's editorial director, Jim Campisano, these tires work well in the rain. He knows from experience, and you can check out his review of the tires online at www.muscle mustangfastfords.com. Costeira added a billet grille from AmericanMuscle.com; he also had to pick up new headlights and taillights to replace the cracked stock ones.
 A Cobra R wing tends to be...  A Cobra R wing tends to be called a Ricer wing, but its aerodynamic downforce cannot be overlooked. Those familiar with the Cobra R program know that looks are one thing and performance is another. |  Motor City didn't just paint...  Motor City didn't just paint the exterior, but did a complete paint conversion... |  ...including door jams, trunk...  ...including door jams, trunk jams, behind the bumper, and the doors (inside and out, not just skins). |
 It is time consuming but the...  It is time consuming but the proper way to do the deed. A sweet custom color, Go Green, was applied. |  The body was covered and taped...  The body was covered and taped up as the transformation began. As you can see, the fenders, quarters, and roof were in primer. |  Once the underside and body...  Once the underside and body panels were painted, those parts were covered and taped as the crew moved to the rest of the body. |