39 years after the original Mustang California Special was released, Ford has brought back this iconic package for their S197 Mustang platform. The California Special takes design cues from the original ’68 Mustang and Shelby GT, resulting in a clean-looking modern muscle car that possesses a special place in the Mustang line-up.
The Mustang GT California Special (S197) was available as a coupe or convertible, and came standard with leather seats, a Shaker 500 audio system, and power everything, but what’s more important, under the hood it had a 4.6 liter V8 engine capable of 300 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque in the stock form. With all these features it’s the perfect choice for modern muscle car fans who want a special vehicle for their new modification project.
If you’re a fan of S197 Mustangs then you will definitely appreciate this bagged Ford Mustang GT California Special that we prepared for you today. It’s owned and modified by Jacob Boyd who was glad to provide us with some details about his build.
The car has been lowered with an Air Lift air suspension system, which gives it a much more aggressive ground-hugging look. It sits on a set of all black Cosmis Racing XT005r rims sized 18×8 all around and wrapped in General performance tires.
The engine has been upgraded with BBK longtube headers, a fully custom 3 inch exhaust, and a catless x pipe. These mods help the car breathe better and produce more power, resulting in improved acceleration and throttle response.
The exterior has also been enhanced with a custom wickerbill spoiler, Gorilla Splitters front splitter, 66polarcustoms rear side splitters, Carterscustoms04 side splitters, and Exo Lighting LED side markers front and rear. These modifications give this California Special a distinctive custom touch yet maintain the clean OEM+ look.
Ford Mustang GT California Special S197
Suspension & Wheels
- Air Lift air suspension
- 18×8 Cosmis Racing XT005r rims
Performance mods
- BBK longtube headers
- Fully custom 3 inch exhaust
- Catless x pipe
Exterior mods
- Custom wickerbill spoiler
- Gorilla Splitters front splitter
- 66polarcustoms rear side splitters
- Carterscustoms04 side splitters
- Exo Lighting LED side markers front and rear
Conclusion
Jacob Boyd’s Mustang GT California Special (S197) is a perfect example of how to build a truly clean muscle car with modern custom touches. The car has been lowered with an Air Lift air suspension system, which gives it a much more aggressive ground-hugging look and sits on a set of all black Cosmis Racing XT005r rims sized 18×8 all around. With all these exterior, performance and suspension upgrades it’s the perfect example to follow for anyone looking to start their own S197 project.
Watch the progress and find out more about this Ford Mustang S197 project by visiting the Instagram profile of the owner: @boyd_s197!
Photography by: @ff_vision
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One of the cleanest S197 builds I’ve seen. Pretty sick