Mid Engine Mustang GT
 

Mike Staveski/Time Machines and I introduced this project a month ago in Open Discussion but I wanted to start an official thread here and give an update of the latest rear view designs off the drawing board.

The cool thing about the Mustangs is the fastback rear glass that showcases the motor like a Ferrari F430 or Ford GT where some of the drivetrain components are coming from but instead of the supercharged 5.4, we are using a naturally aspirated Ford Racing FR500 crate motor with individual throttle bodies for a cool visual element.

That rear glass is going to be tipped down at a slightly steeper angle than the roof to form a shallow trough that accentuates and improves the downforce created by the rear spoiler and the entire taillight panel is perforated mesh that will allow hot air to leave the engine compartment.

The other main visual element visible from this angle is the undertray that forms functional diffusers out the back.

The car should start getting sliced up soon so we'll keep you posted.

Should be very cool !!!!!

WOW amazing drawings Jason :hail:
what a project this is going to be:cheers:

Cool Jason.
I love your artwork too.

This hasn't been done before right?
Mid engine muscle car?

I remember reading about (don't laugh) a shop in Japan converting a Honda
Del Sol to mid engine configuration. The shop was Top Fuel. The car ran in the 10s 1/4 mi. it was a street fighter also.

So what is the est. time completion for this project?

Al

Looks awesome Jason, that rear 3/4 view is killer! Mike is very enthusiastic about the project every time I hear from him!

Jason looks great. I couldn't wait to see pics of your design.

A buddy has a Lotus and I was hoping you would get Idea's from a Lotus and it looks like you did I think

Keep up the great work

That will end up being the best Mustang built when thats done,this will be a good one to watch progress:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

The car looks great.

What year is it?

It looks like a '67 from the rear, and a '69 Mach One from the 3/4 view.

If anything it looks like the best of both years.

Thanks for posting those.

Ty O'Neal

69 Ty

Thanks for all the great feedback, guys! We're really excited about this project and we hope to rock the P/T world when it's done. I know musclecars all have motors in front but we wanted to shake things up a little!

Evan's right, it's a 69 and I think the taillights are throwing you off because they don't stick way out like a 69, simply because I designed completely custom units that will just sit in shallow recesses in the mesh panel to look like they're floating in it.

Yep Marty, I got influence from a bunch of exotic supercars!

so what do you intend to use for a transaxle in the rear? A Mendeola-style or a Porsche box? The G50/50 or G50/52 tend to be really long and the hi-strength Mendeola is pretty long too (I know as I have a full tube chassis Porsche 914 with 525HP SBC and Porsche 930 box - was looking for options other than the dump-truck-like-shifting of the 930)...

I had a 1970 Grabber Sportsroof that I sold to go to college 7yrs ago and my next project will be a crazy 70 fastback - not mid-engined but I have some crazy ideas of my own so I appreciate what you have going here! Should be a cool car. I will just say a "torque tube" will be involved in mine :thumbsup:

So, my question is this, if the engine is in the back seat, what goes under the hood?

the x-wife ??

:lol:

mid-engine mustang
 

Our plan calls for using the transaxle directly from the Ford GT. The aftermarket ones while nice are huge. Time Machines has created a niche where we use original OEM parts i.e the Dodge Viperized cars that we have become known for. The OE spend so much money in R & D that we like to use it. We are currently using C-5 vette suspension into a car right now. I hope this answers your questions about the transaxle. As far as the front area-I am thinking just like a trunk of a car. Stereo equipment and storage. We may have to put some weight to get the front to rear weight ratio dial'd in.

Thanks
Mike
Time Machines

yeah, answers my question, thanks. Have you thought about the RBT transaxle? IIRC the GT trans is around $14K and I believe early consideration was given to using the RBT trans in the GTs but then the factory came up with that one. An RBT is around $10K IIRC. I here you about using factory technology - assuming the factory built a good car. I think in the consideration of the GT and the C5/C6, that factory work is pretty solid.

