COMFORT & DESIGN

Most definitely! UCC has addressed this issue in many ways. The door has been slightly lengthened for better entrance and exit. The frame has 4” dropped seat and pedal pans. The wheelbase has been lengthened an additional 4”. The transmission tunnel has been narrowed by 8” putting your feet in front of you and not crammed to the left. These changes will keep your knees away from the door hinge and the dash. This extra 4” allows for tilt wheel. You will not find a roomier replica.

Yes. Our R&D team is constantly analyzing areas to upgrade. They push our cars as hard as possible, on and off the track, constantly looking for new areas to improve on. The GT-427 product line keeps evolving each year, with design features that are interchangeable with previously constructed cars. And, no, there are no available positions in the R&D team. You couldn’t get these guys to quit if you tried!

FRAME

The GT-427 frame is made of 2” X 4” rectangular square tubing. No welding is required. All components such as suspension & drive line are simple bolt on.

Yes. All mass-produced vehicles use “C” or boxed frame rails for their chassis for several reasons. The boxed steel has four right angles. These gussets give the frame it’s strength. Since the frame needs to be the strongest in a lateral twist, the top and bottom walls are twice as wide as its side walls, (2” x 4”). Unlike the square tube, round tube is equally strong in all directions. That is why it is used as a roll cage in race cars. Since the point of impact is unpredictable, round tube makes a great protection structure like those used in stock cars. A stock car’s frame, however, is 2” x 4” boxed tube.

The GT-427 frame has been torque tested by Taylor Race Engineering, a Formula One design team. The frame required 1,250 lbs. of pressure to flex it a single degree of deviation. The maximum amount of horsepower has not yet been determined. Customers have exceeded 700 HP on countless occasions with absolutely no frame flex.

Terrific question! Most people who see photos of frames with 3-dimensional sub structures usually assume it is stronger and safer. In most cases this is the desired impression. In other cases, the body is simply not structurally rigid enough to support itself. Most sub frames are made of ¾” thin wall box tube. This is not what the bumpers should be bolted to nor should it be confused for a safety structure.

The GT-427 dimensions are identical to the original roadster except the wheelbase. We extended the wheel base 4”; which allowed us to correct a great number of issues associated with the original wheel base, which is 90”. The transmission tunnel has been narrowed, and suspension travel has been increased making for a smoother, more comfortable, and more controllable driving experience.

HANDLING

The fox body style Mustang 5.0 is equipped with a triangulated four arm setup. This means that only two arms are in-line with the frame and two are angling in towards the 3rd member, or “pumpkin”. The two outer arms are very long leaving only one location for them to bolt, beneath your seats. This makes lowering the seat pans impossible. The Mustang 5.0’s rear suspension is notorious for wheel hop problems. This became noticeable when its HP was increased from its stock configuration.

When this suspension is installed into a vehicle that is 1,000 pounds lighter and over a foot shorter the wheel hop is even more pronounced. Sure, upgrades are available to lessen the hop but will not eliminate it completely. At best the upgrade will get it back to the stock Mustang level and you’re out an extra expense. If you exceed the stock HP of the 5.0, which is 225HP, the wheel hop problem will intensify even with the upgrades. These are more than enough reasons for our engineers to keep their distance from Mustang suspension.

The 4-Link setup consists of four bars, two on each side, top and bottom that run in parallel to one another. A fifth bar is added called a Panhard bar. This bar runs horizontal to the frame. 4-Link suspension has been used for over 50 years in all types of high performance cars. It has become the standard suspension on most drag racing vehicles due to optimization in traction. The 4-Link suspension is designed for one purpose; traction! To gain the most traction possible the rear end must not be allowed to move in any direction except up and down, so that equal power can be delivered to both tires at the same time. The Panhard bar serves one purpose as well. It prevents the rear end from shifting side to side, while allowing the 4-Links to move up and down freely. 4-Links create enormous amounts of traction in a very simple way. As quickly as the power from the engine reaches the differential the rear end tries to tilt, and the 4-Links immediately bind and plant the power to the pavement. All of this takes place very smoothly in a fraction of a second.

Custom tubular upper and lower control arms have been designed specifically for the GT-427. They use Kevlar coated screw-in ball joints and Delrin bushings. Adjustable coilover shocks are used front and back. You will not experience bump-steer with this suspension as found in Mustang 5.0 front suspension. Like wheel hop, Bump-Steer kits are available but will not eliminate the problem. Our philosophy is simple; why reinvent the wheel? Just go with what works.

The frame is set up for a manual rack & pinion. We recommend you use an Ididit Inc. steering column. They are pre-wired and come with tilt wheel.

