Ford Built A 1966 Mustang Restomod With Parts You Can Buy

Ford Racing is marking its 125th anniversary with a restomod that puts its own parts catalog to the test. The R125 Mustang, debuting at SEMA 2026, takes a 1966 Fastback and rebuilds it around a modern crate powertrain, a contemporary five-speed, and Ford Racing Parts components, turning a classic shape into a showcase for what the division currently sells.

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The timing isn’t incidental. Ford Racing traces its roots to 1901, when Henry Ford personally drove a car called Sweepstakes to a win over Alexander Winton, one of the best-known racers of the era. That victory helped draw the financial backing that led to Ford Motor Company itself. The R125 is built to connect that origin story directly to a car enthusiasts can see, study, and eventually build parts of themselves.

A 347 Crate Engine Anchors The Build

Under the hood, the R125 runs a 347-cubic-inch crate engine making 360 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. It pairs a Ford Racing Boss block and aluminum cylinder heads with Edelbrock Pro-Flo electronic fuel injection, a combination meant to keep the small-block’s character while adding the drivability of a modern fuel system.

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Power runs through a Tremec TKX-600 five-speed, a compact transmission built to improve on the older Tremec TKO with smoother shifts and better durability. For a Fastback restomod where engine bay and tunnel space are already tight, that compactness matters as much as the spec sheet.

Small Details Carry The Same Philosophy

Even the valve covers get the full treatment. The R125 uses two-piece Ford Racing Parts valve covers with a patented design that includes interchangeable top panels, captured O-ring seals, and integrated spark plug wire looms. It’s a minor component in the context of the whole build, but it’s meant to illustrate the same idea running through the car: parts that are functional, serviceable, and still personal.

Every component featured on the R125, from the crate engine to the valve covers, is sold through Ford Racing Parts, meaning builders can source the same pieces for their own projects rather than just admire them on a show stand.

Why This Matters For Restomod Builders

The R125 isn’t positioned as a one-off museum piece. Ford frames it as proof that a 1966 Mustang can be used and modified without losing what made it a Mustang in the first place. Racing heritage, in this telling, isn’t separate from the parts business: it’s the proving ground that shaped the components now sitting in the R125’s engine bay.

For builders already deep in restomod culture, the pitch is straightforward access. The same crate engine, transmission, and trim pieces featured on Ford’s SEMA build are available off the shelf, which turns a heritage story into a parts list anyone restoring a classic Mustang can actually shop from.