STRIPPED BACK
Inside iconic reimagined Ford Mustang with stronger steel and roll cage for off-roading – but beware of foul weather
The stunning motor took its name from a Hollywood hardman
THE iconic Ford Mustang has been re-imagined as an off-roading adventure machine.
The car, now with stronger steel and a roll cage, was created by Italian design house BorromeodeSilva.
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Built for dune bashing, the project was inspired by BorromeodeSilva’s creative director Carlo Borromeo, who once drove a 1968 Mustang from New York to his mum's house in Buenos Aires.
While cutting through the dramatic landscapes of the Panamerican Highway in 2008 Carlo started thinking how the classic Mustang could be re-booted.
Named the STL-1 after Sylvester Stallone, the back to basics motor features a brand new body made from thicker steel than the 68 original.
Powered by a 5.0-litre Road Runner V8, the beast wears Pirelli Scorpion all-terrain tyres.
The STL-1 is open top but owners can opt for a fabric roof for those rainy days.
The original 1968 Mustang belongs to Hollywood folklore thanks to its role in Bullitt, when Steve McQueen roared around the streets of San Francisco in the famous Ford.
Carlo said: “I first crossed the United States and then from New York to Buenos Aires.
"It was during this epic journey, along the gruelling Panamericana, that I began to imagine how this extraordinary muscle car could be modified to become the perfect all-terrain car destined for adventure.
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"It took us a few years to realise the idea, but we are finally there: we are now ready to build the best off-road Mustang in the world, combining our experience in restomod design with our love of epic journeys.”
The 60s Mustang is said to be the Godfather of American muscle cars and has legendary status amongst fans.
However Ford has continued to update the Mustang over the years, with the seventh generation version rolled out in 2023.
The motor giant has included an electric version of the motor to provide an alternative to the V8 petrol engine car.
Ford recently announced it would no longer produce cars with an active safety feature.
The company's parallel park assist has been cut from future production vehicles after data analysis showed few drivers even used the feature.
"Very, very few people are using it," Kumar Galhotra, the company's Chief Operating Officer, said during an earnings call.
The company estimates it will save around $10 million in production costs each year.
Park assist features cost the company about $60 per vehicle.
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"We are always evaluating our vehicles to make sure we’re giving customers more of what they love — and less of what they don’t," Ford said in a statement after the earnings call.
"We found the overwhelming majority of customers aren’t using Active Park Assist in the way it is currently offered."
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