The number of foreign visitors Ultrace attracts shows just how big this annual European event has become. But it’s not just people who make the trip to Wrocław, Poland – it’s cars too.
At the recent event in 2024 One international build stood out for me: Chris Marechal’s Ford Mustang from the US.
Built by Timeless Kustoms in Camarillo, California, the Vicious Mustang is actually more custom than Ford. The only parts left from the base 1965 Mustang coupe are the A-pillars and the hood; everything else is custom or aftermarket. “Insane” doesn’t even begin to describe this one-of-a-kind creation that reportedly cost over $1 million to build.
The exterior is finished in Vicious Black, a custom color by PPG, with silver and red stripes to break it up. The hood is a one-off piece of carbon fiber that weighs just eight pounds. My favorite detail? The Ferrari F430-inspired rear diffuser.
I met Chris, who was happy to show me his car, but not before letting the Ultrace crowd hear what it sounds like.
I’m always fascinated by how quickly people surround a car when it’s about to be started, but in this case I can totally understand.
Under the hood sits a 5.1L Ford Performance Aluminator V8 engine that produces 1,003 horsepower and 784 ft-lb of torque on E85 fuel, using only 70% gas.
These impressive numbers are thanks to a Magnuson MP2300 TVS supercharger and two Precision 6466 ball bearing turbos. That’s right, this thing is compound boosted.
The turbos – hidden in the front fenders – override the supercharger via ducting that runs to air-to-air intercoolers up front and back under the car to the supercharger. Because the hood is equipped with a duct, it creates a bit of downforce as the air passes through the front-mounted intercooler and radiator, improving the Mustang’s handling.
The Aluminator engine is backed by an EMCO CG46 sequential six-speed transmission with a custom Centerforce DYAD clutch, flowing into a Strange Engineering 9.75-inch aluminum rear end.
You might think that the two holes next to the headlights are there to feed air to the turbos. In fact, they are cooling ducts for the front brakes, which consist of Brembo 6-piston calipers and 15.5-inch carbon-ceramic brake discs. At the rear are Brembo 4-piston calipers.
The wheels are center-lock Forgeline CF3C-SLs – 19×11-inch up front and 19×13-inch in the rear, wrapped in 305/30ZR19 and 355/30ZR19 tires, respectively. Despite the large front wheel and tire combination, the Mustang has no problem turning lock to lock.
The suspension consists of Ridetech triple-adjustable coilovers with the front benefiting from a full Art Morrison C7 Corvette frame clip. At the rear, the Mustang has a multi-link independent rear suspension also produced by Art Morrison.
The red details in the engine compartment, around the bodywork and on the Brembo brake calipers match the modified interior perfectly.
The all-red interior is focused on functionality, but finished with great attention to detail. The custom-finished Sparco Pro 2000 seats, nestled in a 14-point roll cage, are combined with Crow Safety Gear 5-point harnesses. Everything you need to turn on/off and view is right in front of you and below the MoTeC C127 colour display. A Vintage Air heating/defrosting system and DJ Safety fire suppression system take the specification even further.
A custom fuel cell takes up most of the trunk space, but there’s still room for the fuel delivery system, the Viair air tank and the compressor that operates the paddle shifters.
For those of you living in the US, this car is old news. VSTANG has been around for a few years now – not that you’d know it by looking at it – and has visited the SEMA Show no less than three times. For us Europeans, however, it’s a very special treat to see something of this caliber.
Ultrace always brings out the best, it’s just a shame we all have to wait a whole year for the next event.
Alen Haseta
Instagram: hazeta
The Cruel Rod by Chris Marechal
Engine: Ford Performance 5.2L Aluminator V8, 2x Precision 6466 ball bearing turbochargers, Magnuson MP2300 TVS supercharger, GT350 CNC ported heads, custom Darton Mid 3.700 Big Bore Sleeve Kit, Ford Performance Coyote Boss 302 forged crankshaft, Comp Cams custom Voodoo Head camshafts with MMR billet camshaft adjusters and guides, Manley Performance custom 2618 pistons, Manley Performance Pro Series I-Beam 300M connecting rods, Manley valve springs, custom MMR titanium retainers, ARP main/head studs, Cometic head and exhaust gaskets, Aviaid 4-stage dry sump with billet oil pan, XRP oil lines, fuel lines and fittings, custom exhaust by Timeless Kustoms with MagnaFlow components, custom stainless steel long tube headers by Timeless Kustoms with MagnaFlow components and DEI heat wrap, 2x custom Fluidyne intercoolers, custom Fluidyne radiator, 2x Aeromotive Eliminator Stealth in-tank fuel pumps, Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator, MoTeC ECU & data acquisition system with GCU, trunk mounted Optima battery
Drivetrain: EMCO CG46 sequential 6-speed transmission with paddle shifters, custom Centerforce DYAD clutch, Strange Engineering independent 9.75 aluminum rear end
Suspension and brakes: Ridetech triple adjustable coilovers, Front: C7 Corvette clip manufactured by Art Morrison Enterprises, Rear: Multi-link independent rear suspension (IRS) manufactured by Art Morrison Enterprises, Brembo 15.5-inch carbon ceramic brake rotors, Brembo 6-piston front calipers, Brembo 4-piston rear calipers
Wheels and tires: Forgeline GT3C centerlock 19×11-inch front and 19×13-inch rear wheels, Kumho Ecsta V720 305/30ZR19 front and 355/30ZR19 rear tires
Exterior: Dynacorn body panels, mini tubs with 2-inch custom fender flares by Timeless Kustoms, Ringbrothers billet hood hinges, Ferrari F430-inspired rear diffuser by Timeless Kustoms
Interior: Sparco Pro 2000 seats, Crow harnesses, DJ Safety fire extinguishing system, MoTeC C127 dashboard, Vintage Air air conditioning