Anvil Mustang

[hotwheels]

OK, some of you have known about this build and some may have seen some magazine blurbs about it......now, it's finally time to track the build here! Anvil Auto is breaking into the Mustang world in a very huge way! It all started when I heard that Steve Strope of Pure Vision (purevisiondesign.com) (Hammer, Z Nova, 515 Charger, Petrol Charger, etc., etc.) had a '66 Mustang project for sale. I told Steve that the early Mustangs just weren't my cup of tea, but if it were a '69 (my favorite) I may just be interested. Steve did a little homework and realized that some of the components from the '66 project could work on a '69. So, Steve and I decided to look for a good, clean original '69 sports roof that would make a good candidate to go under the knife. After looking everywhere on the west coast, I found one on e-bay right in Steve's back yard in Simi Valley, CA. He went over to the owner's house one night and called me to tell me it looked like it could be the one. Upon Steve's approval, I made a deal with the guy and we went over to the his house to pick it up. It had very little rust and only some driver's side rear damage which isn't an issue (you will see why later).

[bonecrrusher]

Nice....

[hotwheels]

Here's a rendering that Tavis Highlander did early on showing the original concept Steve and I discussed late one evening. I also did a little work with some plastic model kits to try out some ideas before cutting apart our candidate. The final product should be pretty close to this rendering, but more agressive (despite the not so sinister off-white paint).

[hotwheels]

Steve had the Mustang stripped and had the suspension bits (JME front, Maier Racing rear) on it and a Kaase Boss Nine engine mocked up in it at the Pure Vision display at the Grand National Roadster Show this past January.





Here are the specs:
Anvil Auto - Carbon Fiber Hood, fenders, chin spoiler, deck lid, rear quarter extensions, and rear spoiler

• JME front suspension - push rod activated cantilever inboard
• Maier Racing rear suspension - push rod activated cantilever inboard
• JRI coil over shocks
• Currie Enterprises - nodular 3rd member
• Flaming River electric power steering, rack & pinion, U-joints and shafts
• Baer Brakes - 6 piston calipers, 14" Rotors

• Jon Kaase Boss 9 punched to 521 cid – 805hp
• Electromotive hidden ignition & fuel injection system
• Modern Driveline Tremic 5spd, Kevlar clutch, Quick Time bell housing.
• Fuel Safe - fuel cell

EVOD Industries - One of kind rims patterned after late 60's Indy car Michelin PSII Front 275/35ZR18 Rear 345/30ZR19
- Mick’s Paint
- Eric Thorsen Custom Upholstery
- Redline Gauge Works

[Restomod]

NICE!!!!!!!! Cant wait for more!!!

[hotwheels]

There are a lot of modifications on this car, but some are so subtle that you won't notice them right away. That's sort of Pure Vision's calling card, but I pushed for some things that probably make this a bit more outside of Steve's normal comfort zone. The hardest thing to do is to make changes that don't diverge too far from the factory sheet metal, or seem to anyway, but still enough to be worth the effort. There are Easter eggs all over this car, so I don't want to blatently just list them here as to spoil the fun of finding them. I will, however give some clues. Take a look at the tail panel. It's been modified in more ways than one.



Now, I know the screen is not that subtle, but there are some other things going on there. It will be more apparent when I post some more pics later.

[hotwheels]

I worked on some of the parts we will be producing in carbon fiber myself including the rear bumper. Originally Steve had the steel bumper de-chromed and I was going to have his guys weld and grind on it to make the mods I wanted, but we both agreed that there had to be a better way, so I went to town on some foam and fiberglass. Mick's guys from Mick's paint did the final touches on it as well as all the other panels that are being molded to make the carbon fiber parts.

[wellis77]

This build is amazing, I can't wait to see the finished product.

The foam you used to shape the bumper, is there a particular foam that is best to use when doing this? Thanks Matt.

[Matt@BOS]

This build is amazing, I can't wait to see the finished product.

The foam you used to shape the bumper, is there a particular foam that is best to use when doing this? Thanks Matt.

I think high density foam, like what is found in surf boards is the best. I too am curious because last time I did any kind of foam modeling I had to use that two part stuff that expands like crazy (I forget its name) and I remember wishing it was finer.

Matt, the car is really taking shape, and that hood looks amazing, actually everything looks amazing, the textures, finishes, and other details going into the theme are all so cohesive its unbelievably understated for what you guys have done. I wasn't sure what to think of the hood before paint because the peak is just so iconic to me, but damn it doesn't look sharp now. I'm going to have to dedicate an afternoon to looking at all of the little details at SEMA.

Matt

[baggins]

just curious are you gonna be making any carbon fiber products for 65/66's?

[hotwheels]

just curious are you gonna be making any carbon fiber products for 65/66's?

Yes, we will judge the Mustang market with these 69/70 parts and figure out which parts to make for earlier Mustangs.

[Wesley J]

Yes, we will judge the Mustang market with these 69/70 parts and figure out which parts to make for earlier Mustangs.

I'd kill for a hood and trunk for my '67 coupe.

[hotwheels]

Here are some update pics taken a couple days ago aver at Mick's Paint. The rear quarters were pulled out about 1 1/2" on either side. the wheel wells have also been mini-tubbed which will allow us to clear the monster 345 meats on the back. The quarters were a lot of work, but unless you knew it or had a stock Mustang next to it, you wouldn't know it. The front fenders that will be made in carbon fiber have also been widened to accomodate a wider tire and give us a little lip on the front wheels. If you were to look at the car from above, it would have a subtle hourglass shape.

[ProdigyCustoms]

That wooden bumper is going to be kinda heavy isn't it?

I am sure if Strope is doing it, it will be fantastic. You must be siked!

[hotwheels]

Here are some pictures of the evolution of our hood design which shows how much work that goes into making a custom part to reproduce in carbon fiber. I never liked the stock 69-70 Mustang hoods with that 'beak' or "ironing board" in the middle. I wanted to modernize it while giving it a functional aspect to boot. I really like the vents in the Aston Martin DBS hood, so we had that as our inspiration.


Here, we performed rinoplasty on the beak and started to build up the hump in foam

More foam, then bondo over the foam and lots of sanding and eyeballing with templates

You can see by the illustration below that the Aston hood's vents are too rounded at that corners for the more angular Mustang, so we tweaked them to be sharper. We also realized from these illustrations that the secondary vents off to the sides and further back on the Aston hood just made the Mustang hood too busy, so we decided to axe them.

Here's a screen shot of the computer model we did in Solidworks

Next we really needed to look at exactly where it made sense to position the vents on the hood. We looked at the underside and we didn't want to have to completely redo the underside bracing, and they needed to be functional, so we reallly only had one area where they made sense. The radiator sits so far back in the car that the more forward recess on the underside is actually where the core support is.

Here it is with one vent in place


Here's the finished hood pattern which we are making molds from

[OLDFLM]

Lovin' everything about this project my friend!! That hood is sick!

[buickfunnycar.com]

Certainly subscribed...!

[hotwheels]

That wooden bumper is going to be kinda heavy isn't it?

I am sure if Strope is doing it, it will be fantastic. You must be siked!

I figured I need to add some weight to the rear end for traction, ha, ha!
I want to run this car against your Project Unfair, Frank. I'm throwin' down the gauntlet!

[T_Raven]

Nice, I love 69 Mustangs. I like the rendering

[LeighP]

Wow, thats nice work.....love the hood. And that rear bumper....great lines!