RTR Mustang Spec 2, A Look at Vaughn Gittin Jr’s Pony Car
Vaughn Gittin Jr. is literally drifting royalty and has become one of motorsport’s most iconic figures. It seems pretty clear that Mustangs have always meant something special for Gittin Jr. Thus, his dream was to introduce something new to the Mustang crowd that appeals to both the younger generation and traditional muscle car diehards with his RTR (Ready to Rock) brand.
The Ford Mustang RTR Spec 2 can be purchased directly from select Ford dealers worldwide. It is based on a production Mustang GT and features a full range of performance and appearance upgrades. The list is extensive but some of the cool parts to get are snazzy looking 19- or 20-inch wheels with ultra-high-performance Nitto tires, a revised suspension setup, signature LED grille lighting, and aftermarket aerodynamic parts.
The Spec 2 does a little magic on the Ford Performance tuned 5.0-liter Coyote engine to deliver 460 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque, versus the stock setup of 435 horsepower and 400 lb-ft.
Not only does the Spec 2 look tough, it also has the chops to perform both as a grip and drift machine – a full-fledged track weapon if you will.
“It’s fun to drive,” Gittin said. “It’s very forgiving at the limit. There are understeer, neutral steer and oversteer balances all available just by changing the sway bars and the dampers. The understeer balance is what you get from the factory; there’s a neutral balance for people who want to take it to track days, cruise the canyons or just have a nice, confidence-inspiring driving car; and oversteer for, obviously, the kind of fun that I love, which is slidin’ it out a bit and having some fun at your local drift events.”
As for Gittin, he’s building an entire brand.
He launched the first aftermarket RTR Mustang in 2011 and sales have been steadily growing every year. And RTR designs are catching on with the public – everything from turnkey cars to appearance packages, performance parts and clothing merchandise.
“I’m definitely taking some inspiration from Carroll Shelby and seeing where he’s gone with his brand,” Gittin said. “We like to think of ourselves as what the Ford Mustang could be. Ford has to build cars for everyone. We don’t build cars for everyone. It’s for a select group of people that want a bit more and like what we’re doing.”
The RTR is a dealer-offered and -installed package that comes with a bevy of upgrades on the inside, outside and under the hood. Contact an RTR authorized dealership for details and the latest pricing information.
