What is RTR & where can you buy one???
RTR is Vaughn Gittin JR’s automotive lifestyle brand. And at its nucleus, is Vaughn’s drifting career with Ford… and these RTR Mustangs.
You can buy the RTR at any knowledgeable Ford dealership. And you can put the RTR package on either the Mustang GT, or the Ecoboost Mustang. It’s supported by Ford, so it can be added & installed by the dealer at the time of vehicle purchase, and the RTR package can be rolled into the financing of the vehicle. If you already own a Mustang, RTR parts can be purchased aftermarket for your car individually… (but no serial-number badging).
There are 3 RTR packages available.
SPEC 1 – $7995 – Includes…
RTR upper & lower grille
RTR triangular LED grille lights
RTR chin spoiler
RTR rocker splitters
RTR rear diffuser
RTR deckled panel (between taillights)
RTR badges
RTR floor mats
RTR shift knob
RTR dash plaque
RTR graphics
RTR lowering springs
RTR 19” wheels
Nitto 19” tires
SPEC 2 – $11995 – Includes everything from SPEC 1 plus…
RTR 2-way dampers
RTR axle-back exhaust
RTR performance calibration (by Ford Performance)
-460hp for 5.0 and 345hp for Ecoboost
RTR sway bars
Upgrade to RTR 20” Tech 7 wheels
Nitto 555 Gen 2 tires – 275/35/20
RTR serial-numbered Spec 2 dash plaque
SPEC 3 – $21995 – Includes everything from SPEC 2 plus…
2.3L supercharger (by Ford Performance)
Air-to-water intercooler
Upgraded fuel injectors
Performance calibration
RTR serial-numbered Spec 3 dash plaque
Available Option: RTR tactical performance handling package
The RTR pictured here is the Spec-2. Mike Peters gave me the chance to drive it for a week and umm, it was real hard to give it back. Everyday that passed with the RTR, I grew more attached.
Over the years, I’ve humbly acquired a pretty neat range of vehicles in my garage: An air-cooled 911, a newer Jeep Wrangler, a Fiesta ST, a gutted/swapped CRX. I’m connected to those cars, because they give you something unique. They were never made to be compromised appliances for mass consumption. And between those 4 cars, I can check-off a lot of boxes. …But not this one.
The RTR gave me a feeling that my other cars can’t. With the S550 (and the later S197s to be fair), Ford found a way to connect you to the soul of the original iconic Mustangs. I know it sounds cliche, and it’s hard to explain. But you know what?? The best cars ARE hard to explain sometimes. They have to be EXPERIENCED & FELT. It’s always been that way, and if the internet tells you any different, it’s lying to you.
The 30-horsepower bump of the Spec-2 is neat on paper, but it’s WHERE the car makes the extra power that really counts. With the new calibration, the RTR makes more power immediately in the low-end than a stock GT… and then holds it throughout the power band. The exhaust note is hair-raising. But what surprised me – the overall demeanor of the car is actually pretty tame when you’re not actively engaged with it. The RTR ‘mellows out’ really well. It cruises. It’s honestly easier to drive at the speed limit than my little 4-banger Fiesta ST (or the Focus RS), both of which are constantly pulling at the leash. The RTR absorbs potholes & road imperfections without interrupting a conversation & having to brace yourself. The car honestly has split-personalities – best way to describe it. Put your foot in it… and it totally wants to kill you + any witnesses. Peel your foot back out, and it’s just a cold beer on a Friday afternoon.
The RTR look killer! The 20” flow-formed RTR wheel package is more aggressive & dialed-in than anything I would expect to see leave a new car lot. The graphics are neat in photos; and even better in person. They really compliment the lines of the car, flirt with reflections in the sun, and bring out the hips of the S550 in a way I’ve never noticed before. The triangular LED running lights in the grille are a definite attention-grabber. The RTR deck-lid/taillight panel & rear spoiler are bold & beastly. The chin spoiler has a mean, rugged, functional design. It’s the perfect street setup; Mustang RTR really is “Ready To Rock”.
