STRAIGHT UP SCUFFLER

Just a sleepy, creaky Mustang raggy, right?

Text and Photos by Ro McGonegal

            “I am a New York City union carpenter and my field is what assists my metal fabrication skills. This is how I am able to make my own pieces--the firewall plate, polished battery box, radiator hold-down, and airbag cover,” said 31-year-old Tom Newcombe. There are plenty worse places to be if you’ve got a hot car yen.

            Short of shoving a tube frame under it, there’s not much more Tom could do to enhance the Mustang’s chassis dynamics, ride quality, or handling power. The motor is a monster. The ’90 ragtop is a dead fake-out. Ragtops aren’t real hot rod meat, are they? Just another stroke with chromed Cobra wheels on his stock ‘Stang. Yeah, crap.

            “I’d say 9 out of 10 think its all show. ‘With all that chrome how fast can it be?’ I actually hear this. Now it’s my time to pick on the big boys. Watching their faces drop is priceless,” said Tom. “I built this car for one reason. Me. I am my own worst critic.

            “There’s something about this hobby that really makes me happy, though. I’d say one of the most rewarding parts of owning this car is when others admire it, when you get respect from the older group. You know, some guys are just old school, and never learn. Now they recognize the car for what it has become.

            For helping make this happen, right away I gotta thank my younger bro Bobby, my uncle Pete Colasanto (S/P Classics, Amity Village, NY), my friends Mark Weiner and Pat Ryan, and my mom and dad.” Tom also surfed the net like a fool looking for deals and made some cyberspace droogies along the way. He and his hard-core Mustang homeys hang at www.extremehp.com. 

            If you Fox fans smell a little hink, yes, you have seen this car before, on a recent cover of Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords. But it’s changed some since—mainly in the engine compartment. It took four erratic years just to get to Stage 1, but Tom’s blood red fool has won Best Paint and Best Engine awards.

            After looking at least 40 cars, Tom took ownership in ’99. He says the car was far from a gem. It was bone stock. He went through all the basic bolt-ons. Then it got a new motor. Then the new motor got a supercharger.