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Souped-Up 1967 Mustang Honoring Service Members

Vets Can Get Behind the Wheel of this 1967 Mustang Built by Veterans Sportsman Alliance

We’re not big on the idea of classic cars that just sit in a garage or get trailered everywhere because the owner is too afraid to drive it. That’s kinda like being married to a Playboy bunny and having separate beds. It’s not often RECOIL gets the opportunity to have a vintage ride grace its pages. In this case, it’s a model that’s celebrated over 50 continuous years of production. So, it’s only befitting that it serves as the platform for a build done by an organization whose mission is to get injured and disabled veterans into the therapeutic surroundings of nature, outdoor adventure, and some serious horsepower. Meet the Veterans Sportsman Alliance (VSA) and its 1967 Mustang, “Scorned Woman,” which, as it should be, is far from being a trailer queen. 

How did it earn its nickname? If you own a classic car then you already know it can feel like being married to Elizabeth Taylor — you either spend lots of money to show off that beauty or become one of the many exes who found the growing list of demands insufferable. This lady is no different. It took seven years to build with lots of setbacks along the way — but was ultimately worth the wait. So let’s dive into the backstory.

Early morning test run on Mount Eden Road in the Santa Cruz mountains with this souped-up 1967 Mustang.

Early morning test run on Mount Eden Road in the Santa Cruz mountains with this souped-up 1967 Mustang.

Originally, VSA founder and CEO Brett Johnson took the car off a friend with health problems to help him pay for his hospital bills. Although the plan had originally been a stock restoration, it evolved into a performance build after Brett’s son came up with the idea to take vets out to track days and vintage car races for a little pedal mashing. From pillar to post, the car went through a meticulous overhaul that’d be enough to throw down with Eleanor from Gone in 60 Seconds.

Under the bonnet, you’ll find a 347 Stroker from ATK High Performance Engines. It’s been outfitted with Dart aluminum heads, a Holley Sniper EFI, Edelbrock RPM Air-Gap intake, MSD Performance Ignition, Hedman shorty headers, and 3-inch fully ceramic-coated exhaust. It’s all tied to a TCI 4R70W four-speed automatic with a B&M Pro Stick shifter. Fuel comes from an RJS Racing fuel cell, and stopping power gets handled by a quartet of Wilwood discs. 

A 347 Stroker from ATK High Performance Engines graces this 1967 Mustang and puts plenty of power to the pavement.

A 347 Stroker from ATK High Performance Engines graces this 1967 Mustang and puts plenty of power to the pavement.

Suspension mods include a Heidts Pro-G IFS and 4-Link, along with AFCO racing coilovers. A custom sway bar was done up by Lichtenwalter Automotive Engineering (LAE). Rolling stock comes by way of 18-inch American Racing Shelby wheels donated by Vintage Wheels in San Diego and wrapped in Toyo rubber.

You can donate to VSA‘s #HorsepowerTherapy Program at this QR code.

 

Bodywork appointments include mini-tubbed rear wells, a Scott Drake grille, front and rear fender flares, and an LAE front splitter and rear spoiler. A full Kryptek Yeti/Typhon-wrapped exterior was provided by US Night Vision Optics and installed at Yak Graphics in San Jose, California. All trim, glass, power windows, and brightwork was donated by Drake Automotive Group. An RJS Racing V roll bar and five-point harnesses, Procar seats, and Auto Meter carbon-fiber gauges round out the interior. 

The end result is a throaty, gas-guzzling American icon that’d make Greta Thunberg tingle with excitement. As lawmakers get more punitive with emissions regulations and performance options like manual transmissions are going bye-bye, you’ve got to wonder if we’re seeing the final years of our beloved V-8s. Will one of Ford’s finest eventually be reduced to a hybrid/EV makeover to comply with nonstop political bloviating? We certainly hope not. Electric motors and muscle cars go together like Mama Cass and ham sandwiches.

Younger generations may never know the thrill of restoring and driving a vintage vehicle since most seem to eschew car payments, insurance, and individual responsibility altogether in favor of just opening a ride-sharing app. But enough about milquetoast agoraphobes with no appreciation for the finer things in life. The only electric vehicles most of us have ever (or will ever) get excited about is perhaps the Tyco slot car set we got for Christmas in the ’80s. We hope to see more projects like this in the future that’ll inspire other builds and demonstrate that the performance aftermarket is here to stay. Not only do we love that this steed was saved from the automotive glue factory, but it was also done in the name of a good cause. 

Veterans Sportsman Alliance

www.veteranssportsmanalliance.org

The 1967 Mustang with its hood popped

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