Red Hot

Sin City Supercharged Screamer.

- Eddie Maloney

Under the bright lights of Las Vegas stands a unique drop-top 2013 California Special edition Mustang. 

Todd Rupert, an FAA Air Traffic Controller from Las Vegas, originally purchased this car as a retirement gift for himself and his wife to cruise the summer nights on the Strip. For 2013 only 150 Race Red Mustang GT/ CS convertibles were built. Even in limited production, Rupert did not want his to look like any other Mustang out there, so the CS stripes came off and the appearance modifications began. Looking at the car now, you would have no idea that the car is an original California Special edition.

The passion for Ford automobiles runs in Rupert’s family. His wife Susan is the current retail manager of the Shelby American gift shop located at the Shelby Automotive main facility in Las Vegas. This is where Rupert got the inspiration to install numerous body panels and engine dress-up accessories. Carbon fiber front splitter, rear diffuser, hood, and fenders were installed and paint matched by Pacific Custom Paint of Las Vegas. Custom snake-eyes headlight cover graphics were added, as was a Cobra graphic similar to those found on the factory Cobra Jet Mustangs to round out the unique appearance.