To date, the majority of the modifications have been cosmetic. I have always loved the ’69 Mach 1, so I’ve decided to base my styling cues on it. I’m not trying to recreate the Mach 1 – no Mach 1 badging for instance – but look at the car as a modern interpretation of a classic. Some of the exterior design elements are the Classic Chin Spoiler and rear window louvers from Classic Design Concepts, Shelby hood pins, a Xenon Hood scoop, and my cheapest mod, chrome door trim outlining the front grille. The custom paint and decaling was done by Gunn’s Autobody in Gloucester, Virginia and includes painting the hood, rear spoiler, rocker panels, and the lower lip of the rear valence. I haven’t made many interior changes, just a couple of bits and baubles. One thing I really didn’t like about the car was the shifter. It had a very sloppy action to me. So my first performance mod was to add a Hurst Shifter, which also adds a little eye candy to the interior.
I pride myself on my underhood presentation. I’m a bit more old school. No chrome covers on my fasteners. I want the real thing, so all fasteners are chrome, grade 8. I have several Midwest Auto goodies, including a custom airbrushed plenum cover. The chrome BBK strut tower brace clears the cover, although just barely. Other upgrades include blue anodized Pi-thon hose locks, Metco engine pullies, and custom powdercoated valve covers. The valve covers use a two part powdercoating with a custom mixed flake done by Penninsula Custom Coaters in Williamsburg, Virginia. The engine itself is spotless, landing me a Best of Show at a large event last year.
Aside from the aforementioned Hurst shifter, performance enhancements are fairly mild right now. I have the S&B CAI and Flowmaster mufflers. A tune is next on the performance list.
Future mods include Magnum 500 wheels, sending some underhood brackets and such out to be chromed, and an Agent 47 front replacement grille with an off-center tribar pony emblem.