Tommy’s brother purchased the car for $500 nine years ago.

High school is usually the time that teenage boys really start to take notice of cars. Most of us get our driver’s license about that time, and cars can also become a large part of our independence. Aside from that cars can also become a form of expression, and a way to bring together family and friends.

Tommy Jenkins was born into a Chevy family, with his dad owning a really bad ’68 Camaro. Horsepower was in Jenkins’ blood but he and his brother went a different route. Tommy’s brother purchased a Fox-body Mustang in 2005 for the meager sum of $500. The worn, stock T5 transmission soon failed and the car stayed parked for several months. Young Tommy had the car bug bad though, and he and his brother began to repair the busted Stang.

“I was a senior in high school and the car bug was hitting me. So we started fixing it together but soon enough I got ahead of what my brother wanted out of it and he pretty much bailed,” says Tommy Jenkins.  He eventually got the car back together and it car was repainted blue (again). On the stock engine he started bracket racing the car and with some work was able to run 12.43 at 108 MPH in the quarter-mile.

Tired of the old blue look, Jenkins decided the car needed a makeover. The car again went to paint, this time coming back in GM Sunburst Orange. It also received a black interior, and after tearing up a few more T5’s a C4 transmission found it’s way into the tunnel.

In 2009 the well tested stock engine was yanked and rebuilt to a long rod 308, the bullet-proof assembly included a Scat crank, Oliver connecting rods, and JE pistons. A Crane cam activates the valves in a set of Ford Racing GT40X cylinder heads, and a Victor Jr intake topped with a mechanical mixer bring in the air and fuel. There’s also a NOS Powershot kit to add to the fun.

Tired of not having overdrive, Jenkins ordered up a custom built 4R70W transmission complete with Freddy Brown transbrake and custom converter from Freakshow performance. The car now can cruise all day on the roads, or make a 10 second pass at the track, doing either comfortably.

To date Jenkins car has been a 10.75 at 123 MPH, and now with a career as an electrician and a new baby boy due in just a few weeks he says he’s happy with where the car is. Jenkins says this winter is the first time he hasn’t had to spend cash or time fixing up things that needed repairing after a long summer of racing and cruising. “I know they say your never done building them but I can say with my little one on the way soon I’m completely satisfied with it,” he tells us.

We have a feeling that by next summer baby boy Jenkins will be taking a few trips in the family Mustang, and in the years to come wrenching on and maybe some day racing his dad’s ride. We look forward to seeing what happens.

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