This is a great question! The answer is no, it is not difficult to steer when the correct rack & pinion is used. Too many times we have seen those who have used a Mustang 5.0 power assisted rack & pinion without the power. This is the process in which one loops the fluid hoses so that the rack is no longer powered. The problem with this is the steering gear box was designed to be hydraulically assisted. If you have ever tried to steer your car with the motor turned off, you know for a fact that it becomes extremely difficult to steer. A rack designed for non-power assisted steering has a much higher geared steering box allowing steering to be comfortable. When a thousand pounds is removed from the equation, steering becomes that much easier. So far; our current steering set up has been performing beautifully!

All brakes offered by UCC are 5” on 4. 5” lug pattern. This is the most popular lug pattern used in aftermarket wheels.

Yes. UCC offers completed 9” Ford rear ends as well as traction lock rear ends. Both rear ends include fully assembled 11” disc brakes, with a standard gear ratio of 3.70. Other ratios may be available upon request depending on availability.

With a small block it will weigh around 2,250 lbs. With a big block it will weigh about 2,450 lbs. The weight numbers can vary based on accessories. A high performance 351 could weigh as much as 280 pounds less than a big block.

The Ford 9” is world renowned as the strongest rear end ever made. It is used in drag racing where axle stress is the greatest and in NASCAR racing where long periods at high speed can be the most brutal. The Ford 9” has a pinion offset which creates clearance problems with the drive shaft. If the drive shaft is too short, it will be at too great an angle at full suspension travel. The u-joints cannot operate at this angle. If the rear suspension movement was restricted to be within tolerances the suspension would only travel 2” up or down, resulting in a very rough riding roadster. Standard length replicas are too short for the straight axle rear-end so they prefer the IRS. Since UCC’s GT-427 chassis is 4” longer this is NOT a problem. We can provide you with an Independent Rear Suspension, but you will get better traction from our 4-Link.

So that you don’t lose to a Civic at a stop light because you have twice as much HP and not enough traction.

PRODUCTION

UCC offers several options from our 10-day build to full turnkeys.

UCC uses Vinyl Ester resins, in a hand-laid tri-axial pattern. Most replica bodies are made of Polyester fiberglass, a prehistoric form of fiberglass used in the early Corvettes. Vinyl Ester resin is stronger, less likely to delaminate, more flexible, lighter, and resists blistering that poly resins are prone to. Vinyl Ester has almost double the heat tolerance, which means your paint job will never have ripples, spider cracks, or surprise bubbles. These problems are common on Polyester based fiberglass around engine and exhaust areas. Your paint will last a great deal longer with Vinyl Ester. Our customers’ cars still look brand new after having been exposed to fourteen plus years of Texas’s triple digit temperatures. Peterbilt has recently begun using Vinyl Ester in their truck rigs for many of these same reasons.

Not at all. Keep in mind that those who offer Kevlar are constructing their body out of Polyester first and then reinforcing it with a thin amount of Kevlar. We began using this same process ourselves until we experimented with Vinyl Ester. After testing we converted immediately.

Yes. The hood, trunk, and doors are finished equally on the top and bottom surfaces. Metal plates with six threaded studs each have been permanently mounted inside the doors, trunk, and hood for ease of installation.

The trunk is one of the largest available in a GT-427 replica. Thanks to a specially made fuel cell the trunk can keep a spare tire as large as a 17” x 8” with a 245-40 R17 tire and still have room for a stow away.

UCC uses only well-known and respected name brands to ensure the best product quality and performance. This allows UCC to extend a warranty to its customers. Our list of trusted name brands is long and worth consideration.

We guarantee the quality of every part sold. All parts include the part supplier’s warranty from the date of purchase.

A lot of protection has been incorporated into the GT-427. The center section of the frame has solid steel pans that extend forward over 10” beyond your feet. Dual side beams run through the doors with a USDOT approved double latch mechanism. Front and rear bumpers are chassis mounted. The 17-gallon, collapsible, Poly Ethylene fuel cell is boxed in and protected by the 2” X 4” frame. The roll bar and windshield posts are chassis mounted as well.

The average lead time is 6-8 business weeks. We do not believe you should have to wait three months for your dream machine to make it into your garage. Please call for an exact time considering some months of the season are busier than others.

The headers are made to mate with the engine you chose to install. They are mandrel-bent, four into four 1 ¾” tube headers. The side pipes are made in the same method as the headers. Each side pipe is 3” in diameter with a 4” muffler. These side pipes are USDOT legal in every state.

Two of the three master cylinders included operate the brakes. They are made by Wilwood Engineering. While one master cylinder is operating the front brakes, the other is operating the rear. Brake pressure can be adjusted front to back at the pedal assembly.

The GT-427 does not use donor car parts! The GT-427 kit includes a custom fuel tank made of Poly Ethylene. This tank is molded to perfectly fit within the rear 2” x 4” frame rails. The GT-427 tank has been designed to collapse and deform in the event of a rear impact and not rupture. The tank fits in between the rear bumpers to prevent the bumpers from stabbing the tank in the event of an impact. The tank is also made to be aesthetically pleasing from the back or side view of the car. The tank is very difficult to see without crawling beneath the vehicle.

