Gage Polojack 2013 Ford Mustang
It's hard to find a car more renowned by both car enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike than the Ford Mustang. This famous American racehorse continues to break records today, just as it did back in the 1960s. This car was such an icon that it created an entirely new classification of cars that set power standards to this day. This example from Gage Polojack is no exception.
Front driver side quarter view of Gage Polojacks 2013 Ford Mustang
The Mustang Before Ford
80 years ago, in 1944, North American Aviation was helping its overseas allies win airborne battles during the Second World War. The P-51 Mustang, developed for the British Royal Air Force, excelled at high-altitude flying and provided the escort assistance bombers needed to defend against German fighters. This aircraft wasn't only useful once; it also fought in the Pacific, North Africa, and Italy. In 1945, when the war came to an end, the P-51 was not ready to rest. Even in the post-war era, the plane was used in ground attacks during the Korean War in the 1950s and saw use in the early years of the Cold War. This American fighter has been credited with nearly 5,000 enemy aircraft eliminations, more than any other Allied fighter in Europe.
Close shot of the 'Eleanor' style rear quarter window air scoop on the passenger side on Gage Polojacks 2013 Ford Mustang
So What About the Car
Two individuals led and influenced the naming process of Ford's next success. John Najjar was a Ford associate and co-designer for the concept Mustang. Najjar, a P-51 Mustang enthusiast, shared this passion with his coworker on the Ford Mustang project, Robert J. Eggert. Najjar proposed the Mustang name as a symbol of ‘free American spirit.’ This was supported by Eggert, who, prior to this pivotal moment, had been given a book by his wife about the P-51 Mustang. It also helped that Eggert was personally an equestrian enthusiast. There are many details and theories about the naming process that influenced Ford's final decision. Nonetheless, these stories are just a small part of Ford’s extensive background processes. However, it’s undeniable that the famous American P-51 was a factor, as was the opinion of sports enthusiasts.
April 17, 1964, arrived, and Ford was ready to unveil their latest creation. This car took America and Ford’s auto market competitors by surprise. This was the beginning of the Pony Car classification, a group made up of modern-day legends such as the Chevrolet Camaro, Pontiac Firebird, Dodge Challenger, AMC Javelin, and Mercury Cougar.
This exciting feature focuses on the fifth generation of the Ford Mustang, which originally started in 2005 and ran until nearly a decade later, ending in 2014. In 2007, the public market was shocked to see the powerful GT500 nameplate associated with Ford after production of the Shelby ended in 1970.
Close up detail photo of the passenger side headlight on Gage Polojacks 2013 Ford Mustang
The G. Polojack Pony Car
This exciting car had a well-loved history before the title fell into Polojack's hands. From the information provided on the original dealership window sticker, the car was custom ordered here in Ohio. This VIN was assembled in Flat Rock, Michigan, as a factory stock Mustang Base. The only other features this car was optioned with were the 3.31 limited slip rear differential and cosmetic performance packs such as a rear lip spoiler and matte black side stripe, neither of which is still present on the car. It was daily driven from 2013 to 2017, putting on over 70,000 miles, which is just under 20,000 miles per year.
The fifth generation of Mustang brought many changes compared to the previously available options. There was one feature that captivated Polojack at the young age of 15. Polojack grew up in a car-enthusiastic family and was in the process of restoring a classic 1966 Mustang with his dad. In the final years of the fifth generation Mustang, Ford did a major facelift to the S197 chassis. With the release of the 2013 GT500 Mustang and the hit movie 'Need For Speed' coming out, it sealed the deal and embedded itself into Polojack’s heart.
“One day as I was riding the bus to school, I caught a glimpse of my car sitting in the front lot of my local used car dealership. I immediately texted my dad that we had to take a look at it.”
At this time, he was counting down the days until he could get his own car, especially a Mustang. Late at night, after a baseball game, his father and he went to look at the car closer. He was happy to see this car was exactly what he was looking for. It was a 2013-14 body style, as well as a manual transmission for a fairly reasonable cost. Polojack and his dad eventually found time to go to the dealership and speak with them about the car. Polojack walked in there with every last dollar he had saved up until that point, and like everyone who goes to a dealership just to talk, he left with the keys to his dream car. So now, this kid, with no license and no manual transmission skills, owned his own Mustang.
Upper rear quarter shot of Gage Polojacks 2013 Ford Mustang
The Horse's Power. So the… Horsepower?
The Mustang 3.7L Cyclone V6 engine has a solid defense and several fair benefits compared to its V8 counterpart. After all, power output isn’t everything. The stock Cyclone delivers a respectable 300+ horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. Its 0-60 mph time is still just under 6 seconds. Additionally, these cars offer more desirable weight distribution, with less weight in the front end. This configuration makes the steering more responsive and reduces understeer while cornering. The V6 Mustang can offer a far better autocross driving experience. This specific car features a 6-speed manual transmission that powers the rear wheels.
Detail photo of the rear driver side wheel on Gage Polojacks 2013 Ford Mustang
Gone in 60-ish seconds
This beautiful beast has taken inspiration from the famous '67 Shelby GT500 Mustang, named 'Eleanor,' from the 2000 movie 'Gone in 60 Seconds' starring Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie. Polojack's Mustang features factory Sterling Grey metallic paint and no window tint. The body boasts Eleanor/Super Snake components. It has a fully functional fiberglass Super Snake-style hood, as well as Eleanor-style rear quarter window scoops and rear quarter C-scoops. It has a GT500-style spoiler in the rear and an MMD V2 chin spoiler. The lighting system has seen some aesthetic upgrades as well, thanks to the LED HALO fog lights and Euro-style clear lens tail lights. Oh, don't forget the GT-style grille in the front. This impressive body sits just as impressively on its shoes too. It's running a staggered setup of FR500-style Anthracite wheels with ground contact thanks to the NITTO NT555G2 Tires.
Inside this car are California Special Premium door panels, BRAUM bucket seats, and enhanced driver safety thanks to the Corbeau Harness bar and Corbeau 5-point cam lock harness. There's upgraded driver control with the SR Performance short throw shifter too. The rear seats have been deleted as well.
Photo of the passenger seat from the side mirror on the driver side of Gage Polojacks 2013 Ford Mustang
7 Years and Many More
Polojack has had this car for seven years and has put just under 30,000 miles on it. He is proud of his Mustang, having transformed it from a bare base model to a completely unique vehicle—a transformation he believes would hold in any universe.
'I plan on keeping this car until the day I die. I have built such a bond and learned so much from this car that I can’t possibly think of getting rid of it,' Polojack says.
Polojack is considering an engine swap and possibly upgrading to a V8, but he's hesitant because he believes the V6 is underrated and doesn't want to compromise the car's originality. He would like to add a turbocharger or procharger to his Mustang. He aims to have both a race car and a cruiser in one.
