A look back at this Legendary car which has been indelible from memory since the publication of this article back in 2010.

 Words: GTC Darren

Photos: ROBB

Back when the S197 was a fresh new platform, I became aware of the body-in-white project that had arrived at Western Motorsports in Calgary Alberta. This bare Mustang chassis was to be the subject of a build I had not before ever seen, nor have since.

This Mustang was to be built up as a SEMA show car, which would display the product, talents, and capabilities of the fellows at WMS. This would be no rolling 1:1 scale model, nor would it be a 5 mph capable trailer queen, this would be a full out driver that would be street legal, registered, and even autocrossed.

This is the WMS Vanquish’d Mustang.

In typical fashion when building something from scratch, you’d select only the best components available, and when you have years of Ford performance experience the sky’s the limit.

 

The Vanquish’d is no exception.

The heart of Vanquish’d, like many other builds, is in the engine, WMS selected and modified an Aston Martin Vanquish V12 power plant which gives this car its name. This is no simple engine swap car, it was not “shoehorned” in with brute force and ignorance, but engineered to the finest detail, and finished to such a high standard that it rivals many supercars.

Focusing on that potent V12 power plant, it produced 520 horsepower in OEM trim and has been specially reworked by Western Motorsports. It draws in a cool, dense air charge through dual WMS Velocity Cold Air Kits, dual Accufab Throttle Bodies and WMS Ported Manifolds. Fuel and spark control are by a pair of WMS/SDS standalone injection systems, with two MSD DIS 4 Ignition systems to ensure a fierce spark for complete burn of the fuel charge. Even the internals have been fortified with a 6.1L stroker, filled with JE pistons, Eagle rods and extensive Head work by WMS. No bolt was left untouched and each upgraded to ARP Fasteners.

Spent exhaust gases are evacuated by a set of one-off WMS 6-2-1 Longtube Hedders, mated to a 3” off-road Magnflow “Magnapack” Exhaust, which provides a very distinctive tone throughout all throttle conditions.

The estimated 600 horsepower is transferred to the Tremec T56 transmission by a McLeod Street Twin clutch which motivates the 8.8” rear axle with its Eaton Detriot Trutrac differential and 3.73 gears.

The exterior received just as much attention, but is so well executed that you really have to pick the trees from the forest to gain full respect for all of the custom touches. Complementing the BASF R-M Carrizma Candy Blue Paint is a GT500 front fascia and splitter, a complex WMS Billet grille, and very trick custom billet vents from Colecraft.

A Classic Design Concepts Glassback roof provides an open air feel with none of the structural losses of a canvas top. Across the rear deck lid, nothing “spoils” the car’s profile and smooth lines that end in a Classic Design Concepts Trunk Blackout Panel.

Rolling stock is nothing less than iForged’s Essen line of wheels with 19 X 9” fronts and stunning 19 X 12” rears, wrapped with Michelin Pilot Sport Tires P275/35R19 and P345/30R19  front to back. Slowing down this show stopper is a set of Baer Extreme 14″ 6 piston Brakes and KW Suspension Coilovers rounds out the handling aspects.

The interior treatment is a tasteful departure from many typically overdone show cars, you’ll find no giant subwoofers or dead-weight amplifiers here. The creed here is form meets function, from the Cobra Missano leather/alacantara Seats to the AiM Strata Dash & Datalogger. The ambient light from the CDC glassback really made the blue accents pop from the black contrasts throughout the cockpit.

After a experiencing this car a from the spectator standpoint, it was time to experience it as a passenger. The 4 point safety harnesses settled me into the supportive Cobra seat with absolute confidence, once buckled in, Shannon took to the road.

After the test ride I was only able to mutter out; “That’s damn cool.”

A with gentle slipping of the clutch and we were off. Once rolling, the throttles were cracked open and that V12’s sweet exhaust note filled the cabin. The power came on with building aggression, forcing me into the lumbar, the engine climbed the digital tach quickly and effortlessly. Reaching the shift point the T56 was slotted into the next gear, and the power swelled again. The broken centerlines became closer together, next gear faster still, another shift and still pulling. Approaching another shift, we were on the brakes and nearly hanging against the harnesses as we were pulled back down to a stop. After a quick turnaround we were back at it again, the car making the perfect noise, unlike any Mustang I’d ever heard before.

