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Some stories begin with a need for speed or a family legacy of building high-performance cars. Others start quietly, in unexpected places — like shopping for a bass boat. For West Virginia resident Anthony Mutschelknaus, his journey to building this show-stopping Fox Body Mustang started just there: at a boat shop, with dreams of returning to the lake.
Photography by James Elkins
A Quiet Start
Fresh out of high school, Mutschelknaus was living the life of fishing. His bass boat gave him everything he wanted — until it didn’t. “I loved fishing, but I started to feel like it wasn’t enough,” Mutschelknaus recalls. “I decided to step away from the bass boat, at least for a while.
So, he traded his fishing rod for something with a bit more bite: a 1990 Fox Body Mustang. The search wasn’t easy — finding a clean Fox Body in good condition proved to be a challenge. But then one caught his eye in Hagerstown, Maryland. The $6,400 Mustang had solid bones and, unbeknownst to Mutschelknaus, would become the perfect foundation for the journey that lay ahead.
Not a bad buy for the price, with solid bones and a running 302 cubic-inch small-block Ford engine. However, Anthony Mutschelknaus wanted to take his Fox Body to the next level, which would require a complete fresh start.
“When I found it, it ran pretty well. It had a 302 cubic-inch engine with a B303 cam, aluminum heads, and a Cobra intake,” Mutschelknaus recalls, reflecting on the early days of ownership. But the good times weren’t meant to last. A stuck gas pedal led to catastrophic engine failure, with the rear main bearing and cam retainers recieving the brunt of the damage.
A Father’s Helping Hand
By 2016, the Mustang’s future was uncertain. The car that had once been Mutschelknaus’ pride and joy was left awaiting a heart transplant. He decided it was time to put a small-block back in the Mustang, sourcing a new 302 short-block and reusing his aluminum heads. His father, who had built his own big-block Ford Bronco years earlier, stepped in to help. While his father wasn’t focused on performance, the small-block’s simplicity made the installation straightforward.
Together, they tore the car apart, working side by side as they replaced the damaged engine with a new 302 short-block. “We reused my heads and got a new cam, lifters — everything was new except the heads,” Mutschelknaus recalls. But life threw a wrench in their project when his father fell ill. As his dad’s health declined, the Mustang took a back seat. Sadly, his father passed away in 2020.
The weathered chassis was rapidly showing signs of degradation, with clear coat peeling and surface rust forming where the paint once lay, as it awaited a heart transplant.
The Mustang sat untouched for years. Surface rust spread over the doors, the clear coat peeled, and the car—once a symbol of fun—became a burden. “I got tired of messing with it,” Mutschelknaus admits. “I wanted something I could drive coast to coast, but I didn’t know what to do.”
Boats Again, But Cars Too
In 2021, Mutschelknaus found himself back where his passion had begun — buying a boat. This time, it was from Woods Boat House and Power Sports in Fairmont, West Virginia. While his initial focus was on the water, the conversation soon shifted to cars. Robert Glaspell, the man behind the sale, had more than just boats on his mind. “We talked about cars — Supras, Lamborghinis, everything,” Mutschelknaus recalls. “Robert mentioned their new speed shop, named West Virginia Speed And Performance and showed pictures of some builds they had completed. That’s when a light bulb went off. Maybe this was the place to finally finish my Mustang.”
It took nearly a year of deliberation, but by November 2022, Mutschelknaus had a plan. He met with Chris Emilio at the boat house. “I told them what I wanted: a supercharged Ford Performance Gen 3 Coyote, something that could make around 700-750 horsepower,” Mutschelknaus recalls. “We settled on 580 horsepower on pump gas, with the option to switch to E85 later.”
The rebuild began with a full disassembly of the entire chassis, ensuring every component was carefully removed and inspected. Once stripped, the car was prepped and sent to the painters for a fresh coat of vibrant Vermilion Red, breathing new life into its appearance. With attention to detail at every step, this marked the first stage of the transformation, setting the foundation for the rest of the project’s restoration and eventual return to the road.
