Merlin’s Majik, A Spell Binding Muscle Machine

This Spell Binding ride disappears into thin cloud of smoke in the blink of an eye. Leaving nothing but the deep track lines hammered into the pavement. Meet Merlin’s Majik a 1966 Mustang found 22 years ago in a farmer’s field being used for of all things a live stock feeder! Sitting on 2×4’s and a milk crate with cows eating hay out of this pony, the car was a sad shell of what it once was

Rick Appleton, an Air Force veteran, gave this pony a home with the mission to breathe new life into the Stang. Appleton grew up in a Texas Ford family in the 60’s and was no stranger to the garage. The love he had for his father’s Ford Galaxie XL Fastback, with a 390, laid the ground work for a lifelong love affair with anything Ford. Appleton’s first ride was a ’65 Mustang with a $29.95 Earl Shives paint job in bright orange only furthered his addiction to Ford horsepower.

Appleton, has owned well over 50 Ford rides, used on and off the drag strip, decided after picking up the ’66 Stang this car would be something magical. He had worked on the USAF MC-130H Combat Tallon II during his time in the military and wanted to pay homage to this amazing aircraft named Merlin’s Majik. So the name for the car was easily chosen as a way for Appelton to salute those he served with.

Power for Merlin’s Majik comes from a 10.5:1 compression 347 stroker. Mustang II front suspension with Flaming River steering column and rack and pinion, keep things straight at the strip. An E250 van donated it’s nine-inch rearend, which was narrowed and now houses Moser Engineering axles with 5:29 Gears on a full spool. Out back Cal Tracks suspension with Competition Engineering shocks help Merlin’s Majik hook up. The unibody has been boxed.

A S&W roll cage is directly welded in to the car’s now full frame. RCI racing seats with five-point harnesses, Grant steering wheel with NASCAR style detachable lock system keeps Appleton strapped in. Weld Racing Pro Star wheels sit at all four corners with 15×4 fronts 15x10s rear with Mickey Thompson ET Drag tires 28×10.5×15 providing the sticky grip.