SEMA 2012 Featurette: The Pure Vision Martini Mustang T5-R — An Incredible “What If” Of Ford Racing History


SEMA 2012 Featurette: The Pure Vision Martini Mustang T5-R — An Incredible “What If” Of Ford Racing History

Steve Strope and his Pure Vision company have created some amazing cars over the years but this could be his master stroke. Dubbed the T5-R, the 1966 Mustang you see before you is a product of Strope’s imagination and the outcome of a fictional meeting between Ford executive and the famed European Martini Racing organization. One needs to put aside some stuff like the fact that Martini started heavily sponsoring racing in 1968, they have mostly been tied to Porsche, Lancia, and Alfa Romeo, and Ford never took the Mustang road racing in Europe. All that being said, this car is a brilliant piece and the fictional back story is pretty damned cool.

The most shocking and awesome part of the car is the engine.  The mill is a vintage 300ci four cam Ford Indy car engine that makes 425hp at 7,000RPM. Strope reports that the motor will make more power than that at higher revs but he hasn’t pushed it into the level that even angels fear to tread. We can’t blame him. If this engine were to barf the rods out, where is a replacement lying? Hell, where are replacement parts lying?! The Indy engine was chosen for its obvious history (the fact that Jimmy Clark won with it at the Indy 500 in 1965 is awesome) and because it weighs a mere 300lbs. Aluminum and magnesium are used extensively though the mill and because part of the focus of the build was keeping the car light, other tricks like a NASCAR four speed (which weighs 63lbs) were used.

The wheels are fantastic. Evod Industries built the four spoke wheels and incorporated a functional knock off design that really harks back to rally and Formula cars of the 1960s. The interior is also classic and understated. Strope is at his best when he takes a fairly straight ahead concept like an old race car interior and makes subtle but brilliant touches to elevate it almost into art. To use a food analogy, he’s like a chef who can take something like Mac and Cheese and turn it into one of the best things you’ve ever eaten. We can’t say that we’ve loved every car to come from his shop, but we certainly love this one…a lot.

The suspension is all from Detroit Speed so we know that this car would be highly functional on a road course. The slick tires on all for corners are sexy as hell, to boot. The paint and classic Martini Racing scheme is pulled off flawlessly along with the rally inspired lighting on the front of the car.

Checking out this car at the 2012 SEMA show was kind of like being at an art gallery. Lots of people just looking, thinking, examining, and thinking some more. If that doesn’t speak to the amazing job that Pure Vision did on this 1966 Mustang we’re not sure what does. Any car that stops people in their tracks and engages them on multiple levels is special. The 1966 Mustang Martini T5-R certainly is. Now we really want to hear it run and see it drive!

SCROLL DOWN FOR A BUNCH OF PHOTOS FEATURING THE PURE VISION MARTINI 1966 MUSTANG T5-R!


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5 thoughts on “SEMA 2012 Featurette: The Pure Vision Martini Mustang T5-R — An Incredible “What If” Of Ford Racing History

  1. Arild Guldbrandsen

    Less is more..tasty tasty tasty!!!.

    60ies cars needs retro accesories…not 20ies wheels and 2012 lookin wheels and chrome everywhere.

    Pure vision does it again.

    And Brian..Ford took the Mustang to europe…and they did road race it..there was 3 or 4 Mustangs entered in rally monte carlo in 65..maybe you meant that Martini never sponsored Mustang?

  2. Mustang13 Jeremy George

    I agree with Arild 100%.

    I’ve been following this build for months on Pure Vision’s Facebook page, and BOY HOWDY was it worth the wait!!!!

    With hanging around Steve Strope back in the day, when he lived on the east coast, we always heard his claim that “one day you will see the cars that I build shown in magazines”.

    He was right, and all the guys from the old Wendy’s parking lot street racing crew are proud of him!

  3. 75Duster

    I agree with Arild,less is more, and retro accessories just go better with the car. Great job Pure Vision.

  4. Scott Liggett

    Interesting that old engine looks a lot like the new Mod motor. Giant size, no cubes too.

    I like the car.

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