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Prodrive create incredible ’67 Fastback rally Mustang

By Timothy Neal

Date posted: 22 June 2023

A world first has been created by UK engineering masters Prodrive, after HERO-ERA commissioned the British company to transform a ’67 Mustang Fastback into a long distance rally car.

After 12 months of undercover activity, the 1967 (HERO-ERA 1) pony has gone from a sad rusted out shell to a state-of-the-art historic long distance rally beast, with an eye on it competing in the 2024 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge.

The machine has been painstakingly crafted in order to be able to withstand the rigours of the 37 day, 14,000km event, which Starts off in Peking, China, and travels through Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Greece, Italy, and finally, Paris, France.

The Prodrive built, HERO-ERA1 desert challenger has a 5.4L 400 bhp V8 with a Dart Ford 302 Windsor Block. Image: Will Broadhead

Launched on the 17th of June at the Bicester Heritage Flywheel event in the UK by David Richards CBE (Chairman, Prodrive) and Tomas de Vargas Machuca (Chairman HERO-ERA) ex F1  driver and Le Mans winner Jackie Oliver watched on as they pulled the covers off.

Some serious Dakar-style thought has been put into the five speed (overdrive), 5.4L 400 bhp V8, Dart Ford 302 Windsor Block, long-range rally challenger.

The historic rally build has been constructed to to operate in an altitude range of 300 to 3500 metres, withstand temperatures from -10 deg C to plus 40 deg c, whilst the 70-gallon 400-mile long-range fuel tank is protected by an under body skin.

 “I’m blown away by the car, I am so happy with the result – although it nearly didn’t happen!” de Vargas Machuca said. 

“I originally asked David Richards to see if Prodrive could do anything with our old Mustang, at first he wasn’t sure as it was a bit of a departure, but then thankfully he came with a positive reply. 

“That was fifteen months ago, since then Prodrive’s enthusiasm, experience and skill have transformed a ‘basket case’ into a historic motoring masterpiece.”

The HERO-ERA1 Fastback will take on the epic 37 day Peking to Paris rally in 2024. Image: Will Broadhead

Richard Thompson, the senior engineer and Prodrive Legends General Manager, says it was an incredible experience to turn the American muscle car into its existing form.

“When we got the chance to prepare a rally car for HERO-ERA with the target of winning classic events like the Paris to Peking, we leapt at it!

“We loved reviewing the specs of cars already competing, immersing ourselves in the varied  challenges the crews and cars undergo, then applying our know-how from rallies like the East African Safari, Hong Kong Beijing and the Acropolis, to ensure we built a quick and reliable car.

UK engineers, Prodrive, painstakingly re-constructed the 67 Fastback into an historic era rally endurance machine. Image: Will Broadhead

“We also loved every minute of getting into the DNA of a mid-60’s US muscle car – from the detailed build to hearing the beautiful rumble of the 302 Windsor V8 on our engine dyno.”

There’s no time wasted in getting the Fastback dirty either, with the car joining the Club Des Autos Tour for a gentle familiarisation run to France on Sunday 18th June.

Further testing will lead to the first big event test for HERO-ERA 1 – the Badawi Trial in the Middle East: a 7500 km 16-day event that starts in Jordan in Oct 10-26 2023, traversing across Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE.  

The HERO-ERA1 Desert Challenger will be in action as soon as soon as Oct 10-26 for a proper warmup before the Peking to Paris. Image: Will Broadhead

For more of the latest motorsport news, pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION.

PODCAST: The latest episode of the Auto Action RevLimiter podcast is out now!

In the latest podcast we discuss this weekends Darwin Supercars preview & news, F1 Canada preview, Winton ARG and LeMans 24Hour wrap-up.

Listen to the RevLimiter podcast on your podcast app of choice or here on the RevLimiter website

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