Photos by Ted7.com

Inspiration for project cars can come from a variety of sources. And the details often make all the difference. Take Ringbrothers, for instance. This company has built a reputation for taking classic American cars and turning them into pieces of rolling art. Mike and Jim Ring’s unique blend of technological twists and futuristic finishes really sets them apart, making them the ideal candidates to turn Michael Schmalz Jr.’s vision into a rolling reality.

Michael Schmalz is a designer by trade. He works in graphic design and the architecture field, and runs his own studio in Dubuque, Iowa. Michael had been saving for the better part of a decade before he was ready to seriously look for a car builder. He had been interested in Mike and Jim Ring’s work for some time and because their shop in Spring Green, Wisconsin is only about 60 miles from his home, he decided to drop by one day to see their operation.

After describing his ideas, one of his biggest questions for the Rings involved the length of their waiting list to get a car built. He was told that it would be nine to 12 months before they could start his project, but they were enthusiastic about his ideas.

That conversation with Mike and Jim took place on a Thursday afternoon and shortly after leaving the shop, Michael got a call from the Rings telling him that if he could have his rolling chassis to the shop by the following Monday, they could start the project immediately. Naturally, this put Mr. Schmalz in a panic as he had anticipated having several more months to prepare, but he agreed and had the shell towed to Spring Green. The first big hurdle once the car arrived at the Ringbrothers shop was making sure that the car was worth building up. The Rings won’t work on a vehicle that doesn’t retain its matching VIN numbers in all the various tag locations. Michael didn’t know this and had never thought to look so with bated breath, he watched Mike and Jim start disassembly to verify that the car was as it should be.

Luckily, all three VIN locations matched and work could begin. Michael supplied the Rings with high-quality renderings that he created himself and together they worked out specifications for the powertrain and suspension, as he had some rigorous expectations.

“This car isn’t going to just be some show queen; it’s going to be driven often and hard,” Schmalz said. “My father has a Shelby Cobra and we’ll definitely be attending some track days together. Having something that handles as good as it looks is absolutely critical to me.”

Under SPLITR’s hood lies a Wegner Motorsportsbuilt, naturally aspirated, 427 cubic inch Ford Racing engine. While the Rings worked with Michael to spec out a powertrain that would make his goal of around 500 horsepower and run on 93 octane pump gas, this particular 427 will make a little over the specified 500 horsepower while providing plenty of torque.

Royal Purple fluids provide optimum lubrication for an engine running at peak performance. Power from the engine is routed through a Tremec T56 six-speed transmission from Bowler, which goes through a custom driveshaft and into a Ford 9-inch rearend from Detroit Speed.

Fuel is delivered via an Aeromotive fuel cell and pump to a Holley Atomic EFI fuel injection system. Sitting atop the engine is a custom-designed airbox that not only looks unique, but delivers all of the cold, dense air that the big Ford engine can swallow. Exhaust is handled through custom headers from the Ringbrothers, with one and a half inch primaries that go into a custom exhaust system with Flowmaster Super 44 Mufflers. On an engine of this size cooling is a big priority and SPLITR’s cooling system is composed of a custom AFCO radiator and SPAL fans.

“We could have gone with another big crazy engine in this thing, but Michael wanted something that was more drivable on the street,” Jim Ring, co-owner of Ringbrothers said. “With all the handling improvements, weight reductions and other modifications, we kind of found that 500 horsepower was really the sweet spot for this car. It’s plenty of power to get around town and have fun on a race track, but not so much that you’re lighting the tires up in Fourth.”

The build for SPLITR took place at the same time as the development for the Ringbrothers’ other big Mustang project, an all carbon widebody 1965 Mustang that became known as Espionage. In fact, Mike and Jim were so impressed with Michael’s work on his own renderings they asked him to design the final paint scheme for Espionage.

Though SPLITR is based on a 1965 Mustang, a significant portion of the body has been replaced with carbon fiber panels and it is estimated that as much as 60 percent of the body is actually carbon fiber. Jim and Mike Ring handcrafted the molds for some of the carbon fiber elements including the doors, roof panel, hood, and deck lid, making it simple for them to be able to replicate the ’65-’66 Mustang carbon fiber parts for future builds or customer orders.

One of the most notable pieces of the SPLITR design is the double floorpan that rolls cleanly under the car at the rocker panels and provides a race-car style flat bottom, cleaning up the airflow under the car and helping the car stick to the road at speed.

The smooth underbody continues to the rear where Mike and Jim modified much of the sheet metal to get rid of that classic “sagging diaper” look often seen in muscle and pony cars of the same era. To do this they wrapped the rear valence down and under which dramatically alters the visual impact of the familiar, classic rear end. Out front there is a custom front fascia and lower lip that add to the aggressive look of the vehicle and helps to smooth airflow further while also providing for the huge amount of cooling that a car like SPLITR needs.

In addition to all the aerodynamic modifications, SPLITR’s name refers to the “split” BASF Glasurit waterborne paint scheme. The exterior paint design was also part of Michael’s concept and makes the car stand apart in a sea of ordinary red Mustangs.

With 500 hp on tap, repeatedly hauling SPLITR down from triple-digit speeds becomes a real concern. To that end, the Ringbrothers contacted Baer for a set of its huge 6S calipers and 14-inch rotors. SPLITR is riding on a set of forged Ringbrothers Recoil wheels from HRE Performance Wheels that are wrapped in sticky Nitto Invo rubber, sized 265/35/18 ZR up front and 325/30/19 ZR in the rear.

The minimalistic interior was designed with both comfort and performance in mind. Driver and passenger ride in style in leather Recaro seats, while a Vintage Air system keeps the cabin a comfortable temperature. The weave pattern used on the interior is not carpet, but is actually an unconventional use of seat material from a Nissan. To accent the inside further, SPLITR is adorned with Ringbrothers billet parts including pedal covers, shifter, brake handle cover, window cranks and door handles.

Working on Michael’s dream car was a great experience for my brother and me,” remarks Jim Ring. “It’s definitely a different way of working for us, but his vision was so in line with ours that it just made sense. The whole thing came out just great and we couldn’t be happier.”

One of the things that makes the Ford Mustang so inspiring is its ability to serve as a blank canvas for those people brave and creative enough to undertake the kind of project that Michael Schmalz Jr. and the Ringbrothers did. It’s an iconic shape, one that lends itself well to being dramatically modified, while still serving as a wonderful platform as a serious driver’s car.