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The sweet scent of spray detailer wafted over the parking lot of the Myrtle Beach Convention center and microfiber towels motivated at the urging of elbow grease. You might expect some last-second detailing at a car show, but shortly after it began a 20-minute rain shower poured down on over 900 show cars. What might have broken some shows up, proved just a brief inconvenience for the car owners and the throngs of enthusiasts on hand to witness the impressive display that is the Mustang Week car show.
It’s a destination. Mustang Week has become its own entity at this point. It is such a big deal that this is the place to be. — Bill Tumas, CJ Pony Parts
Of course, thanks to a change in dates last year and a relocation to the massive convention center complex, there were a strong group of cars and vendors spared the shower and ensuing humidity spike. They filled the convention hall blessed with air condition and a small army of stunning machinery.
10. 2019 Mustang Bullitt
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While not technically a participant in the show, this one-of-a-kind, Kona Blue 2019 Mustang Bullitt slowly spun under the cover of the Ford Performance garage display. It encouraged attendees to purchase raffle tickets that benefit JDRF research and one lucky winner will win this car. We were certainly tempted because the car really looks great in person.
“…Walking into this convention center and see it filled with cars, filled with people, and filled with sponsors, and half of them think this it,” Mustang Week’s Brad Worley said. “We have to tell them that there are another 800 cars outside and three-quarters of our sponsors are outdoors. Their reaction is ‘Are you kidding me? There’s more, and we don’t have to pay?’”
That’s right. Mustang Week presents a unique proposition of value and scope. To participate in in its events, there are small fees, but spectators often just pay for parking if they need it. When you consider the wide array of the events, and the ever-growing attendance, the event draws numerous supporters, including a new sponsor for the show, CJ Pony Parts.
9. 1970 Mach 1
We wish Batman had popped the hood on Bob Wensley’s ’70 Mach 1. It was among a strong contingent of classic Mustangs at this year’s show. Underneath its sleek, ebony exterior this Pro Touring machine sports a 331-cube stroker topped by a Holley 750-cfm carb. It puts the power down via Tremec five-speed, a 9-inch rear, and a full Heidts suspension. Those sharp 18s are US Mags’ Rambler wheels.
“This is where our our customers are,” Bill Tumas of CJPP, explained. “We aren’t just selling parts, we like the customers and we want to be around them. That’s why we are here. We are not even selling parts, we are giving everything away — free T-shirts, free stickers, and free sunglasses. For us, this is almost like a customer appreciation day. We want our customers to come out and have fun and hang out with us.”
To earn that swag, visitors to the company’s display tried to put a bean bag into a hole to win one of many prizes.
“Last year, I had my cornhole board in the trailer and we decided to bring it out, and let people have a chance to win some stuff and make it interactive,” Bill said. “Basically, if you just hit the boad, you get a free sticker. If you get a couple in, you get a free T-shirt. We are giving away gift cards. We are giving away banners, fender grippers, and all kinds of free stuff. It gives people something to do so they can come out and have a little fun.”
8. 2014 Shelby GT500
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While many of our favorites were older Mustangs with more comprehensive modifications, we tried to select cars from most of the represented eras. One of the modern standouts was another blacked-out machine. Frank Zeberlein’s 2014 Shelby GT500 Super Snake puts down 964 horsepower to the wheels thanks to a built 5.8-liter engine featuring custom cams, ported heads, and a ported stock supercharger. Nearly every facet of this car is modded, but it still remains subtly potent.
Obviously, what draws these companies to Myrtle Beach for a week is the opportunity to connect with a group of true enthusiasts. In the end, the fun is infectious for the fans and the people trying to reach them.
“We just come out because we love these cars and we love the people. This to us is just a fun week. We are out here the same as they are. It is a fun vacation. Obviously we are working a little bit, but it’s a good time,” Bill added.
7. 1988 Mustang GT
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Quality Fox Mustang projects have always been drawn to Mustang Week and many of them were on display in the convention center. However, there were several nice examples on the show field as well, including Scott Hartrick’s 1988 Mustang GT. Known as FivePointOCD on Insta, we can see why. It has sleek styling, a super-sano interior, and under the hood its single-turbo small-block is the definition of clean.
