Despite the ubiquity of the small-block Chevy, the fuel-injected Mustang has to be the most modification-friendly machine ever created. While many in the 1980s were bemoaning the death of the carburetor and calling it the end of performance, that little black brain running the engine has opened the door to previously unimaginable performance. Best of all, thanks to the Mustang’s massive aftermarket support, anyone could own a world-class performance car by tapping into vast resources dedicated exclusively to making Ford’s pony car faster. With the right combination, you could build a Mustang that’s not only far faster than anything the factory could manage, but also just as comfortable, luxurious, and functional. If that’s not miraculous, I don’t know what is.

Which brings us to this nasty black Mustang GT. At a glance, it appears to be just like thousands of its siblings: a clean piece of Ford muscle. But under the skin, this car packs more than $15,000 worth of upgrades designed to make it go, stop, steer, and feel better than its stock siblings. Sure, it’s black with a set of silver racing stripes, but I think it’s OK to call this car a bit of a sleeper. Perhaps it’s the Mustang’s familiarity, but nobody’s going to expect the 450-horsepower wallop this pony brings to the table, nor the surprisingly capable suspension that keeps it in the fight long after its siblings would have given up.

Externally, it remains almost entirely stock. Factory paint has been lovingly polished and waxed throughout its life and with just over 22,000 original miles, it has obviously never been subjected to the rigors of the daily grind. In fact, I bet you could count the number of times this car has been wet on one hand. It’s incredibly clean inside and out. And despite the massive performance hiding inside, there are no extraneous details to give it away: no hood scoop, no custom wheels, and the stripes and spoiler are part of the GT package, so nobody will look twice. That’s the right way to speak softly and carry a big stick. It has obviously never been wrecked and all the bodywork is original and virtually unmarked, so no worries about abuse in its past. The first-gen S197 brought back a retro look and we still think it’s the most effective bridge to the past—from the fog lights in the grille to the louvered slats on the quarter windows to the three-element taillights, it seems to connect directly to the designers of 1967. There’s just no question that this is a Mustang.

This Mustang came loaded, and that includes a comfortable and attractive black leather interior. Grippy sport seats also echo the past with their horizontal pleats, but these power buckets are a lot more effective at their jobs than the stools from 1967. A fat steering wheel with three wide spokes recalls the past, as do the round gauge pods with retro-looking numbers on their faces. You’ll note that this car has almost every available option: A/C, power windows, locks, mirrors, and seats, cruise control, and the killer Shaker stereo system with a big subwoofer in the trunk. It all works properly and as with the interior, there are virtually zero signs of use. You’ll quickly note the two auxiliary gauges on the A-pillar, which monitor fuel pressure and boost, both critical with a supercharged engine, and the textured dash proudly wears “STEEDA” emblems in place of the originals. A few other custom touches such as the speaker covers, subtle “Magna Charger’ badge, and color-matched lighting let you know this is a special Mustang without advertising too loudly. The rest is quite stock and in excellent shape, including the like-new trunk with a spare tire that’s never been used.

But you’re not looking at this car because the interior’s pretty. No, you’re interested in the heart of the beast: Ford’s 4.6 liter OHC V8 topped by a Steeda Magna Charger supercharger. In stock form, it cranked out a very respectable 300 horsepower, but now that it’s inhaling about 10 pounds of boost, that number is estimated to be around 450. The installation is beautifully done and the superior workmanship is a Steeda hallmark—check out the clever jackshaft that powers the blower, which integrates with the stock accessory drive. The thing almost looks OEM! Add in a heavy-duty air cleaner, the Steeda shock tower brace, and a custom tune on the ECM, and it feels muscle and very potent without losing any of its user-friendly nature. Turn the key and it fires instantly, idles smoothly, and just goes about its business without any fuss. Stay off the loud pedal and your mother could drive it to church without knowing she could also rip off low 12-second quarters with her eyes closed. That’s the miracle of modern performance.

The potent V8 is backed by Ford’s 5R55S 5-speed automatic transmission and before you scoff, realize that it has never been this easy to go this fast. The transmission is so quick that you’ll be able to slice through traffic without thinking and it takes little more than a stab at the throttle to cover huge distances in the blink of an eye. Want to be in that hole in traffic? BAM! You’re there. With upgraded 4.10 gears in back, plus a limited slip unit, this sucker is punchy as hell. Steeda has also augmented the suspension, and that’s where they really shine since most of their equipment was developed on the race track. Lowering springs, upgraded sway bars, custom shocks, and more give this Mustang balance and poise that you don’t usually expect from Ford’s simple Mustang. The stainless exhaust also features Steeda mufflers for a great soundtrack that never gets annoying. Factory wheels help with the low-profile look, although we’ll admit that the 5-spoke design is quite handsome, and they carry recent 235/50/18 BFGoodrich radials all around.

Documentation includes the original manuals.

Fast Mustangs aren’t all that unusual. But to combine expert maintenance, a beautiful look, and this much comfort with sledgehammer performance, well, this Mustang is impressive. Is this the fastest inexpensive car we’ve ever had or the least expensive fast car? You decide and call us today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any car in our inventory prior to purchase.