After the test ride I was only able to mutter out; “That’s damn cool.”

After my visit for the photo shoot I decided to follow up with Shannon Wall and ask a few interview questions to better define the project.

 

(Following Photos credited to Western Motorsports – Home)

Darren – “If you were to have a mission statement for this project what would it be? Or more plainly, why did you guys build this car, and why did you select the parts you did?”

Shannon – “The project was motivated by a few circumstances; We had the Aston Martin V12, we’d bought a few of them ’cause it’s a really cool engine. We’d always liked Aston Martins and that’s about a close as we’re going to get to having one. It is also Ford’s most exotic engine and really is built by Ford, it’s even listed in the Ford Racing catalog under engine specs for those who don’t believe.  When the 2005 Mustang was unveiled we thought that would be a perfect chassis to put it in so we put together a plan for a SEMA project to show off what can be done with a ground up build of one of these cars.”

Darren – “ Did you run into any snags along the build and describe how they were resolved?”

Shannon – “I’m sure there were many snags along the way…  in typical hot rodder fashion though we just had to get creative, keep working and get around it.  The SEMA schedule did add some stress to it all and there were lots of last minute fixes.  I do remember polishing the intake scoops in the hotel parking lot in Vegas and installing them in the trailer!  Really though it all worked very well, engine fits in quite nicely and the miles of wiring all worked as planned – it fired right up.  One of the more challenging and tedious parts of the project would be the hedders, a couple days of fitting, cutting and welding.”

Darren  – “What kind of public events has this car attended and any accomplishments or awards?”

Shannon – “Of course the car made it’s debut at the SEMA show placed in the Mustang Dyno booth where it caught a lot of attention. While there, one of our more interesting conversations was with some Ford exec’s who were quite concerned where we got the Aston Martin engine. It has been at 2007 World of Wheels and won Best Engine, Street Achievement and Best in Class.  Also been to the International Mustang Meet and local (Calgary) Mustang club events.”

Darren – “Who are all of the people involved in the build, and anyone who you have special thanks to?”

Shannon – “Main builders were myself, Dave Lockwood and Rudy VanVeenendaal. Paint was done by Dwayne Flodel here in Calgary.  A special thanks to our families for putting up with our long working hours.”

Darren  – Do you guys have any future plans for this project or coming ones?

Shannon – “The Vanquish’d project is complete now and we are actually thinking about selling it now as we are starting a new project with a 2011 Mustang 5.0.”

Editor’s Note: The car was sold into private hands and WMS to turn out exciting Ford performance projects.

Specifications & Modifications:

Engine

6.1L Aston Martin V12 DOHC 48V

WMS Ported Heads

WMS Ported Intake Manifolds

JE Pistons

Eagle Rods

Dual WMS Velocity Cold Air Intakes

Dual Accufab Throttle Bodies

WMS Custom 6-2-1 Longtube Hedders

Magnaflow 3″ Offroad X pipe

Magnaflow Magnapack Exhaust

WMS/SDS Engine Management

MSD DIS 4 Ignition

WMS Wideband O2 Sensors

ARP Engine Fasteners

Driveline

Tremec T-56 6-speed Manual Transmission

Mcleod Street Twin clutch

Eaton Detroit TruTrac Differential

3.73:1 Final Drive

Suspension

KW Suspension Coilovers Front & Rear

Baer Extreme 14″ 6 piston Brakes

iForged 19 X 9″ Essen Wheels Front

iFroged 19 X 12″ Essen Wheels Rear

P275/35R19 Michelin Pilot Sport Tires Front

P345/30R19 Michelin Pilot Sport Tires Rear

Appearance

BASF R-M Carrizma Candy Blue Paint

Classic Design Concepts Glassback Roof

Classic Design Concepts Hood Struts

Classic Design Concepts Rear Blackout Panel

Cobra Missano Leather & Alcantra Seats

AiM Strada Dash/Datalogger

Colecraft Billet Custom Fender and Hood Vents

WMS Custom Aluminum Grille

GT500 Fasica & splitter, fog lamps,

 

 

For more information about this project or Ford performance modifications please visit http://www.wmsracing.com.

 

From the author: I would like to extend my thanks to Shannon, Rudy and Joel at WMS for having me at their shop and taking the time to share this car with the Mustang world, and Robb for his photography work.