This project reminded me of an old article from 1982 in Super Ford.
Although not exactly the same I thought I would post it up in case you wanted to see it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...DBoss9_pg2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...DBoss9_pg3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...DBoss9_pg4.jpg

Cover:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...DBoss9_Cvr.jpg

Look foward to seeing the build progress!!
Keep us posted!
Steve

Wow - talk about a flashback. I remember seeing that car in the past and i may even have a few pictures of it. From memory it may have been only a couple years ago at a show in Chicago.

No way! That is way too cool! I guess our idea isn't so original after all, huh?

Thanks for sharing that and posting it up. There may be some tech in there that's useful to us 37 years later!

I always thought a mid-engined station wagon would be sweet, and probably a little easier than a mustang since you could just use a normal rearend and a real short driveshaft. Anyway cool project best of luck!!

Then You'll dig this! http://www.diversstreetrods.com/projects/
I figured out the first half of your screen name so I know we have a lot in common and then the fact you're on this site means we have a bunch more. PM me and we'll talk about bikes sometime!

Up front, you can build a stereo that sorta looks like an engine. With amps on either side and angled to emulate valve covers and a round subwoofer on top kinda like an air cleaner. Nothing too literal like fake headers. Just stereo equipment.

When is the intial start time for this build?

mid-engine mustang
 

We have stripped the mustang down, it has been blasted and sealed. We are hunting the GT mule car right now. We are working on three SEMA cars right now so the majority of the work will really start later this year just before SEMA. Our plan is for a SEMA 08 unveiling. That is as long as our plan works. We still need the mule GT.

Thanks
Mike Staveski
owner Time Machines

PS I like Steve's idea about the stereo. I might try to incorporate it. Thanks

3 SEMA cars......damn!
Nothing like a little stress, right? lol

Thanks Mike. I'm pretty sure that our SEMA booth is right across from yours. See ya there. Good luck.

Latest news on the project from Time Machines--------------

I put a deposit on a GT transaxle with less than 1000 miles on it yesterday out of a wrecked car. I am getting the shifter and linkage from a GT as well. We have decided to use the suspension from a 2001 ACR Dodge Viper that I have at the shop. It has the Nitrogen filled canistered shocks from the ACR car on it as well. The viper had less than 10,000 miles on it too. It should make a very nice package. We really like the adjustability of the viper suspension. It should allow us to fit 20 X 12 rims in the back. I have asked Jason for some additional detail renderings today. So we will have more info & pics to follow soon. This is going to get real fun fast.

Thanks
Mike

MORE NEWS

We have trimmed down the viper chassis here are pictures of it, we have ordered all the sheet metal from National Parts Depot-they are awesome to work with and they usually have it in stock, and GT transaxle should show up next week I will show pictures of it as soon as we have it. It is coming together now......

Mike

Man, those wheels look much wider with the body on! :rofl:

Kevin
Sharp eye. Those tires are our new secret weapon for the ultimate PT tire. We get a full 3 inches of tire tread to the ground. With all the HP, we should get great traction and cornering with them. Those are the prototype ones so look for them in the spring of 08.

Thanks
Mike

The Ford GT transaxle and shifter arrived today. It is used but only has 780 miles on it. We also made a run to National Parts Depot today as well and got all the sheetmetal for the project. The transaxle looks very cool. Progress..

Is the project still alive?

Yes, it is slow because I am trying to acquire a real Ford GT engine. I am negotiating a deal on a brand new one right now but haven't closed it yet and I have line on a rollover car that I should know more about next week. I have a Shelby GT 500 motor as my backup plan. We should start building the chassis in the next month or so but we would like to have the motor we are going to use when we start the process. We are building another 69 mustang fastback right now for SEMA this year and it has gotten us even more excited to build this project. It is going to be awesome.

Thanks
Mike