Classic Muscle, Modern Bite: Chris Tawil’s DSE-Built 1966 Mustang
Chris Tawil’s 1966 Ford Mustang is a masterclass in cutting-edge modern performance in a classic package. Built with a sharp focus on modern handling and drivability, this street-legal machine is a track-capable beauty hiding beneath a clean, classic exterior. With Detroit Speed’s industry-leading suspension and chassis upgrades, this Mustang is engineered to carve corners with precision while maintaining the unmistakable soul of a first-gen pony car.
The build started with two donor cars—one a well-used Detroit Speed test vehicle and the other a solid but aging chassis. The team at Detroit Speed meticulously transferred proven components from the race-bred test car while reinforcing the body with strategic bracing and welds to eliminate structural weaknesses. The result is a rock-solid foundation that feels at home both on the street and in aggressive autocross conditions.
Powering this uber-clean Mustang is a Roush Yates-built 5.0L Coyote that delivers razor-sharp throttle response and relentless acceleration. A Bowler Performance T56 Magnum manual transmission sends power through a Performance Driveline Engineering driveshaft to a Detroit Speed Ford 9-inch rear axle equipped with C6 full-floater ends and 4.56 gears to handle both street duty and high-speed corner exits with confidence.
Detroit Speed’s engineering transforms this classic Mustang’s handling dynamics. Up front, the AlumaFrame front suspension system eliminates the limitations of the stock shock towers, providing improved geometry and allowing the Coyote engine to fit with ease. The precision-crafted aluminum cradle, combined with JRI double-adjustable shocks, sharpens the steering response and front-end stability without sacrificing ride quality.
In the rear, Detroit Speed’s QuadraLink suspension replaces the antiquated leaf spring setup with a modern four-link design, dramatically improving traction and reducing unwanted axle movement. Detroit Speed’s mini-tubs provide the extra clearance needed to fit aggressive Michelin tires on Forgeline wheels, which provide maximum grip. Subframe connectors tie everything together, reinforcing the unibody structure for a chassis that feels dialed in and predictable under load.
Beyond the suspension, Detroit Speed’s influence is seen throughout the car, from the custom stainless steel headers to numerous one-off components tailored to this build. The exterior remains true to the Mustang’s heritage but incorporates hand-crafted sheet metal flares and flush-mounted glass for a refined, modernized appearance. The interior carries the same theme, with Cobra Lemans seats, Classic Instruments gauges, and M&M Hotrod Interiors craftsmanship blending period-correct styling with modern comfort.
From its Baer brakes and C&R cooling system to its Vintage Air A/C and Retrosound audio, every component of this 1966 Ford Mustang was selected with purpose. But the real star of the build is the Detroit Speed chassis and suspension, a foundation that makes this car both a refined, show-quality restomod and a pure driver’s machine, built to carve corners with confidence while maintaining the timeless appeal of a ’66 Mustang.
