"Popular Hot Rodding Magazine" Project Car in original time-capsule condition!

1983 Ford Mustang GT Description

POPULAR HOT RODDING Magazine's "PROJECT 1983 MUSTANG GT 5.0"

Vintage time capsule condition Mustang project car for magazine and TV.

Modified for increased acceleration, handling, braking, appearance and safety, in 1983-84.

Hidden away for decades. Never before offered for sale to the public!

THE SELLER

My name is C. Van Tune, I was the Technical Editor of Popular Hot Rodding magazine from 1982-87.

(Later in my career,I became the Editor-in-Chief of Motor Trend Magazine.)

I built this car as a project for PHR magazine, in 1983-84. It is a time capsule of the best of what could be done in those days to bring the 5.0 Mustang to life.

This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to own a Mustang that was specifically built for car magazine & television use, and somehow escaped the FoMoCo system of being stripped and/or crushed after such a high level of modifications were made.

THE HISTORY

This Mustang was special-ordered directly by Ford Motor Company as a "media fleet" car in Los Angeles.

It was delivered brand new to Popular Hot Rodding Magazine in April 1983 specifically for use in the magazine's three-car "Battle of the Super Cars" competition. No other publication ever drove this car.

The focus of the Popular Hot Rodding competition was to test the fastest 1983 production models from Chevrolet, Ford and Chrysler head-to-head in drag strip, slalom, skid pad and braking tests.

This Mustang GT competed against the then-new L-69 Camaro Z28 5.0 liter H.O. and the also-new Dodge Shelby Charger.

After the baseline performance numbers were accrued for each car, in stock form, the three editors of the magazine were each given complete responsibility for modifying "their favorite car" with hot rodding parts and techniques. Then, the cars would be retested head-to-head in the same four track tests, to determine the ultimate winner.

Editor, Cam Benty chose the Camaro. Technical Editor, C. Van Tune (me) grabbed the Mustang. Feature Editor, Pete Pesterre strapped on the Shelby.

THE RULES FOR TESTING

The modifications took place over a five-month time period, and were covered in subsequent issues of PHR.

Television coverage of the three-car battle was provided in three episodes of PHR's top-rated cable show "Performance Plus." A fourth episode focused on modifications to the Mustang after the three-car shootout had been completed.

All straight-line testing was done at famed Orange County International Raceway. The Mustang's stock ¼ mile time was 15.01 sec. The Camaro ran an almost-identical 15.00 ET. Try as we might, we couldn't break into the 14s with either car. (No "tricks" were allowed: tire pressures had to be set at stock psi, ignition timing couldn't be changed, and air cleaners had to remain installed, per our rules.) We probably did 20 runs on each car.

THE RULES FOR MODS

When it came time to begin the modifications, we had only a few rules: Anything that didn't alter the displacement of the engine or change the basic driveline setup was okay.

Suspensions could be beefed, interiors upgraded, and cosmetic enhancements made. But, close watch was kept on those costs, and tabulated for inclusion in the important "price" category. Price factored as equally as each of the other four categories into the final points tally.

The details of the work done to the car, and how it performed, are covered in the 9/83, 11/83, 12/83, 1/84 and 2/84 issues of PHR. (Copies go to buyer.)

The best acceleration times for the modified Mustang were:

0-60 mph in 5.5 sec. Quarter-mile in 13.4 sec @ 104 mph.

AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED?

After the "Battle of the Super Cars" series was completed, the Camaro and Shelby were stripped of their hot rodding parts and returned to their respective manufacturers in stock configuration, as was previously agreed. The Camaro was crushed.

With blessing from a high-up executive at Ford, the Mustang slipped through the cracks in the system and I was allowed to buy it directly from Ford, with all of its aftermarket hot rodding parts still in place. That adds to the uniqueness of its history.

The Mustang was then upgraded and refined further, including the addition of Scheel racing seats and a matching rear seat upholstery kit, color-keyed to complement the car's red and black exterior. Articles covering those modifications were covered in PHR's sister-magazine, Fabulous Mustangs, in 1984.

Additionally, the Mustang appeared on the cover of a PHR sister-publication, Super Cars Magazine, in 1985.

Industry-publication Specialty Automotive published an article on the three car shoot-out, including a cover photo, in 1984.

THE MODIFICATIONS

ENGINE:

5.0 liter/302 cid, standard bore & stroke, balanced and blueprinted by Bill Stroppe Racing.

Top end was modified in 1983-84. Engine has not been apart since then. Stock pistons, rods, crank.

Engine still makes 75+ psi oil pressure on cold start, and 40 psi hot.

Camshaft: Ford Motorsport dual-pattern, solid lifter, 0.512”/0.536" lift; 282/292-degree duration.

Cylinder Heads: Stock heads ported and polished, cut to accept larger valves, 3-angle valve job.

Valves: Ford Motorsport 1.90" intake valves; 1.60" exhaust valves, sodium filled.

Valve Springs: Crane high-rpm double springs.

Rocker Arms: Crane aluminum roller rockers, with Crane studs.

Pushrods: Crane chrome moly, with Manley guide plates.

Timing Chain: Ford Motorsport dual-roller, high rpm.

Carburetor: Originally, Holley 650. Now, Edelbrock 600 cfm.

Intake Manifold: Holley Street Dominator.

Ignition: MSD 7AL, MSD Blaster 2 coil.

Exhaust System: Hooker Super Competition shorty headers, dual 2.5" exhaust with dual cats and turbo mufflers.

