The 2019 SEMA Auto Show is going to be so full with custom-built creations that it’s going to be hard to stand out unless you have jet boosters in tow. But for this particular Ford Mustang GT, standing out shouldn’t be a problem. It was created specifically for that purpose by two men — 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) Champion Joey Logano and World Champion Drifter and founder of RTR Motorsports, Vaughn Gittin Jr. — who know a thing or two about custom-built performance cars.

This one-off Mustang is officially called the Ford RTR Mustang, and it’s one of the three Mustangs that are featured in mobile bank MoneyLion’s “HERE WE ROAR” sweepstakes. Beyond its exclusivity — it’s a one-off model — the RTR Mustang fits the bill of perfect SEMA showpiece. It’s heavily dressed in aftermarket goodies and it boasts a completely upgraded performance setup, highlighted by an engine upgrade program that unleashes a new level of power and performance from Ford’s iconic muscle car. The 2019 RTR Mustang is meant to attend the 2019 SEMA Auto Show. Fortunately, that’s exactly where we’re going to see it before it finds a lucky new owner by way of MoneyLion’s sweepstakes.

Exterior

As far as cool custom-tuned Ford Mustangs go, you’re not going to find one as cool-looking as the one created by 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) Champion Joey Logano and World Champion Drifter and founder of RTR Motorsports, Vaughn Gittin Jr. Also, in case you didn’t know, that’s a potent tag-team of two motor racing heavyweights putting their collective minds together to give you a custom-tuned Mustang the likes of which you rarely get to see.

It’s not as colorful as the Mustang created by Ryan Blaney and Larry Chen, but it’s also not as simple as you might think. There are more details to this creation than meets the untrained eye, but if you look closer, you’ll see a handful of interesting design details that you didn’t think this Mustang carries. Arguably the coolest of these sleight-of-eye details are the pinstriped signatures from members of Ford Performance, Team Penske, and RTR. Edsel B. Ford II, the great-grandson of company founder Henry Ford, also has his John Hancock in the car. All the names and all the signatures that came with were all incorporated into the muscle car’s livery and hand-painted by pinstriper Scratch of Skratch’s Garage. Wanna talk about details? This custom-built Ford Mustang is loaded on that front.

Gittin Jr’s involvement in the project also opened up possibilities for this RTR outfit to get involved. Not wasting the opportunity, that’s exactly what happened here. This Mustang is wearing the fully loaded RTR Spec 3 Package. That includes a list of new aerodynamic components that are included in the Spec 1 Package - a front and rear spoiler, rear diffuser with side splitters, rocker splitters, and an upper grille with integrated lighting — to go with all the mechanical improvements — adjustable dampers, adjustable sway bars, lowering springs, RTR exclusive exhaust system by MagnaFlow, custom tuning, and cold air intake — featured in the Spec 2 Package.

The RTR Spec 3 Package combines all these upgrades and adds an all-new supercharger kit that’s specific to the V-8-powered Ford Mustang GT.

Evidently, Logano and Gittin Jr left no stones unturned in turning this custom-built Ford Mustang into a full-blown spectacle. It’s not going to blow you over initially with its design, but with all the pieces in place — the integrated lighting on the grille is a tremendous touch! — this Mustang is going to steal a lot of eyeballs when it shows up at the 2019 SEMA Auto Show. This is the kind of result you’re going to get when you have two prominent racers having a go at building their own Ford Mustang.

Interior

This section of Logan and Gittin Jr’s RTR Mustang build is a bit tricky, in part because there aren’t that many details about what they did to the muscle car’s interior. The only thing that we were told is that this creation comes with a custom leather-upholstered interior. That’s it. Obviously, having such a vague description of the Mustang’s interior leaves plenty of room for speculation.

We’re not going to overdo it in that regard, but we do have a few guesstimates on some of the other interior upgrades included in this custom-built Mustang.If those seats were taken out in favor of a roll cage or some other safety equipment, everyone would know about it by now. So the rear seats are probably still there. That’s not actually a bad thing because with that setup comes more room for that “custom leather-upholstered interior.”

The dashboard layout is a little trickier to piece together. While I don’t think that Gittin Jr and Logano completely changed the look and feel of the dashboard, it’s also hard for me to imagine that they left this part of the interior completely stock. Some changes, whether major or minor, happened in that section. Maybe a few trim pieces here or new equipment there. Those fall within our bounds of expectation.

