It’s not uncommon to see the wheelie bars set high on Don Erwin’s “One Trick Pony” 1965 Mustang Fastback. After all, he didn’t earn the nickname “Showtime” for rolling with the crowd.
A veteran car guy and drag racer, Erwin has owned this car since 1984 and has become quite well known at the tracks he runs, if not for his wheelstands and prowess behind the wheel (of any of his 3 cars), then surely because of the incredible paint scheme on this Mustang – half of it is red and white, and the other half is white and red. Wait a minute, isn’t that the same color combo? Ah, but it is absolutely not. In probably what is one of the more original looks we’ve seen, Erwin opted to reverse the dominant color from one side of the car to the other, and here’s the rub – even though you know that one side of
The unique and very cool color scheme for the Mustang was not only the brainchild of owner Don Erwin, but he did the work, too! It’s amazing how our brains work….when you look at each side of the car separately it looks like a different car.
The latest iteration of the Fastback’s power is a stout 9.5 deck 351W based small block with Yate heads that is stroked to 393 inches. A monster F3 ProCharger centrifugal supercharger sits low up front, in fact the placement necessitated minor surgery to the original front crossmember.
the car is the opposite, try watching a run from one side and then the other. Your brain’s first response is to think it’s a different car! Then reality kicks in a split second later and the cool factor really sets in.
Self-employed with his own auto repair business, it didn’t take Don long to start modifying the car the way he wanted it. Going through various combinations over the years, he would eventually be hitting the drag strip with a stick-shifted wheel-standing naturally aspirated 351W based combination in 2015. It wasn’t as though Erwin was new to the strip, though, as he has been drag racing since 1973.
In fact, he is 10-time track Champion at Ozark International Raceway Park, held the track record for ET and MPH off and on for 10 years in the True Ten 5 class and was inducted into the Southwest Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 2016. So you might say that Don has his game on when it comes to racing.
Wanting “more” for the Fastback, Erwin would step up to a monstrous 632 big block, but that still wouldn’t quench his thirst for power. More recently, with the continuing itch to go quicker and faster, he went
It’s pretty much all racecar inside the Fastback, with very little original equipment left aside from the dash pad. Red cage bars snake throughout the interior and the original floor and custom tin work is covered in bright red carpet. A digital display is inset in the dash face and electronics are neatly laid out near the passenger kick panel with a full 2 row switch array mounted within easy reach above the driver.
You might say that Don has his game on when it comes to racing...
all-in to capitalize on the Mustang’s appealing looks with a hardcore big power small block boosted combination that would take the Fastback to a whole new level.
Chassis wise, the car has been backhalved while keeping the front frame relatively intact, and if you look closely you can make out the original front frame sections amid the sea of chassis bars. Along with that, the car retained its body tub, firewall, doorjambs and even the stock floor to the rear of the doors, so it really is a true 1965 Mustang, which is becoming a scarce sight these days. Erwin credits Mark Werdehusen of TYDO Race Cars for all of the chassis and cage work along with wiring and plumbing
the car.
So what’s the story on the paint? As it turns out not only did Don come up with the unique paint design for the car, but he also did the paint work himself. Have a closer look; it really is remarkable how the Mustang looks like a different car from one side to the other.
Thanks to the chassis and suspension work, the Mustang sits low and mean. The custom rear chassis is complimented by a fabricated and heavily fortified “TYDO” Ford 9-inch with 3.89 gears that is suspended by a coilover 4-link setup with antiroll bar. Up front, tubular control arms with struts and rack and pinion steering were used, and for the most recent build, in order
Down Erwin’s 1965 Mustang Fastback small tire drag car
Chassis Type & Mods:
Body: Composite front end and doors, original doorjambs, firewall, and floor to the back of the doors. Paint completed by owner.
Chassis & Suspension /Modifications: 1965 original car that was back-halved and has stock front frame rails. Full cage. Front suspension is struts with tubular control arms and rack & pinion steering. Rear is custom 4-link coilover with anti-roll bar. Mark Werdehusen of TYDO Race Cars completed all of the chassis and cage work.
Engine:
SBF 351 Windsor, 9.5 deck, stroked to 393 inches. Forged stroker rotating assembly. Yates heads Eldelbrock/Glidden intake and Mark Sullens
blow-through dominator style E85 carb.
Power Adder:
F3 Procharger, SuperCharger Store overdrive.
Transmission: Built Powerglide with a Neal Chance converter.
Rear Differential:
Fabricated 9-inch with 3.89 gears.
Tires & wheels: Weld Racing stars with Mickey Thompson tires. Strange brakes.
