Feature car: wild Mustang

Ready to rock

THE STREETS OF THE WAIKATO ARE NOW A LITTLE WILDER THANKS TO THIS SPEC 5 RTR MUSTANG, ONE OF ONLY TEN IN THE WORLD

WORDS: MARCUS GIBSON PHOTOS: ADAM P PHOTOGRAPHER

In the mid ’90s, the sport of drifting exploded onto the world stage. Originating in the mountain passes of Japan, the sport soon established itself as a bona fide motorsport in Japan and slowly but surely the word got out to the Western world about this new and exciting sport. The art of oversteer was nothing new, but it now had a name, and a world stage. Despite many thinking it was some kind of silly fad, drifting was here to stay — and spreading like wildfire.

While it might have started with Japanese performance models, in the US it wasn’t long before some good old American iron was being thrown sideways in competitions. After all, they too were rear-wheel-drive platforms and had the power to kill tyres on command.

One of the original pioneers for drifting American cars is Vaughn Gittin Jr, who has competed on the world stage in a Ford Mustang — with Ford’s backing — since 2005. No one has pushed Mustang development in drift like the duo of Gittin and Kiwi Ian Stewart. The pair, first under Ian’s ASD Motorsports, began developing and selling parts before forming RTR Vehicles together in 2009 and becoming an official Ford aftermarket seller in 2010.

Essentially, what we’re talking about is a modern-day Carroll Shelby story, but with drifting not GT racing. While the older generation might not give RTR that same level of credit, the similarities are hard to ignore. Twelve years on from the launch of the brand, RTR is a force in the aftermarket Ford world, going head to head with the likes of Roush and Shelby.

To celebrate its 10-year milestone in 2019, RTR announced a special anniversary-edition Mustang based on the Halo Spec 5D RTR competition-only machine. Dubbed the ‘Spec 5’, it would be a street version of the competition car, only with a slightly watered-down driveline — if you call 750hp (559kW) watered down. Now, here’s the kicker! Only 10 of these would be offered, and originally only on the North American market. So, how the hell did not one but two of these end up in New Zealand? The answer to that lies with Sam Bakalich of CTB Performance, the New Zealand RTR agent.

As soon as the car was announced at the SEMA Show in 2019, Sam was all over it and kicked up a fuss until we were allocated not one but two. We’d also like to think that perhaps, Ian being an expat Kiwi, he really wanted to see one on the roads he grew up on. Either way, CTB had the build approval for two. We all know that 2020 was basically a write-off, so it was not until 2021 that the cars would actually be built. The build times for both machines would be between 8 and 12 weeks — an indication of how much work goes into transforming a stock Mustang GT into the RTR Spec 5.

While the interior features some cool RTR components, it’s outside that the real step away from a Ford product occurs. The RTR bodywork comprises 11 components, including the superwide guards that required the original bodywork to undergo surgery before the new quarters could go on. Once the panels were fitted, it was off to CTB’s own paint shop for a coat of Leadfoot Grey — a Ford colour offered on only one other specialedition Mustang: the GT350. The finishing touch is the accent colour, which was the owner’s choice — in this case, the fluorescent Hyper Lime. The result is the most aggressive body styling you’ll find for the Mustang off the dealer’s lot, and that’s what attracted owner Ashley to the brand over the others in the market here — not to mention the fact that they come right-hand drive.

The story of how Ashley came to be one of the lucky 10 actually starts with a trip to his local dealership to order another of RTR’s offerings: the Spec 3. Having ordered the Spec 3, Ashley learned of the other Spec 5 in New Zealand being offered for sale.

“I went and looked at it, but it was automatic. The owner of Royale Cars, Chris, had purchased both Spec 5s, but was keeping the manual and selling the auto, so I decided to continue with the purchase of the Spec 3, as it was manual,” Ashley explains.

However, Ashley’s fortunes turned a few months later when Chris decided to offer up the manual and phoned Ashley, who had just learned that his Spec 3 was delayed three months. A deal was done, and, best of all, Ashley could pick up the Spec 5 straight away. Of the 10 Spec 5s built, it’s the only manual — something that will make it even rarer in years to come.

Ashley has owned some quick cars in his time, but nothing close to this monster; these are anything but a case of lipstick and stockings on an otherwisestock car. There is a track-oriented driveline and suspension package, starting with RTR Tactical Performance monotube coilovers, front and rear sway bars, and flow-formed lightweight 20x9.5inch and 20x11-inch Aero 7 wheels. But what makes the Spec 5 truly wild is the fact that it’s packing that 750hp (559kW) and 910Nm of torque thanks to a Ford Performance Phase 2 Supercharger Kit, which was developed by Roush with Eaton, and runs a water-to-air cooler. Backing this is the manual sixspeed — as Ashley says, “It’s so much better to drive in manual”.

Although Ashley does admit that, thanks to the clutch, it’s not a car you’d want to be stuck in traffic in, fortunately this car is not likely to suffer such a fate, as Te Awamutu is not known for its rush hour, and it has plenty of backcountry roads that are ideal for putting such a car to the test — and we really do mean put it to the test.

“It handles so much better at high speed than it does when taking it easy,” Ashley tells us. “I’d love to take it to the track — but obviously when it’s dry, so that can wait for summer.”

In the meantime, Ashley’ll just have to enjoy his backcountry roads — something that he says always brings a smile to his face. With that much power under his right foot, can you blame him?

2020 Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5

Engine Ford Ti-VCT 5000cc V8, 12.0:1 compression, Ford Performance Phase 2 Supercharger Kit Driveline The Driveshaft Shop driveshaft, The Driveshaft Shop half shafts Suspension RTR Tactical Performance coilovers, RTR Tactical Performance sway bars Brakes (F) Brembo six-pot calipers, 380mm vented rotors; (R) single pot calipers, 330mm rotors Wheels/Tyres (F) 20x9.5-inch RTR Aero 7 Forged, 285/30R20; (R) 20x11.5-inch RTR Aero 7 Forged, 305/30R20 Exterior Leadfoot Grey with Hyper Lime accents, RTR Spec 5 widebody flares, RTR upper grille with LED lights, RTR lower grille, RTR front chin spoiler, RTR bumper inserts and turning vanes, RTR hood extractor vents, RTR rear spoiler, RTR deck-lid panel, RTR rear diffuser, RTR rocker splitters, RTR rearquarter splitters, RTR fender badges, RTR graphics — 10thanniversary limited edition Interior RTR 10th-anniversary interior accent colour, RTR floor mats, RTR shift knob, RTR 10th-anniversary serialised dash plaque signed by Vaughn Gittin Jr Performance 559kW (910Nm of torque)