After 18,000 very hard miles LateModelRestoration’s project 777’s engine decided to kick the bucket. The number eight cylinder gave up, leading the company to take a new direction with their project car.

Project 777 received a completely new look inspired by the 1979 Mustang Pace Car. This seemed fitting given that 2014 is the 50th anniversary of the Mustang and the 35th anniversary of the ’79 Pace Car. SVE Series 2 wheels, a BOSS grille, and appropriate SVE and LateModelRestoration markings on the outside finish up the exterior look.

Under the hood the dead Coyote 5.0 was replaced with one of Ford Racing’s hottest crate mills, an Aluminator XS. Built to be the ultimate naturally aspirated Coyote, the XS features loads of performance parts from the Ford Racing catalog, and is a favorite of many road racing teams. With over 500 naturally aspirated horsepower, and a redline in the 8,000 RPM range, the XS means business.

The car debuted this past summer at Mustang week in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Adoring fans and customers named it the SVE Pace Car, and it even had its own hashtag in social media.

Closer inspection of the doors reveals that this pace car has it’s own destination. “Official Pace Car 15th Anniversary of 5.0 Resto October 2014” is there in ’79 Pace Car style graphics. We like the look of the car so much, we wish Ford had offered it as a limited edition 2014 model to send the S197 platform out with a bang.

Be sure to check out the cool video, filmed around LateModelRestoration’s home town of Waco, TX. If you want to replicate the parts used in the Project 777 build, are looking to hop up your S197, or restore or improve a 79 and newer Mustang, be sure to check out LateModelRestoration.