The Terlingua DM-450 Mustang is patterned directly after the legendary Terlingua Racing Team notchback trans-am Mustangs of 1966. Life for these cars begins with solid 1964½-65 coupes. Dallas Mustang owner Randy Gibson, along with project engineer Kenny Northum, personally select every Mustang for the Terlingua program. Each car is completely disassembled for a total ground-up rebuild. Exceptionally rare or hard to find parts are retained for restoration. Everything else is replaced with new. When you drive away in a Terlingua Mustang, you are literally driving a brand new vehicle.

Once stripped, the bare unibody is set on a rotisserie, and every inch of the car is media blasted to bare metal in preparation for the rebuild. At this stage, experienced metal craftsmen flare, smooth, and graft portions of the car to achieve the unique Terlingua Mustang styling. Once the reforming is complete, final bodywork begins in preparation for the mile-deep basecoat/clearcoat finish. Pictures cannot do justice to Ron Mohr’s exquisite metalwork and finish quality. You simply have to see it to believe a car can look this good.

Visually, one of the most notable features of the car is the paint scheme. Rather than the solid hood color seen on the 60’s era Terlingua Mustangs, Bill Neale revived his original intent for the Terlingua Mustang – a single, bold center stripe – which perfectly accents the signature Terlingua front apron. Less obvious are unique touches such as the NASCAR-type deletion of the side drip rails, and flared road-race fenders and quarter panels. Even closer inspection reveals the Shelby ‘bullet’ mirrors, latching hood and trunk lid, and gas cap delete. Pull the trunk pin and you discover a remote battery box and 22 gallon competition fuel cell from Fuel Safe. While details abound, one look clearly sends the message: this is a pure vintage racer.

Moving inside, the pure race image merges with refined performance. The four-point roll bar, leather ProCar racing seats, and competition gauges from Autometer, quickly authenticate the car’s heritage. Yet the interior is both comfortable and familiar with four passenger seating, factory controls, and full dash. From there, life gets even better with leather door panels and full leather rear seat (stitched and formed to match the front buckets); billet tilt steering from Flaming River; Old Air heat and a/c system; and Harrison Classic Car audio. As a finishing touch, the signature Terlingua rabbit is tastefully embroidered throughout the cabin – testimony to the living legend you have just entered into.

Of course all the beauty in the world is, after all, only skin deep. But turn the key, and the beast explodes to life. You can guess, from the classic shifter and trio of foot pedals, this car is meant to be driven. The raspy voice of a 450 horse, 347ci Ford crate motor drives that point home; with a Holley 750 double-pumper, Stan’s Try-Y headers, and Dr. Gas side exhaust rounding out the sonic signature. MSD components light the fires within, while a 4-row aluminum Be-Cool radiator keeps the heat in check.

Piloting the DM-450 is a primeval delight, thanks in large measure to the World-Class T-5 transmission and Currie equipped 9” rear with competition override torque arms. Generous boxing support and custom bracketry at key points throughout the chassis unify a full compliment of Global West, Pro Motorsports, Koni, and hand-built suspension components including the exclusive Terlingua export brace. For rolling stock, pure Goodyear rubber and super wide toque-style wheels from Vintage Wheel Works keep everything glued to the road. Handling is precise, controlled, and race ready, but more than civilized enough for daily driving. Finally, as any professional driver will attest, the most important system of any car is the brakes. And the Terlingua Mustang has the best: with a custom Force-10 four-wheel-disc system from Stainless Steel Brakes.

If you’ve ever dreamed of a driving a legend, resurrected from the pages of trans-am history, the Terlingua Mustang DM-450 is your dream car. Each vehicle receives the unique Terlingua Racing Team identification plates, hand numbered build tag, a certificate of authenticity, hand signed original lithograph of the car from Bill Neale, and exclusive membership in the Terlingua Racing Team Driver’s Club.