SP Rides: True Blue Mustang

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BY MICHAEL KITCHENS

Name: James Allen
Age: 43
Occupation: Department of Defense, U.S. Army logistics
Hobbies: Being with family, the beach, hanging out with other car enthusiasts
Year/Make/Model: 2017 Ford Mustang GT Performance Pack
Color: Grabber Blue
Engine: Ford Performance Tune, 87 mm throttle body, Air Raid intake, JTL 3.0 oil catch can, Ford Performance hood struts other cosmetics in the engine. Grabber Blue engine covers, and other custom painted parts, Corsa Extreme Gloss Black tips, Corsa double X pipe, Steeda clutch spring
Exterior: Front bumper wrapped by XERO Wraps, custom painted hood vents, Cervini Grille top and bottom, MMD hood scoop and chin spoiler, custom painted Diode Dynamic switch back turn signals, rear side markers Diode Dynamic LED, RTR side/rear rockers, custom coyote emblems, rear GT350 spoiler, custom painted brake calipers and custom Brembo stickers, fully ceramic coated by Nolan Suzuki
Interior: SVE X550 steering wheel, wrapped Satin Black dash, all gages are custom painted Grabber Blue, and other custom items in the cabin, Ford Performance shift knob
Suspension: Eibach Pro Kit lowering springs, Ford Performance track shocks/struts kit
Wheels/tires/brakes: Ford GT350 rims 19-by-10.5 front, 19-by-11 rear, Nitto NT555 G2 tires 285/35/19

James Allen’s first ride was a 1978 Monte Carlo — lowered and slammed. Since then, he’s had BMWs, Saabs and even a previous 2015 Mustang. He’s sampled a lot of rides from all sorts of makes and models but when it comes to pure, exhilarating fun, this 2017 Mustang GT has it in spades.

V8 American muscle has a sort of renaissance as of late — with manufacturers like Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge bringing out heavy hitters that not only pack power but also pack a punch in the looks department.  Allen’s Mustang is perfectly representative of this new trend.

First, you cannot miss it. It’s shockingly blue — Grabber Blue — to be exact. Some of his friends call it the Smurf. It’s a rare color that comes out every year and is one of the reasons Allen upgraded from the 2015 model. Although the blue is stunning, he’s decided to break it up in several creative ways. 

Xero Wraps’ Shane Oliberos wrapped the front of the ride with a very subtle satin black to break up the blue fascia just above the MMD chin spoiler that’s been color-matched. Custom painted hood vents look incredible next to the MMD hood scoop while the rear sports a GT350 spoiler as well as the RTR side skirts and rocker panels. Even the turn signals and rear side markers have been upgraded with Diode Dynamics LEDs. Coyote emblems are also sprinkled liberally throughout the ride.

The looks are carried over to the aggressive Ford GT350 wheels sized in 19-by-10.5 in the front with by-11 in the rear. Super grippy Nitto NT555 G2 tires provide the rubber for the road while custom painted brake calipers emblazoned with Brembo stickers peek through the wide and wild spokes. All of this sits comfortably thanks to an Eibach Pro Kit of lowering springs matched with a Ford Performance track shocks/struts kit.

The engine is nice and rumbly thanks to the Corsa Extreme Gloss Black tips combined with a Corsa double X-pipe. This exhaust really exhibits two personalities — quiet and comfortable off the throttle while sounding like an unleashed beast when being stomped on. The engine has been tuned with Ford Performance and features an 87 mm throttle body, Air Raid intake, and Ford Performance hood struts.  Many parts have been visibly color-matched to the Grabber Blue body which does a wonderful job of breaking up the black.

The interior has also been given the color-matched treatment. Select components such as the SVE X5550 steering wheel, and the gauges and console have been treated in blue. The entire dash has been wrapped in Satin Black while a Ford Performance shift knob allows for energetic shifting.

Although a vehicle like this might come across as being a street race bad boy, it’s quite the opposite. For Allen, the car is a means to go out and enjoy the company of fellow enthusiasts. He’s met many humble people who are just looking for a chance to talk about their passions. And he’s definitely not down for street racing.

“Respect the laws of the road — our family members are out there,” Allen said.  

 

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