It falls within what I’d expect out of Gittin Jr, whose experience building his RTR brand has given birth to some of the most outlandish Mustang builds you’ll ever see. I don’t know Logano’s temperature when it comes to custom-built Mustangs, but Gittin Jr. has shown that he’s not afraid to swing for the fences if he wants to make a statement with his projects. By the looks of this RTR Mustang, that’s exactly what we can expect here.

Powertrain

Sitting at the heart of this custom-tuned Ford Mustang is an engine upgrade program that’s going to make aficionados of the nameplate proud. Neither Logano nor Gittin Jr. went into great detail about the aspects of the upgrade, but we do know that a Ford Performance supercharger is heavily involved in it. That’s as good a sign as any that the Mustang’s turbocharged V-8 engine is producing more than its usual 460 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque.

So, how much power does this Mustang’s V-8 engine produce? Interestingly enough, it’s the same output Logano and Gittin Jr. arrived at as Blaney and Chen did with their custom-tuned Mustang despite using different aftermarket superchargers. Actually, the supercharger that was used in this particular build comes from Ford Performance so there is, at least, a semblance of home cooking in that regard. Either way, we’re looking at a custom-tuned Mustang that packs 240 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque more than what the Mustang’s V-8 engine is capable of producing in stock configuration.

We also know that this custom-tuned Mustang comes with a factory six-speed manual transmission, which, in turn, sends power to the two rear wheels. Performance numbers remain unclear, but if this Mustang is as fast as we think it’s going to be, then it could easily sprint from 0 to 60 mph in less than four seconds.

It’s going to be an impressive number, that much we can agree on. We can also agree that as important as the Ford Performance supercharger is in unlocking all that extra power, we’re not going to enjoy the full driving experience that it brings without relying on the other technical upgrades that came into turning this specific Mustang into a certified performance machine.

One of the other key ingredients here is the adjustable suspension package that provides the kind of poised driving you’re going to need when you’re running at full tilt with this muscle car. Speaking of which, such pleasures aren’t as enjoyable with a muted or underwhelming exhaust system. Don’t fret, folks. This custom-built Mustang also comes with a performance exhaust system that’s sourced from RTR.A 700-horsepower Ford Mustang GT needs to sound like a 700-horsepower Mustang GT. That’s there the RTR exhaust system comes into play.

On the side of safety, Logano and Gittin Jr. also added a set of Brembo front brakes that were also sourced from Ford Performance. You’re not going to need the full capabilities of these brakes unless things go sideways, but it’s still an important addition to the whole build. At the very least, you know that it’s there when you need it.

Prices

If you’re looking to buy this custom-tuned Ford Mustang, well, we have some bad news for you. This one-off piece created by Joey Logano and Vaughn Gittin Jr. has no attached price tag, which means that it’s not for sale. The good news is that you can win the car if you end up with lady luck on your side. Alongside two other custom one-off Mustangs, this particular model is part of MoneyLion’s “HERE WE ROAR” sweepstakes. If you’re interested in joining the competition, just hop on over to MoneyLion’s dedicated website — https://buildoff.moneylion.com — and as long as you qualify for the sweepstakes, you’re one step closer to owning one of the most radically built Ford Mustangs we’ve seen in recent memory.

Final Thoughts

I was effusive in my praise of the Ford Mustang that Ryan Blaney and Larry Chen built. It was an ideal Mustang build. But looking at what Joey Logano and Vaughn Gittin Jr. created here, it makes me wonder if I wasn't too quick to praise the Blaney and Chen’s Mustang. It’s not that I’ve completely reversed course on my feelings for that model; it’s more because I think Logano and Gittin Jr’s creation is just as good. It’s a different treatment, sure, but all the same elements are there. I especially like the easter egg heavy pinstripes in the exterior of this Mustang build. It gives this one-off a unique identity, showcased aesthetically in one of the most beautiful ways it can be showcased. A similar engine upgrade is awesome, too.

Everything about this Mustang speaks to the quality of Logano and Gittin’s work. Given a choice between this model and Blaney and Chen’s Mustang, I’d probably just get up, leave, and never come back. It’s that hard of a choice, which, in some ways, is a testament to how good these two custom Mustangs are.

Further Reading

Read our full review on the 2019 Ford Mustang by Ryan Blaney and David Chen.

New Performance Package Pushes the 2020 Ford Mustang EcoBoost to 330 Horsepower

Read our full review on the 2018 Ford Mustang.

Read our full review on the 2018 Ford Mustang RTR.