Ford Mustang lands in Oz

Fancy a Ford Mustang but can’t wait till Christmas? Mustang Motorsport is already shifting the steering wheel to the right side.

The Melbourne company has been toying with 'Stang tillers for 25 years and will continue to do so, despite Ford Australia soon importing the US muscle coupe.

“It’s what we do for a living, why wait for Ford to bring me a car?” tells Mustang Motorsport managing director Craig Dean.

Dean says it will only take three or four sales to offset the engineering costs of the conversion, little surprise when a GT V8 will ask $125,000 and the Ecoboost $10K less – more than twice the official price.

You can also buy a Roush supercharged version for $155,000 – a model Ford Australia won’t bring here at any cost. It packs 468kW with a Stage 1 tune (alternatively, $12,000 if you BYO car), or 522kW+ with a Stage 2 (added price TBC), a healthy boost on the 303kW produced by the standard 5.0-litre V8.

Although officially taking the ‘Stang to local Ford dealer stables may crush conversion business, Dean sees a new opportunity to sell styling, braking and performance modifications to thousands of fresh Mustang buyers.

“That’s what we’re banking on,” he confirms.

“The main reason to bring in the Mustang was to prepare our tooling for putting bodykits on them, doing Shelby mods and the Roush upgrades, and doing our own product line of unique components.

“So we thought let’s convert them and get them on the road anyway. It wasn’t really to sell new ones to people unless they really want them.”

Regardless of demand, Mustang Motorsport won’t be allowed to import the vehicles once official importation begins. But having done the tooling hard yards, Dean at least hopes to convert the must-have Mustang Shelby GT on local soil before Christmas.

For standard 'Stang owners, the Roush tuning list includes an exhaust upgrade, cold air intake (for Ecoboost and V8), single- or triple-adjustable coil-over suspension, a front fascia kit with bonnet scoop, spoiler and front splitter and 20-inch black or polished forged wheels.

Shelby modifications add racing seats (with five-point harness), gauge kit, camber/castor plates, adjustable rear control arm, along with most Shelby-specific exterior and interior treatments.

Prices are also to be confirmed.

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