The GT-427 does not use donor car parts! The pedal assembly is custom made for the GT-427. It can be placed in the foot box to specifically accommodate your desired pedal location.

Yes. Upon request the hard lines for the brake and fuel can be pre-bent and flared. The body holes can also be pre-cut.

ASSEMBLY

Each door is bolted via six bolts into a solid aluminum hinge that is almost 5” thick. This hinge is adjustable at both ends, has brass internal bushings to give it a very smooth action, and is bolted to a sub structure called a cowl bar. The cowl bar is an extension of the chassis that has been recently incorporated into the frame. It supports the steering column, windshield, door hinges, and wiper motor.

The GT-427 kit includes a comprehensive 100+ page manual on CD-ROM with illustrated photos. The assembly manual is made in Adobe Acrobat as a PDF document. This allows you to jump to whatever page you wish instantly. If you do not own a computer, a printed color copy will be provided instead. A toll-free tech line is available if you need to speak with a UCC technician.

On average our inexperienced customers have spent around 140 hours building their GT-427. This time can be cut in half if you have a friend or family member help.

Absolutely! The wiring harness is made by Painless Performance Products. The name says it all. Every wire has been labeled, leaving no questions about where they go. Printed right on the wire it will say “[Engine Section] Pos. to Alternator”. It really cannot get any easier than this.

None whatsoever. Our kit is designed specifically for average garage tools; although, there are some tools that can speed up the build process.

No. The engine is positioned 4” further forward, so the shifter is now in the proper position. The original’s bent-forward shifter handle was a solution to a design problem. The problem was obvious when you attempted to shift into 2nd gear and your elbow hit the rear wall before the gear could engage. So, they simply bent the shifter forward about 8”.

All the items you may need are available through UCC. The basic GT-427 kit would need additional items such as the drivetrain, wheels, tires, rear-end and paint.

Two garage spaces would be ideal. If only one is available; you will need to either suspend the body above the frame while you work on it or store the body outside. Many customers have temporarily stored their body in their back yard. The weather will not hurt it. If you have all the necessary parts, the frame can be ready for the body in as little as two or three days from the start of your construction.

No, the kit includes everything necessary to finish off your interior. It has been pre-upholstered and pre-formed for ease of installation. We have even included the carpet padding and trunk carpeting.

PAINTING

Yes. The body should be painted once it has been built. The gloss black gel coat serves as the base for the paint.

UCC’s body has been considered the finest in the industry. The “Complete Guide to Cobra Replicas” used the UCC body as the example of the way a replica body should be. Only slight sanding is required prior to paint. We recommend a professional painter that has experience painting fiberglass. They seem to do a better job than a strictly metal painter. If you are not going to be painting the car it is highly recommended that you not do any body prep. You may end up costing yourself more money instead of saving. Painters are artists, and artists generally like to start with a clean canvas; not one that has already been outlined for them.

The cost of a paint job is highly variable depending on the type of paint and whether you are building a daily driver or a show car. UCC can paint your car for approximately $8,000.00. Customers with painting experience have done the job themselves. Paint costs can nearly double on other replica bodies if molds are not changed regularly. UCC frequently replaces its molds to reduce flange lines and other imperfections caused by extensive mold usage.

The GT-427 has only 3 body seams. These seams are surface seams only. Body seams are casting lines left from the surface of the mold where it separates. The GT-427 seams are flush to the surface of the body. Look out for bodies with tall seams that can be as much as ¼” tall!

RECOMMENDATIONS

For extensive driving, a small block would be recommended. It is much tamer in traffic and performs excellent; being a light weight motor. There is better weight distribution with a small block. You will have tremendous fun and success at the track with a small block over a big block motor if racing is a consideration. If your driving is based on stop light to stop light, big blocks are very fun. They produce tremendous amounts of low end torque. As far as horse power goes, a small block can produce the same amount of power as the big blocks making for a lighter, faster car.

We do not recommend you use any at all. There is no need for heat protection in a UCC body. The foot box/firewall is made of thick Vinyl Ester fiberglass which is very heat reflective. Heat problems are consistent with metal foot boxes due to their proximity to the headers.

We recommend a very soft tire, for 17” wheels. Kumho offers good soft tires that are street legal. Another great tire is a Good Year Eagle F1; they are a little more expensive but perform and look the best. For 16” wheels we recommend BF Goodrich 295 50 R16s. For 15” we recommend Good Year Eagle GT II 295 50 R16s.

World Class T-5, Tremec TKO 5-speed, Richmond 4-speed, T-56 6-speed, Top Loader 4-speed, C4 & C6 automatic.

