The 2025 Detroit Autorama was a good time for both Mustang lovers and hotrod builders, as a collaboration between Ford Performance and TREMEC on a restored 1965 Mustang was unveiled.
The story of this resto-mod rebuilt Mustang starts 60 years ago, when a local farmer received the pony car as partial payment for land to be used as a car dealership. The farmer, Gerald Memmer, kept the car in his family, eventually passing it down to his son Roger, who drove it until he put it in storage inside a barn on the family’s property. That was until Matt Memmer, Roger’s son and the Director of Engineering and Program Management at TREMEC decided to bring the family heirloom back to life.
Working with Ford Performance and TREMEC, Memmer decided to revamp the Mustang’s powertrain with a 7.3L V8 engine with Megazilla intake manifold and a TREMEC TKX 5-speed transmission. The standard intake manifold was replaced with
the low-profile Megazilla version to increase hood clearance and add horsepower. TREMEC’s versatile 5-speed manual RWD transmission is designed with the aftermarket in mind, making the perfect pairing for this modern revival of a classic car.
The Mustang’s original owner, Gerald, saw the newly remodeled barnyard-find for the first time at Detroit Autorama in a surprise showing organized by his grandson Matt.
This wasn’t only a great moment for the Memmer family, but for all performance car enthusiasts, as it showcases the TREMEC transmission as a proven solution for their powertrain needs. The Mustang build also features the 7.3L Engine Control Pack, allowing for easy installation.
Ford Performance Control Packs make building your dream car more accessible, giving you the electronics, sensors, and adaptors needed to plug and play complete engines. The Control Packs are created with OEM parts, providing builders with proven parts and reliable performance.
Ford Performance’s Product Manager/Planner, Mike Goodwin underlined the importance of Control Packs and the role they play in streamlining car customization.
“Control packs are a one-stop-shop, plug-and-play product that makes it easy for the customer to drop in a crate engine, like the 7.3 or Coyote. This kind of build is something that someone could do in their own shop or garage if they wanted to,” Goodwin says.
Along with the dependability and accessibility Ford Performance Parts offer, all of their Crate Engines are covered under warranty, meaning customers can install a brand new drivetrain without the risk.
In addition, a dedicated Ford Performance Parts Tech-line is available to answer questions or concerns that may arise while installing your drivetrain. Building a hotrod can be intimidating, but with knowledgeable staff on hand to help troubleshoot, the process becomes much more approachable.
Call our Tech-Line for assistance with Ford Performance equipment, installation, and technical help at 800-367-3788. Visit our website to shop our available crate engines to power your next build.
