CAR OWNER

JOHN NICHOLAS GREMLIN –2007 MUSTANG GT GREMLIN HAS SEEN SIGNIFICANT SUCCESS...

CAR NAME–YEAR & MODEL INFO

MEMBERS OF THE STANG MAG FAMILY ARE MORE PASSIONATE ABOUT FUN AND INCLUSION THAN THEY ARE THEIR CARS AND THAT SAYS A LOT!

My Mustang is called Gremlin. In January 2019 the engine blew, throwing double rods through the block. The motor was subsequently rebuilt by Joshua Minson and Shane Holt at Redtide Motorsports and completed a month after I retired from the United States Air Force in Feb 2019, after 26+ years as an MSgt in the USAF Security Police/ Security Forces career field. I began my military career as a Law Enforcement Specialist assigned to Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, AZ. I would go on to serve in locations in Central America, the Middle East, and numerous stateside locations.

If you asked me if I thought I’d be writing an article for STANG Magazine for my car this time last year I would’ve said no. If you asked me if I would be writing it about a different car than the 2005 Roush Mustang I had I would’ve said hell no. I loved that car but acquiring this one reinvigorated my passion for car shows and events!

The new engine sports the original heads and cams, was stroked out to 5.0, added BBK unequal length headers, and upgraded internal components. The Roush 2.3L TVS Phase 2 Supercharger was put onto the new motor. The original VMP tuning was tweaked by Don Faldowski at Horsepower Unlimited in Clearfield, Utah, and brought a dyno-confirmed horsepower of 616hp and 618 ft-lbs of torque. The new engine picked up 56hp and a whopping 108 ft-lbs torque. An upgraded Mcleod Street Extreme Clutch was added to help the transmission handle the power. The Roush short throw shifter was replaced with an MGW unit, with a custom-made shift knob courtesy of Nifty Shifters.

Gremlin next had her original black leather removed and the entire interior was redone in black and orange leather with orange stitching done by Jake Abeyta at A’s Upholstery in Syracuse, UT. Matching center console pieces painted in Grabber Orange came from American Muscle.

Handling was stiffened up with a Shelby rear shock brace added to the trunk. The car sports its original factory paint and graphics. Ghost flame accents have been added to the side and hood scoops.

I met Daniel Ramey at a Beltway Mustang show and won my spot with STANG Magazine in their Carlisle Ford Nationals display. Needless to say I wasn’t sure what to expect being that I didn’t know the people attending and was going by myself.

Gremlin has seen significant success on the car show scene during my ownership of it for the last five years. She recently picked up a 3rd Place Award at her first Salt Lake Autorama on March 4th, 2023.

The STANG Mag family welcomed me in from the very start and made me feel like one of their own!

Showing this car and driving her as much as I can have become a passion of mine during the warmer months and have allowed me an outlet to pursue since my retirement from the military. This helps me balance the chaos of my continued work in the law enforcement profession as a Sergeant with the Davis County Sheriff’s Office in Farmington, UT.

Members of the STANG Mag family are more passionate about fun and inclusion than they are their cars and that says a lot! I can’t wait to see what’s to come in 2022!

PHOTO CRED:

NIKKI LADEAU OF OURGLASS PHOTOGRAPHY

JOHN NICHOLAS