COMMON PREFERENCES

Most of our customers install the Ford 351 Windsor. Any small or big block Ford or Chevy V8 can be installed in the GT-427 frame. Simply specify what engine you plan on installing so that we can include the correct headers and motor mounts.

The largest wheel and tire that will fit is a 17” x 11” rim with 335- 35 R17 tires. Most of our customers have been using 17” x 10” rims with 315-35 R17 tires. They are easier to come by and less expensive.

Yes. When you place your order please let us know if you desire a 2” shorter roll bar. It is no additional cost.

UPGRADES

Yes. We offer three types of roll bars. The standard roll bar has three legs. An upgrade is available for a passenger side roll bar or a double-sided bar that goes all the way across. We recommend the double-sided roll bar. It does not have the two inner legs increasing rear view visibility, and better appearance over all.

Yes. Many parts can be upgraded or added after your GT-427 has been built such as: bumpers, seats, shocks, oil coolers, stainless steel nose shrouds, steering wheels, side wind wings, heaters, and wheels.

Yes. A radio box is available that fills the space between the transmission tunnel and dash that can accommodate a CD player. Speakers can be mounted in several places.

Not as an upgrade. No one has tried it with one of our GT-427 as far as we know, but we see that it could be possible by installing a right-hand drive rack & pinion.

PURCHASING

Yes. Just let us know where you live so that we can locate one of our customers nearest to you.

Orders require a $2,000 deposit. The purpose of a deposit is to show commitment. Several man hours go into the manufacturing and preparation of each kit. This deposit is discounted from your kit balance. We accept bank wire transfers, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and personal or certified checks. Final payment must be made a minimum of 10 days prior to estimated kit completion via certified bank check or wire transfer. We do not accept credit card payments over $2,000 per kit purchase. There is a 4% surcharge for using credit cards; excluding the down payment.

A trailer ready kit consists of a frame, body, protected headers/side pipes, and approximately 20 boxes. The body will be sitting on the chassis with most of the boxes sitting in the engine compartment, cockpit, and trunk. Every part is shrink-wrapped individually, and bubble wrapped if protection is necessary prior to being put in the box. Each box is then shrink-wrapped for water protection. The contents of each box are externally labelled.

We have gone to great lengths to make this as easy as possible. UCC is a certified Automotive Manufacturer. Each kit is assigned a VIN # from a pre-determined list. Each kit also includes a Manufacturers Statement of Origin, or MSO. You can simply give this official document to your local Department of Motor Vehicles. They will submit the document and turn it into a title in your name. If you are a Texas resident you do not have to do anything. UCC will do all of this for you.

First check with your current insurance provider. Some will carry replicas, and some will not.

UCC does not arrange for transport. However, we can recommend transport companies to you that we have come to trust. In addition, we will provide your transporter of choice with crate specifications. Ordered parts weighing less than 150 pounds are shipped to your door through USPS Priority Mail, UPS Ground, or FedEx Ground services.

Another great question! First, one should understand what contributes to automotive resale values. They are affected by popularity, reliability, and condition. When an automotive company changes the style of one of its models, the resale value of its predecessor drops mostly due to popularity.

CNN/Money advertised a Kelly Blue Book 2004 resale report listing vehicles that carried the highest resale value. The most retained value was 52% in a 5-year-old vehicle.

The GT-427 body style is the same as it was the day we first produced one 14 years ago and will look the same 14 years from now. This allows for only an increase in popularity over time.

Consider this: a replica is generally kept in the garage. Owners generally take better care of their replica than their daily driver. When was the last time you saw someone wipe every bug off the front of their car?

If the frame was powder coated it cannot rust. This only leaves the drive train, seats, and tires. If you used a new or rebuilt engine it should still be in like new condition, and the seats and tires can easily be replaced if they show wear. Since it is worth a lot more built, you will probably sell it for more than you purchased the kit for. What car can you buy that will pay for itself in 5 years? This wouldn’t be the case, of course, if you started out with tired Mustang parts. Generally, it is very difficult to find UCC GT-427s for sale. Our customers hang on to them; and many return to build another.

AFTER CARE

We have always offered more than is expected. In 1998, UCC/Lone Star Classics was awarded the DuPont Registry Award of Excellence. In 1999, UCC/Lone Star Classics was awarded Manufacturer of the Year by the Association of Handcrafted Automobiles or AHA, the highest honor in the business. As Texans like to say “It’s better to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth”; so contact us for customer reference numbers in your area. Our Toll-Free line is dedicated for sales and tech calls. We believe that you should not have to pay to receive information or tech help. The UCC team will do whatever it takes to help you build and complete your dream car.

Yes. We can provide you with sections of the body, replacement doors, trunk, and hoods; as well as sections of the frame, all at a very reasonable price.