Bodybuilder's Insane 1969 Boss Mustang Has A 7.3-Liter V8

Roughly a year after Classic Recreations was pulled from bankruptcy by Velocity Restorations, the company has arrived at this week's SEMA Show with a very special car. This overhauled 1969 Ford Boss Mustang was built for world-renowned bodybuilder Chris Bumstead and proves that a restomod with a modern powertrain doesn't have to mess with an iconic muscle car's classic design.

The exterior of Bumstead's Mustang has been restored rather than transformed with new lightweight carbon-fiber panels, as is common with projects like this. In fact, the only significant exterior changes are new paint, updated headlights, and new hood and trunk hinges. It also sits on a set of Forgeline FL500 wheels with BFGoodrich tires.

Although the exterior is largely original, this Mustang benefits from some significant changes under the skin. The most significant is the fitment of Ford's huge 7.3-liter Megazilla V8. This massive 612 horsepower crate engine costs more than $25,000 and is one of the biggest engines currently produced. As if it wasn't already powerful enough, Classic Recreations has added a 3.0-liter Whipple supercharger. There's no word on how much grunt this behemoth engine now delivers, but it works with a Suncoast 10R80 ten-speed automatic transmission and a carbon fiber driveshaft. Aftermarket JRI shocks, a new Detroit Speed QuadraLink rear, and new front frame components help keep all the power under control.

Of course, a classic muscle car with modern supercar performance also needs some serious brakes. Bumstead's Mustang now sports six-piston Wilwood calipers at the front with 14-inch (355 mm) discs, while positioned at the rear are four-piston calipers with 13-inch (330 mm) discs. It also includes a stainless steel exhaust, Borla mufflers, heat-wrapped headers, and a powerful new radiator and fans. Classic Recreations has also added a stainless fuel tank and a Vaporworx fuel controller. We may be living through an unprecedented fuel crisis, but that obviously wasn't a concern for the owner. We'd be impressed if this beast could record double-digit miles-per-gallon ratings.

The Boss Mustang's interior has been moderately updated and, like the exterior, retains most of its classic appeal. Among the changes made are new Focal K2 speakers, an Alpine head unit, Dakota Digital gauges, Procar rally seats, and new seat belts. The shifter and speaker grilles add a touch of modernity to an otherwise largely original interior. According to Classic Recreations, this Mustang took more than 2,500 hours to build. Bumstead appears quite pleased with the result, and we don't blame him.

Classic Recreations

"I've always been drawn to cars that have real presence, and the Boss is one of the most legendary muscle cars ever built," he said. "Classic Recreations took that icon and made it completely mine, from the supercharged Megazilla to the details inside the cabin. The same discipline and attention to detail I put into competing went into every part of this build, and seeing it come together has been incredible."

Classic Recreations