Reviews
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It’s been about a year since we first sampled a Herrod Performance Ford Mustang and in the intervening 12 months around 120 examples have left Herrod’s Thomastown headquarters.
It seems Aussie punters are pretty keen on the idea of a fully ADR-complied, hassle-free 500kW+ muscle car for well under six figures – who would’ve thought?
Before we start on the new stuff, however, a quick refresher on the basics. Herrod’s core offering is its Compliance Package, which as the name suggests is not only ADR-compliant but ADR complied.
It’s a small difference but a crucial one. ADR-compliant means there’s every chance that the car or part complies with Australian Design Rules, however ADR complied means it’s been government-tested and certified and Herrod has the mountains of paperwork for each car from Canberra to prove it.
Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 prototype spotted
But what it taketh with one hand it more than giveth with the other as it extracts a (conservative) 500kW/730Nm on 98RON pump fuel from the 5.0-litre Coyote engine.
Backed by an automatic gearbox we’ve recorded 0-100km/h in 4.19sec and a 12.14sec quarter mile at 197.20km/h, however with three pedals and a DIY shifter the matter is a little more complicated.
It makes sense if you think about it. The standard Mustang can only j-u-s-t put its 306kW to the ground on its way to clocking 100km/h in around 5.0sec, so despite slightly wider rear rubber (285mm) it can still only use around 300kW so there’s little surprise it doesn’t go any quicker. A stickier surface would yield much better results.
Once hooked up it devours gears like it’s been on a hunger strike, which brings a new problem. Aussie Mustangs come standard with the short 3.55:1 diff ratio and the Herrod is so fast it needs a change to fifth at about the 350m mark.
But we wouldn’t bother, as the manual brings out so much more of the Mustang’s personality. On the road, where against-the-clock figures couldn’t be less important, the Herrod ’Stang manically rips through the gears with a forcefulness that never seems to fade.
There’s a very slight hesitation in high gears at low revs but you almost have to go looking for it to notice it; otherwise it feels like a really, really powerful factory Mustang. The exhaust noise is a little muted, the V8 roar overlaid by some forced induction whoosh, but that’s the price you pay for having that government tick of approval.
Our test car, generously loaned by a Herrod customer, also used Ford Performance’s FR3 Track Handling Package ($2000), which does a fine job of sharpening the Mustang’s responses and body control while, if anything, improving ride comfort.
Our main criticisms have nothing to do with Herrod’s work but are worth mentioning. The stock diff really starts to struggle with this level of power, all too often spinning an unloaded inside wheel, and it’d be nice for a bit more front-end bite to help tuck the nose into corners. When the rear slides it does so quite abruptly, too, which can be exciting with almost 700bhp on tap.
Herrod’s upgrades add around $25,000 to the price of a Mustang GT so we’re not talking chump change, however even by the time you add your own rolling stock and aero you’ll have plenty left over from $100,000 for a car that looks awesome, goes like a bat out of hell and drives more or less like it came from Dearborn, not Thomastown. No wonder it’s popular.
4 stars out of 5
Specs Engine: 4951cc V8, DOHC, 32v, supercharger Power: 500kW @ 6800rpm (approx.) Torque: 730Nm @ 3600rpm (approx.) Weight: 1813kg 0-100km/h: 4.9sec (tested, see text) Price: $80,990 (Herrod upgrades, sans wheels and body kit)
