Aftermarket vehicle of the month

In a recent issue of Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords magazine, an industry authority in late-model Mustang performance, there were a total of 192 paid advertisers out of a 300-page package. Many of the ads were either full-page or multi-page spreads

Bob McClurg

Jan. 1, 2020

2 min read

Late-model Mustangs pony up profits

In a recent issue of Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords magazine, an industry authority in late-model Mustang performance, there were a total of 192 paid advertisers out of a 300-page package. Many of the ads were either full-page or multi-page spreads –– an indication the late model Mustang parts and services industry is continuing to grow.

To give you a basis to work from, let's review the three groups of aftermarket parts sales: restoration, cosmetics and hard core performance.

The necessary: restoration

Late-model Mustang enthusiasts now are restoring the more collectable Fox Mustangs, like the LX, GT, Saleen and SVO, and these enthusiasts are in need of high-quality restoration parts. While some parts still are available from local Ford Parts and Service retailers, companies such as Hewitt, Texas-based Late Model Supply, seem to fill the void. At the present, restoration is the smallest segment of the late-model Mustang market, representing 10 to 15 percent.

The cool: cosmetics

This category covers everything from sound systems to wheels and tires to spoilers, hoods and body kits to provide the Mustang with that all-important "sizzle." This is a multi-million dollar-a-year segment of the industry, which annually represents about 40 percent of the overall late model Mustang high-performance aftermarket. Body-kit retailers, like ABC Exclusives, Vineland, Cervini Automotive Designs or Classis Design Concepts, are some of the well-known names on the market.

The fun: performance

Having a fast car requires the installation of cold-air intake systems, hand-held electronic programmers, throttle bodies, larger-size air plenums/intake manifolds/fuel injectors, high-tech exhaust systems, better breathing aluminum-alloy cylinder heads and high-tech valve train components, supercharger systems, cams, clutches, shifters, rear-end gears and stronger axles. These days, it is even possible to purchase complete ready-to-install crate engines –– a broad scope covering more than 50 percent of the overall performance picture.

And with the release of the all-new 4.6 liter three valve modular V-8 engine series introduced in the 2005 Mustang GT, a whole new generation of high-tech Ford muscle parts has been introduced.