Ford Goes Old School With Modern Racing Parts in a Retro Package
Ford will bring a heritage-inspired 1966 Mustang Fastback to the 2026 SEMA Show this week, built around Ford Racing Parts and badged the Ford Racing R125. The car debuts on Ford Racing's 125th anniversary, and it functions as a showcase for the components builders can order through the Ford Racing Parts business, now housed under Ford Customer Service Division alongside Ford Customization.
At the center of the build sits a 347-cubic-inch crate engine. It makes 360 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque. A Ford Racing Boss block and aluminum cylinder heads pair with Edelbrock Pro-Flo electronic fuel injection, a combination meant to retain small-block character while adding modern drivability to the classic Fastback. A Tremec TKX-600 five-speed handles the gear changes. The compact transmission is built for smoother shifts and better durability than the earlier Tremec TKO it replaces.
Two-piece Ford Racing Parts valve covers top the engine. The patented design allows swappable top pieces, captured O-ring seals, and built-in looms for the spark plug wires. Every one of these components is offered through Ford Racing Parts, so customers can buy them to replicate the work on their own cars.
Ford frames the 1966 foundation as a link back to the origins of its racing program. In 1901, Henry Ford built a car called Sweepstakes and drove it himself, beating Alexander Winton in an upset. Winton ranked among the best-known American racers of the era. The victory showcased Ford's engineering and drew the financial backing behind the founding of Ford Motor Company.
"Racing is not separate from the business," the company states, casting the sport as "a proving ground for engineering, performance, and products that enthusiasts can experience for themselves."
Matt Simpson, Executive Director of Ford Customization, positions the car as one take on what a 1966 Mustang can become rather than a definitive build. Ford means the R125 to be driven, examined, and shown off as a complete take on classic Ford customization, with the components and decisions behind it made visible to the builders Ford hopes to reach.
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