Certain people have always found ways to make their pride a joy look unique, long before movies like The Fast and the Furious simultaneously elevated and stigmatized car modification.
Where the Ford Mustang fits into this nexus is interesting. The 'Fox Body' Mustang of the '80s is considered a budget tuner favourite in America, with the fifth generation 2005 version (the retro looking one. We like them) following in its footsteps as a means of affordable power.
But with the international uptake of the new Ford Mustang — a car that for many markets represents their first from-the-factory taste, including New Zealand — modification is taking a more international flavour. Factor in too that it comes with a four-cylinder option, and the new (well, current. A new one is coming next year) Mustang is a sitter for the tuning market.
Already, we've seen these cars welcomed with open arms by the drifting world (helped along by the likes of Vaughn Gittin Jr, who's heading here early next year). And now the likes of Japanese custom company Liberty Walk are wading into the equation with their own ground-hugging aftermarket bodykits.
Launched earlier this week, the new kit includes LW's traditional bolt-on overfenders, an aggressive front splitter and rear diffuser, a lip spoiler, carbon-fibre inserts, and a tinkered front fascia/grill arrangement.
All up, the kit retails at NZ$9400, not including wheels or whatever shipping a full bodykit from Japan to New Zealand costs these days. Consider too that the kit naturally doesn't include any performance upgrades.
Aesthetics and standing out are great and all, but that money could help invest in all sorts of performance upgrades to such a car.
The value and sanity of 'stancing' a car? That's perhaps a topic for another day.
