Jeff Schwartz, president of Schwartz Performance, talks about his latest project, the Raybestos 1969 Ford Mustang Fastback.
Tell us about Schwartz Performance?
We opened our doors in 2005, but the concept of Schwartz Performance has been 35 years in the making. We were founded on the premise that race-car performance can be had with street-car convenience, reliability and comfort. We started in a 1,600 square-foot facility, where we introduced the first bolt-in muscle-car chassis, and quickly outgrew it. We currently have a 25,000 square-foot facility in Woodstock, Illinois. Our master fabricators build our chassis in-house and we prove their performance and longevity by competing in autocross events constantly. In addition to our busy event schedule and chassis manufacturing, we have a full staff dedicated to building dream cars for clients all over the world.
How closely did you work with Raybestos on the restoration project?
We worked with Raybestos a couple years ago to restore a ’71 Camaro and had a great experience. They are easy to work with and understand the effort it takes to build cars like these. We are always communicating with them and appreciate that they are open to new ideas and suggestions. It’s been a great collaboration.
Where did you find the Mustang that was restored?
We always try to find a car that has a clean, rust-free shell. Fortunately, this car spent most of its time in Arizona and Palm Springs, so it was the ideal choice for this project.
Why did you choose a Mustang for this particular rebuild?
Raybestos and Mustang both have a long history of leadership and innovation. These two iconic brands are recognized for their commitment to performance and excellence, so it was the perfect choice to pick a 1969 Mustang for this restoration.
Can you provide us some details about the fully restored muscle car?
There is so much to say, but here are a few details. The idea was to make the Raybestos Mustang look like a late-1960s SCCA Trans-Am road racer. Initially, the shell of the ’69 Mustang was media blasted. We added our Schwartz G-Machine Chassis and spent 1,200 man hours building and modifying this car.
We installed and tuned a Ford Racing 302 Coyote crate engine that now produces more than 480 hp and has a similar high RPM range of the Boss 302 Mustang engine of 1969. For the exhaust system, we fabricated an oval tube side exit exhaust like what a 1969 Trans Am series racer had. We also spent a lot of fabrication time tucking the bumpers in tighter to the body to give the front and rear a cleaner look.
Off-the-shelf Raybestos brakes were installed, including Element3 brake pads with Enhanced Hybrid Technology (EHT), R-300 rotors, calipers for the Mustang GT500, and a manual brake master cylinder from Raybestos, sized to provide optimal pedal feel and stopping power.
Where do you get the parts for the build?
While we manufactured many items ourselves, we were fortunate to partner with 25 top suppliers. All of our partners are leaders in their particular specialty, making the Raybestos Mustang a very special, one-of-a-kind, highly customized classic car.
Can car lovers see the Raybestos Mustang before it is awarded?
Yes. The car will be on display at car shows and events across North America until it arrives in Las Vegas for the 2016 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX), Nov. 1-3.
To learn more about the contest, restoration and build partners, visit www.RaybestosBuild.com.