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The annual Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas beings out the best of the best in modified vehicles from the world’s top builders and automotive customizers – it is a multi-exhibit-hall spectacle to have on your bucket list for sure. Over the last several years, the Ford Mustang has been one of the most-modified platforms put on display by many of the manufacturers at the SEMA show, as its incredible level of aftermarket parts-and-pieces support allows for modifications to be tailored to just about any owner’s taste.
Top Left - The lower control arms have been relocated downward to provide better bite from the factory three-link suspension. Top Right - The Forgeline wheels are accented in Whiteside's custom copper hue. This theme is found throughout the car and adds a classy look. Bottom Left - The BC Racing BR-Type coilover system features 30 levels of dampening adjustment and full ride height adjustment as well. Bottom Right - The Maximum Motorsports bolt-in roll bar goes a long way towards providing that last bit of stiffness to the S197's already-stout floorpan. (Photos by: Kalem Romero Photography)
Whiteside Customs, based out of McKinney, Texas, has a long history of modifying the hottest cars for ever-improved performance and this year they’ve chosen to paint upon a 2013 Mustang canvas. Whiteside co-counder and CEO Mike White tells us, “Our goal with this project was to create a car that does it all. We want a car that handles great on the street as well as the track. To help with this we are using a full Whiteline suspension with BC Racing coilovers, lightweight Forgeline Motorsports wheels, and of course the best tire available today, the Michelin Pilot Super Sport.”
A Maximum Motorsports four-point bolt-in cage was installed to help stiffen up the structural integrity of the coupe, but they didn’t stop with just improving the suspension. Whiteside also added Wilwood 6 piston brake calipers up front, along with 4 piston rears, to help the car dive deeper into the corners that the suspension is now set up to handle.
Left - The MagnaCharger from Magnuson Products relies on the proven Eaten 2300 rotor pack for reliability and proven power. Right - MBRP's headers feature 1 7/8-inch tubing and 3-inch Merge-style spike collectors and are crafted from T304 stainless.
Of course, the 5.0 engine platform is ripe for modification as well, and Whiteside went in the “Street Performance” direction with a 2300 MagnaCharger supercharger kit from Magnuson Products and a complete headers-t0-tails exhaust system from MPRP. A SEMA car wouldn’t be a SEMA car without a custom interior, and the Whiteside team worked closely with the folks at Roadwire on the dual-color, custom-stitched seating surfaces.
“We love to push our projects to the limit. 2013 is an exciting year for the Mustang with an all new redesigned body, as well as a huge list of new products helping to propel the Mustang to be a big contender, in our opinion, for this year’s SEMA hottest car. We will create a Mustang that pushes the design limits of the traditional pony car. Our vision is to break out of the box of typical colors, finishes and styling to create a car that evokes emotion in everyone who sees it,” White explained.