This wasn’t just another project—the car had seen better days, with its paint fading after years of neglect. “It had a half-ass paint job when I got the Fox Body, and from 2014 to 2017, it sat outside,” Mutschelknaus admits. But this time was different. Chris stripped the car down and sent it off to a paint shop. By the end of January 2023, it returned with a fresh coat and a new lease on life.
Once back from paint, West Virginia Speed and Performance began completing the car, installing a Ford Performance Gen-3 Coyote crate engine from Power By The Hour. To further clean up the engine bay, they added an E-pass electric power steering unit and hydro brakes. Most notably, the wiring harness was cut and extended 18 inches, allowing it to be tucked neatly through the passenger fender well, giving this Fox Body an exceptionally clean engine bay.
The Return Of The Fox Body
By August 2023, the transformation was complete. The Mustang had been reborn, emerging as nothing short of spectacular. A Ford Performance Gen 3 Coyote engine paired with a VMP Performance Odin supercharger now powered the car. The build included a TREMEC T-56 Magnum 6-speed transmission, QA1 suspension at all four corners, and Wilwood Engineering brakes for maximum stopping power. “It’s got everything I could ask for,” Mutschelknaus beams. “It’s a car that can perform on the track, but I can still drive it to the grocery store if I want.”
All four corners are equipped with QA1 components, while an AJE K-member cradles the Coyote-swapped engine. The Fox Body Mustang rides on 3030 Autosport wheels with flawless fitment, and tucked behind them are Wilwood brakes, featuring 6-piston front calipers and 4-piston rear calipers.
The man who once hesitated to take on the car himself now found himself behind the wheel of a showstopper. From winning the Founder’s Award at Mustang Week ’24 to clinching Best of Show Modified at Holley Ford Fest, the Mustang was making waves across the country.
A Nod To The Past
Though his father isn’t here to see the final result, Mutschelknaus often reflects on the days they spent wrenching on cars together. “Dad was a Bronco guy,” he explains, referring to the 1979 Bronco his father had repainted and modified with a 460 big-block. “He wasn’t thrilled when I first bought the Mustang, but once he saw it, he thought it was a good deal. Aside from rides with my son, hearing the Mustang fire up with the second small-block was one of my happiest moments with the car.”
The striking combination of classic bright red and black creates a killer-looking ride with the power to match. The immaculate workmanship continues throughout the chassis, polished to perfection. It's no surprise this car has won so many awards in just a year.
His father’s influence is evident in the build, from the careful selection of parts to the work ethic needed to see the project through. “He helped me tear it apart when it first blew up, and even though he didn’t live to see it completed, I think he’d be proud.”
Looking Ahead
With the Mustang now a fixture on the car show circuit and a growing list of accolades, Mutschelknaus has shifted his focus from simply enjoying the ride to taking his passion for cars even further. “In less than a year, I went from having this car sitting in my garage to winning shows across the country,” he says. “It’s been an incredible journey.”
Inside, a pair of Corbeau seats with a matching rear bench add style and comfort. The car retains its manual setup, featuring a dual-disc clutch and TREMEC T-56 Magnum transmission. Hidden in the interior are two lithium batteries that not only save weight but also provide ample power for the Fox Body.
And the journey isn’t over. With plans to switch to E85 fuel and potentially push the Mustang’s horsepower even further, he’s far from done. “This car’s got a lot more in it,” he says confidently. From a bass boat on a quiet lake to a supercharged Mustang dominating the show scene, his story is a testament to passion, perseverance, and the unexpected paths life can take. After all, it’s not every day you go fishing for boats and end up building your Fox Body Mustang.
The completed Fox Body is nearly unrecognizable from its former self. The hard work and dedication poured into this build make it truly special. We hope to catch Anthony and his family cruising around, but most of all, hear the unmistakable whine of the VMP supercharger as the Coyote engine howls through the RPM.