The high-point of that good time is the judged car show, which draws the biggest attendance of participants, spectators, and vendors. This year’s gathering carried a renewed energy after the event shook of the new date, digs, and the added curveball of a hurricane last year.
“I am absolutely astounded at today’s car show turnout,” Brad enthused. “It’s not just the 900 registered cars that came in this morning, I am amazed that we have the largest spectator outpouring that I have ever seen. Across the street from the convention center the lot that is designated for spectator parking was two-thirds full before lunch. They were pouring in droves.”
6. 1994 Mustang Cobra
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Like the burgeoning classic entries, there seemed to be a uptick in SN-95 and New Edge entries, and DJ Haeussler Jr.’s eye-catching 1994 Mustang Cobra definitely stood out. Motivated by a Vortech-boosted, 331-cube stroker it definitely has performance credentials, but it’s custom Stratto Blue over Snowhite Pearl House of Colors paint job is what got our camera snapping shots.
“It has been beyond my expectations for the second year since we moved to September,” Brad added. “It squashes any kind of doubt that September is the time of year we need to be here. I am thrilled to death. I couldn’t be happier with the turnout. I think it has kind of overwhelmed everyone.”
It certainly presented a challenge for your scribe to see it, photograph it, and boil it down into a few of the coolest Mustangs. However, as hard as we try to capture the event’s feeling, there is nothing quite like being there, which brings fans and vendors back year after year.
5. 1985 Mustang GT
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There were so many nice Foxes, we couldn’t help but have a few on our list. Tony Frank’s Jalapeño Red 1985 Mustang GT attracted our eyes thanks to it clean, purpose-built approach. It could be a show car thanks to its attention to detail, but with a Maximum Motorsports suspension hooking the grunt from the carbureted small-block in that smoothed engine compartment, this one is ready to carve up a road course.
Indeed it is, and for a sampling of that buffet, check out our 10 favorite cars from the show as well as an expansive gallery of show highlights below.
On Saturday the action headed to the convention center for the informal cruise-in, so those who weren’t a part of the judged show were able to part inside the facility and show off their cars. For more Mustang Week, you can check out the official site here.
4. 1965 Mustang
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You can’t go wrong with a ’65 Mustang fastback, but you can make it more fun. That’s just what Dwight Wood did by adding a Terminator 4.6-liter engine under the hood of his classic Mustang. With green paint and Bullitt wheels, this classic definitely has that Steve McQueen cool and the modern performance to back it up.
3. 2015 Mustang GT
In as sea of bolt-on S550s, it’s hard to stand out from the crowd, but Michael Jenkins’ 2015 Mustang GT does just that thanks to a low-slung stance, a Dark Gloss Gray paint scheme, and just a few carbon fiber accents. It is clean and mean thanks to a classic combination of Paxton Novi blower and 5.0-liter engine that gives it 700-horsepower street cred.
2. 1989 Mustang LX
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Having previously covered this car in its early stages, we still couldn’t help but be amazed by seeing Mark Schlitzkus’ Red Fox Coupe in person. Slathered in House of Kolors inside, outside, and underneath, this 1989 Mustang LX produced four-digit power courtesy of a 461-cube small-block twice boosted by Precision turbos that feed its Trick Flow top end. This Fox runs as good as it looks, and it looked great holding court in the Foxcast booth inside the convention center.
1. 1992 Mustang LX
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We have seen this project progress over a few Mustang Weeks, but Brandon Hitchins’ Sick Fox definitely lives up to its moniker. This car exemplifies the modern Fox Rodding craze without an overload of flash or a ubiquitous Coyotes swap. The coupe has been built and rebuilt and its current incarnation is stunning. Sprayed in Pure White it is packed with little details, like a smoothed engine bay, carbon fiber interior accents, and TMI Products seats. These days a big single turbo boosts a 363-cube stroker housed in a Dart block, which is said to deliver 1,300 horsepower. That definitely qualifies as sick.
