Aussie Classic Mustang Makes 1,546 Rear-wheel Horsepower

Formerly a six-cylinder record-holder, this V8-powered 1965 Ford Mustang is shooting for sevens.

The video above comes to us from the Fullboost YouTube channel and it features one of the quickest classic Ford Mustang coupes in the world. This car was built by Australian race John Colaidis, who turned heads and set records with a local-market inline-six, but after moving that engine into a new project, the decision was made to install a big, twin turbo V8 in the classic pony car.

To be exact, Colaidis has installed a 427-cubic inch V8 that sends over 1,500 horsepower to the rear wheels with the hopes of running seven-second quarter mile times, but he bigger goal is to drive and enjoy this 1965 Ford Mustang.

Orange Right-drive Mustang

The 1965 Ford Mustang shown here is quite popular in Australia and online, as this car formerly set a world record for being the quickest car Down Under running on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). While this car still had the 4.0-liter inline-six with a big turbo and a unique fuel system designed to run compressed propane, Colaidis ran an 8.97 at 154 miles per hour, making it the quickest car in Australia running on LPG.

Next, he removed the LPG items and added a fuel injection system designed to run on E85, at which point this 1965 Ford Mustang got down to a best time of 8.17 at 172 miles per hour. That is nothing short of amazing for an inline-six, but recognizing the limitations of this engine in the Mustang, he removed the engine for another project, making room for a big V8.

Twin-turbo V8

Colaidis installed a 427-cubic inch Windsor V8 built by Heathcote Race Engines and fitted with a Haltech EFI by Tunnel Vision. That engine is mated to the same PowerGlide transmission and rear differential as the previous 4.0-liter, but after installing the boosted V8, the car was bolted up to a hub dyno to measure the wheel horsepower of this wicked pony.

The dyno action with this gorgeous 1965 coupe begins with low boost, but even on 6 pounds, the result is a whopping 785 horsepower. When the boost is lifted to 9 pounds, horsepower climbed to 875 and at 11 pounds, this classic Ford broke into the four-figure mark, laying down 1,043.8 horsepower, but that was just the beginning.

The boost level is gradually increased more from 17 pounds up to 26 pounds while horsepower at the hubs climbs from 1,217.5 to a 1,512.6. Finally, the last pull is made with 28 pounds of boost and the result is 1,546 horsepower at the rear hubs.

Talking with the Owner

After the dyno runs, we hear from Colaidis, who states that he is happy with the output of 1,546 rear wheel horsepower. He explains that he plans to get to the track a few times with the hopes of getting into the seven-second range, but he isn’t as worried about chasing numbers as he is tearing up the street and enjoying his wicked, twin turbo Mustang.

Crank up your speakers and enjoy.

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Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

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