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The Goodguys Rod & Custom Association revealed its latest project at SEMA — a 1979 Mustang Indy Pace Car. It sets the pace for the expanded model years — up to 1987 — allowed at Goodguys shows in 2018.
We have seen a growing trend of high-end Fox Mustang builds and it’s a beautiful thing. At shows across the country, a nicely built Fox will draw a crowd. Starting next year, the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association will begin allowing 1987 and older vehicles into its shows. The company’s latest project — a radical 1979 Mustang Indy Pace Car — sets the pace for that expansion.
To create this evolution of the Fox breed, Goodguys enlisted artist Eric Brockmeyer to create a rendering. Then it was the team at Goolsby Customs who were charged with bringing that rendering to life. The result is one of the wildest Fox Mustangs we’ve seen.
While it started with a 29-mile, original 1979 Mustang Indy Pace Car, gone is the factory unibody. In its stead is a fully-independent Roadster Shop Fast Track chassis below custom floorboards, minitubs, and rockers. The tubs and widened quarter panels made room for massive Forgeline Centerlock wheels (18×10-inch front and 19×12-inch rear) wrapped in Michelin 265/35-18 front and 345/30-19 rear rubber. Behind those wheels are amply-sized Baer brakes.
“It opens up the opportunity within the industry because other companies that make parts for these cars will be able to come into these shows. It’s going to grow the whole industry of hot rodding, because these cars are the future of hot rodding,” Jonathan Goolsby of Goolsby Customs told us.
Powering the Goodguys Fox-Body Pace Car is a 500-horsepower Aluminator XS crate engine backed by a Bowler-prepped Tremec T-56 six-speed transmission.
Powering this wide and low Fox is Ford Performance’s Aluminator XS Coyote crate engine (set back enough to necessitate a relocated firewall) backed by a Bowler-prepped Tremec T-56 six-speed transmission. Mahle rods and pistons bolster the 11:1 engine, which puts out over 500 horsepower and barks out through 3-inch Flowmaster exhaust.
“It’s gonna make a statement,” Goolsby added.
If you want to peep this amazing Fox Pace Car, it will now hold court with the company’s other projects, including a ’32 Ford Sedan, on the Goodguys show circuit in 2018, so be sure to check it out and bring your ’87 and earlier car out to the show as well. That sounds like a great reason to get the Fox out next year.
Inside this wild Fox, M & M Hot Rod Interiors added bolstering to the stock seats and upholstered them in black leather from Relicate. The Pace Car’s cabin also features Dakota Digital gauges, Vintage Air climate control, and a Kicker audio system.
