Ford just gave a 1966 Mustang Fastback a reason to leave the garage. The Ford Racing R125 debuted at SEMA 2026 as a tribute to Henry Ford's 1901 racing win, the victory that led to the founding of the Ford Motor Company 125 years ago.
Unlike a typical show build, the R125 is meant to be driven, not just photographed under lights. Ford built it to prove a classic Mustang can run modern, serviceable parts without the budget of a full-blown restomod project.
The R125 was built to be used and studied rather than preserved as a static museum piece. That distinction shapes every component choice on the car, from the engine block to the transmission tunnel.
The R125 brief was never about chasing horsepower or building a one-off show trailer queen. Ford aimed for an approachable, lower-budget restomod that a daily driver could realistically replicate using parts sold through Ford Racing Parts.
Every major component on the car, the engine, the fuel injection, the transmission, is a catalog item. A builder using the same Ford Racing Parts list could assemble a similar car without hunting for rare or discontinued pieces.
It's a different pitch than the extreme builds SEMA usually rewards, something closer to the six-figure Revology Boss 429 restomod but aimed at a fraction of that cost.
The R125 keeps the fastback's 1966 silhouette intact, with only the mechanical internals swapped for parts you can order today.
2-inch-deck-height Boss 302-style block paired with aluminum cylinder heads. The crate engine is rated at 360 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque.
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