SUSPENSION:

Wheels: Epsilon three-piece modular, aluminum, 16 x 8.0 inch.

Tires: BFGoodrich Radial T/As 205/55R16.

Springs: Quickor Engineering lowered, progressive rate.

Anti-sway Bars: Quickor 1.5" diameter (front); 0.875" rear, polyurethane bushings.

Custom-built "strut tower to cowl" boxed square-tubing bars with adjustment turnbuckles.

REAR AXLE:

Ring-and-Pinion: Ford Motorsport 3.73 ratio with Traction Lok.

BODY:

Front Air Dam: Ford Motorsport, with Marchal quartz-halogen fog lights.

Hood Scoop: Factory scoop opened to ingest outside air.

INTERIOR:

Seats: Scheel front racing buckets. Custom matching rear seat upholstery kit in black cloth with red racing stripes to complement exterior colors.

Steering Wheel: Momo "George Follmer" design anatomical grip, black anodized center.

Shifter: Hurst short-shift with T-handle.

Roll Bar: Autopower Industries' 2.0" diameter chrome moly, black powder coated.

Speedometer: Quickor 150 mph.

FACTORY EQUIPMENT:

GT Package

5-speed Gearbox

Tilt Wheel

Power Steering

Power Brakes

AM/FM/cassette "Premium Sound" stereo

Tinted Glass

Rear Window Defroster

Traction-Lok rear axle

ORIGINAL DOCS:

Window Sticker

Build Sheet

Owner's Manual and Warranty book

Paperwork from Ford to Popular Hot Rodding and C. Van Tune

California DMV registrations

"PHR MAG" California blue-and-yellow license plate. (The car was registered on this plate 1984-1991)

IN LATER YEARS

In 1991, I sold the Mustang to a long-time friend in Las Vegas, Nevada, with about 11,000 miles on the odometer. The friend is a muscle car guy who also owns a '67 Shelby GT500 and a 2013 Shelby GT500. He used the car as his semi-regular driver for several years, amassing about 40,000 miles, but retained it mostly in its "time capsule" condition.

In 2016, I bought the car back from my friend. It is back in Southern California.

As a testament to the reliability and durability of the hot rodding parts installed, as well of this Mustang itself (and the maintenance it has received) the car still is running its original clutch.

The car also runs cool, makes good oil pressure, sounds great, and is a unique and well-publicized example of a modified early Fox Mustang.

Now, the Popular Hot Rodding Mustang is being offered to the public for the first time ever!

Also included with the sale are several original 1983 black-and-white proof sheets showing the build-up of the car. The original negatives are attached, to allow enlargements to be made.

The last photo in the gallery is a recent pix of me (left) and former Popular Hot Rodding Editor, Cam Benty, with the '83 Mustang. That was the first time Benty had seen the Mustang in over 30 years.

THE CONDITION TODAY:

52,700 miles

Original numbers-matching 5.0 liter engine.

Original 5-speed gearbox.

Original Clutch.

Original Paint (except for black hood stripe).

Original "Quickor" Engineering side graphics from 1983

Original "Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving" window decal from 1983.

Original Glass and Weatherstripping.

Mostly Original Interior (last modified in 1984).

Original Ford AM/FM/cassette "Premium Sound" system.

Original Jack and Space-Saver Spare (never used.)

Mostly Original Suspension (last modified in 1983, except tires and shocks).

Undercarriage is very nice, with typical road grime. Never in snow or salt.

Specially-designed engine oil and coolant pre-heating systems.

PCV oil catch can.

No Accidents or Bodywork.

No Rust

Body is as straight as Ford made it.

PATINA BEFITTING A 36-YEAR-OLD MUSTANG:

Body paint is thin and faded in areas.

Tape pinstripes are sun-cracked. (New ones are included, as well as a new "GT" decal for hood).

Window molding paint is faded or missing in areas.

Bodyside moldings are mostly in good shape, but the front-fender moldings are not well aligned.

There are a few door dings.

Front air dam has a few scrapes.

One Marchal fog light has a rock chip.

Dashboard top is cracked in several places.

150 mph speedometer face is wrinkled.

Upholstery (front seats) is very good. Rear seat is excellent.

Carpet is faded in places. (There is very little wear.)

Roll bar has paint chips.

Engine drips a bit of oil.

Buy with confidence. I have been an eBay seller since 2002 and have "100% Positive Feedback" on over 780 transactions.

Please contact me with any questions. I am happy to send you photos, info and videos of anything you'd like to see.

The car is located near San Diego, CA. It is my personal car.

I also offer to assist with logistics of delivery, if the car is not picked up in person.

Thanks,

C. Van Tune

Here's the legal stuff:

Car is being sold in as-is condition.

All sales are final.

No warranties (beyond the remainder of the Mercedes factory warranty) are expressed or implied by the seller.

The winning buyer must send seller a $2,000.00 non-refundable deposit, via PayPal, within 24 hours of the close of the listing. The deposit will hold the car for fourteen (14) days. If the buyer does not pay to seller the entire balance due, by that date, the sale is null and void, and the deposit will not be returned.

The car must be picked up within ten (10) days of purchase, or a fee of $50/day will be added to the total purchase price beginning on the eleventh (11th) day.

The entire balance of the sales price must be received by seller before the car and title will be released.

Please let seller know within 24 hours after bidding if you need to get a loan to buy the car.

This listing may be cancelled at anytime, as the car is also available for sale elsewhere.

Do not bid if you are not sincere about buying the car, or are unable to afford it.

Do not bid if you need to get permission from your spouse, parent, boss, etc.