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The real life Frankenstein's monster of Mustangs Sponsor this page This page last updated on or about 1-27-07 a - j m o o n e y h a m . c o m - o r i g i n a l

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Above is my 2005 artistic rendition of Shadowfast in his 1970s prime.
CLICK HERE to see RARE PHOTOS.

Frankenstein's Mustang

In its ultimate form, the Shadowfast supercar of the 1970s described in The Shadowfast supercar driver logs had much in common with the Frankenstein's monster of fiction. For the heart of Shadowfast was a wrecked 1969 Ford Mustang Mach One. Over time, this Mach One would become 'monsterized' or mutated with the integration of parts and ideas from a wide variety of other sources (like those below):

• 1969 Boss 429 Mustang front anti-sway bar
  
• 1969 Boss 429 Mustang ram-air hood scoop
  
• 1970 Mustang dual headlight corner posts (possessed useful built-in air scoops)
  
• 1970 Boss 302 Mustang rear leaf springs
  
• 1970 Boss 302 Mustang rear anti-sway bar
  
• 1970 Boss 302 Mustang fiberglass rear corner posts (lighter in weight and more easily customized than standard Mach 1 versions)
  
• Open brake cooling scoops front and rear like a 1966 Lemans Ford GT-40
  
• Metallic brake linings similar to those used for race cars of the time
  
• Roll cage similar to race car designs (and more robust than street Shelby Mustang versions), built from steam pipes from a food canning factory
  
• Steel hood louvers salvaged from house air conditioning cases
  
• 180 degree rear view mirror similar to those used in some race cars
  
• Header exhausts as used by race cars
  
• Two seater interior similar to sports cars like Corvettes, Ferraris, etc.
  
• Custom-made interior rear shelf like that of Shelby Mustangs
  
• Larger 15 inch wheels and tires such as used on Trans Am racing Mustangs of the period
  
• Staggered rear shock absorbers such as used on Boss 429, 351, 302, and Shelby Mustangs
  
• Traction bars similar to those used on Trans Am racing Mustangs
  
• Custom-built ram-air system utilizing rubber tires off kid-size bicycles for seals
  
• Custom 1966 Ford GT-40 style dashboard built from aluminum electrical conduit and automotive fiberglass
  
• Water temperature, ammeter, and oil pressure gauges from a wrecked car (cannot recall make, model)
  
• CB radio like that used in trucking industry
  
• Aluminum intake manifold similar to Boss 429 and 302 Mustangs of the period
  
• Holley carburetor similar to Boss 429 and 302 Mustangs of the period
  
• Dual-point distributor similar to Boss 429, 351, and 302 Mustangs of the period
  
• Black leather seats from a 1971 Boss 351 Mustang
  
• AM/FM radio from a 1971 Boss 351 Mustang
  
• Custom battery placement similar to 1969 Boss 429 Mustang
  
• Extra drivetrain cooling radiators as seen on many race cars
  
• Forward driving lights similar to many European sports cars of the period
  
• Front air dam as sported by many-- maybe most-- race cars the last several decades (the lower flexible portion of the dam made from a wide rubber conveyor belt discarded by a food canning factory)
  
• Extended rear spoiler as sported by many-- maybe most-- race cars the last several decades
  
• Anti-pursuit gadgets and tricks inspired by James Bond's Q-cars of cinema, and the Batmobile of comic books

The biggest reason for Shadow's eventual 'Frankenstein'-like composition was my lack of money. I had no choice but to pursue my performance goals with whatever I could scrounge up from my environment. But it all turned out amazingly well!

BMW's early seventies 'Frankenstein's monster'

It seems my dad and I did an awful lot of things right in our transformation of Shadowfast. Like maybe in some ways making it as good as (or better!) than Ford's own Boss Trans Am racing Mustangs and street Shelbys of the period.

But European car maker BMW seems to have had its own Shadowfast moment.

In 2006 I ran across a Businessweek collector cars article about how BMW made their own 'Frankenstein's monster' in the early seventies, much like I did Shadowfast. BMW's performance results were likewise impressive, allowing them to win the 1973 European Touring Car Championship.

BMW reduced their car's weight by virtually the same amount I did Shadowfast's, by dispensing with unnecessary items like sound deadening insulation and various interior components.

But weight reduction alone wasn't enough to beat their toughest competitors. So BMW also added a front air dam and large rear spoiler-- again, just as I did with Shadowfast. Heck, they even applied fin-type elements ("air guides") to their front end which resembled the top edges of a 1969 Mustang's front fenders from the factory!

Thirty plus years later(!), Businessweek's collector car editor's main gripe with this BMW was it being underpowered compared to many other vehicles (this particular BMW seems to have possessed only 72% of what a purely factory-stock 1969 Mach One 351-4V did). He also thought the aerodynamic elements a bit too outrageous and juvenile-looking for a street car (but the article says those elements were vital to the car actually winning races thirty years ago).

-- BMW Batmobile The 1973 BMW 3.0CSL looked funky but its improved aerodynamics made it a winner on the track By Rob Sass; SEPTEMBER 11, 2006

Yeah, that collectible BMW sounds quite a bit like Shadowfast: it didn't boast the biggest, most powerful motor of its time; it was fairly outrageous-looking for many street circumstances; and it definitely wasn't the prettiest car around.

But it outperformed its peers in all the ways that really mattered.

To see how Shadowfast did likewise, you can check out The Shadowfast supercar driver logs.