The Legendary Foose Stallion - Ford's Radical Custom Mustang

What is a Foose Stallion?

The Foose Stallion is a rare and highly customized Ford Mustang muscle car designed by legendary car builder Chip Foose. Only 12 Foose Stallions were ever produced, making them incredibly exclusive vehicles that command high prices at auction.

Chip Foose founded Foose Design in 1998 and made a name for himself crafting unique, over-the-top customs and show cars. His designs pushed the boundaries of automotive styling and fabrication. In the late 1990s and 2000s, Foose partnered with Ford to create several special edition Mustangs bearing his signature style.

Origin and Design

The original Foose Stallion was based on a 1967 Ford Mustang fastback. It debuted at the 2002 SEMA auto show in Las Vegas, where it immediately captured attention for its radical styling. The Stallion featured extensive body modifications including a lowered stance, smoothed body panels, and a distinctive nose and tail.

The most striking design elements were the tunneled headlights and taillights. Foose integrated the lighting into body tunnels that flowed from the lower front valence and rear bumper. This gave the Stallion an ultra-smooth, streamlined appearance unlike any other Mustang.

Other modifications included shaved door handles and fuel filler, remote trunk release, custom alloy wheels, and a hand-formed aluminum grille. The interior featured brown leather upholstery and metallic accents. Despite the extreme makeover, the Stallion remained fully drivable and road-legal.

Later Models

The positive response to the 1967 Stallion led Ford and Foose to collaborate on more versions throughout the 2000s. More than a dozen 1966-1968 vintage Mustang bodies would receive the Foose Stallion treatment over the next several years.

In 2004, Foose introduced a Stallion based on a 1970 Mustang SportsRoof. This continued the tunneled headlight and taillight theme but with updated styling cues from the later Mustang generation. Only two 1970 Stallions were built.

For the 2005 and 2006 model years, the Stallion transitioned to the then-new fifth generation "S197" Mustang platform. Foose crafted Stallion editions in coupe and convertible body styles, now featuring more angular lines but retaining the signature smoothed flush surfaces.

These cars were sold through Ford dealerships as turnkey roller project cars. Customers could choose their own color scheme and powertrain options. Ford produced 199 S197-generation Stallions before ending the program after 2006.

Performance and Power

In their original form, most Foose Stallions did not feature any engine modifications. Foose focused his efforts on designer exterior and interior aesthetics. Some owners would later upgrade their Stallions with performance parts.

The 1967 prototype Stallion had a 289 cid V8 and automatic transmission taken from a 1965 Mustang. It generated 225 horsepower, providing ample power despite lacking upgrades.

When new, the 1970s cars also had stock Ford engines, either 302 or 351 cid V8s making between 250 and 300 horsepower. The 2000s S197 models came with 4.6 liter modular V8s in naturally aspirated or supercharged variants up to 500 horsepower.

With their super slippery shapes minimizing drag, the Stallions did not need huge power to achieve quick acceleration and high top speeds. Even modest V8s could propel them to 60 mph in under 5 seconds with the right gearing.

Aftermarket Performance Modifications

Many Foose Stallion owners choose to enhance their cars' performance to match their custom looks. Popular modifications include:

• Cold air intakes and free flow exhausts
• Ported cylinder heads and aggressive camshaft profiles
• Electronic engine tuning with piggyback modules or ECU flashes
• Supercharger, turbocharger, or nitrous oxide kits
• Upgraded fuel systems and larger fuel injectors
• Short throw shifters and quicker differentials on manual transmission cars
• Stiffer suspension bushings, sway bars, and shocks
• Big brake kits with cross-drilled rotors and multi-piston calipers
• Sticky performance tires on lightweight wheels

With the right combination of mods, a Foose Stallion can put down well over 600 horsepower at the rear wheels. This transforms them from flashy show ponies into seriously quick street machines.

Rarity and Collectability

Because so few Foose Stallions were produced over the years, they have become highly coveted by Ford and Mustang collectors. The exotic designs and exclusivity give them an undeniable wow factor.

It's believed only around 18 original-generation Stallions exist across the 1967, 1968, 1970, and prototype models. The 2005-06 S197 cars saw a larger but still limited production run of 199 units. Finding any Foose Stallion for sale is a rare occurrence.

Values have steadily climbed, especially for the vintage 1960s and 1970s cars. The first 1967 and 1968 Stallions have sold for over $100,000 at auction. Even the newer S197 models command prices from the mid $30,000s up to $60,000 for the lowest mileage examples.

Owning this rolling piece of Mustang history does not come cheap. But for die-hard Ford and Foose fans, the opportunity to acquire one of these rare customs is priceless.

Notable Foose Stallions

Some individual Stallions have gained fame in their own right. A few highlights include:

• The original Copper 1967 prototype - Chip Foose's personal car
• The two 1970 SportsRoof cars - the only ones on this later platform
• The 2006 Stallion owned by actor Paul Walker from Fast and Furious
• "Stallionade" - A 2007 convertible painted in custom Stallionade yellow
• "Stallion R" - An S197 with a supercharged 5.4L V8 rated at 725 horsepower

These examples represent the elite end of this already exclusive car. They exemplify the best and wildest iterations of Foose's Mustang vision.

The Custom Car Legacy

The Foose Stallion encapsulates the obsession Chip Foose has with reimagining production cars as extreme customs. His daring designs for the Stallion paved the way for more high-profile collaborations with Ford.

In 2003, Foose debuted his iconic Mustang Foose Roadster at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show. This stunning one-off build generated huge buzz and led Ford to produce a limited run of turnkey Foose Roadster replica project cars for customers.

In the late 2000s, Ford again tapped Foose to inject his signature style into the revived Ford GT supercar, Shelby GT500, Ford F-150 pickup, and other models. The success of the original Stallion was instrumental in forging this partnership between Ford and Foose that continues today.

The Foose Stallion represents the pinnacle of personalized automotive art. For car enthusiasts, the uniquely crafted, limited-production Stallions will remain a holy grail custom car for generations to come.

FAQs

How many Foose Stallions exist?

Total production is believed to be around 18 units for the 1967-1970 models and 199 for the 2005-2006 S197 generation, for roughly 217 Stallions ever built.

What models were used to build the Stallions?

Foose used 1967, 1968, and 1970 vintage Mustang bodies as well as 2005-2006 S197 Mustang platforms.

What makes the Stallions so valuable?

The incredibly low production numbers, radical custom designs, and association with legendary builder Chip Foose contribute to their collectability and high values.

How much power do they make?

When new, between 225 and 500 horsepower. Many have been upgraded to produce 600+ horsepower.

Can the Stallion still be purchased new?

No, Ford ended the program after the 2006 model year. Only used examples remain available, at very high prices.

FAQs

What is a Foose Stallion?

The Foose Stallion is a highly customized Ford Mustang designed by Chip Foose. Only about 200 were ever built.

How many Stallions were made?

Around 18 of the 1967-1970 models were made, along with 199 of the 2005-2006 S197 generation cars.

What body styles were used?

Foose used 1967, 1968, 1970, and 2005-2006 Mustang bodies to build the Stallions.

How much power do they produce?

Between 225 and 500 horsepower when new, but many owners have modified them to make over 600 hp.

Why are they so valuable?

The limited production numbers, custom designs by Chip Foose, and iconic Ford Mustang underpinnings make them highly collectible.