Banbury's Prodrive creates '67 Fastback Rally Mustang

By Tom Kilkelly

26 June 2023

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The Business Magazine article image for: Banbury's Prodrive creates '67 Fastback Rally Mustang

The finished product, credit: Prodrive

Banbury engineering company Prodrive has completed the transformation of a '67 Mustang Fastback into a long distance rally car.

The project has been kept under wraps for 12 months, with the vehicle going from a ''rusted shell'' to a vehicle capable of participating in the 2024 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge.

Participation in said challenge is the intention for the Mustang. Peking to Paris is a 37 day, 14,000km event, which Starts off in Peking, China, and travels through Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Greece, Italy, and finally, Paris, France.

Prodrive were commissioned by classic car events company HERO-ERA to undertake the project.

CEO of HERO-ERA Tomas de Vargas Machuca said: “I’m blown away by the car, I am so happy with the result – although it nearly didn’t happen!”

“I originally asked David Richards to see if Prodrive could do anything with our old Mustang, at first he wasn’t sure as it was a bit of a departure, but then thankfully he came with a positive reply.

“That was fifteen months ago, since then Prodrive’s enthusiasm, experience and skill have transformed a ‘basket case’ into a historic motoring masterpiece.”

The car has been fitted with a 5.4L 400 bhp (break horse power) V8 engine, can operate in an altitude range of 300 to 3500 metres, withstand temperatures from -10 degrees Celsius to plus 40 degree Celsius, whilst the 70-gallon 400-mile long-range fuel tank is protected by an under body skin.

Senior engineer of the Mustang and Prodrive Legends general manager Richard Thompson: “When we got the chance to prepare a rally car for HERO-ERA with the target of winning classic events like the Paris to Peking, we leapt at it!

“We loved reviewing the specs of cars already competing, immersing ourselves in the varied challenges the crews and cars undergo, then applying our know-how from rallies like the East African Safari, Hong Kong Beijing and the Acropolis, to ensure we built a quick and reliable car.

“We also loved every minute of getting into the DNA of a mid-60’s US muscle car – from the detailed build to hearing the beautiful rumble of the 302 Windsor V8 on our engine dyno.”

By Tom Kilkelly

Tom Kilkelly started working as a freelance journalist for The Business Magazine following his graduation from UCL in 2022.

During his studies Tom became very interested in the works of Irish authors including Samuel Beckett and Flann O'Brien (Brian O'Nolan).

His current role as a freelance business reporter is his first exposure to the world of business journalism. Working at TBM has given Tom the chance to really get to grips with the goings-on in the business hive that is the South East.