In 2014, amidst a landscape dominated by automotive action films, moviegoers were introduced to a high-octane thriller that shifted gears from the established Fast & Furious franchise. The movie, Need For Speed, delivered a spectacle of exotic cars, breathtaking races, explosive action sequences, all while paying homage to a beloved video game series. While the film showcased a diverse range of vehicles, from vintage BMWs to hypercars like Bugatti, it was a singular machine that captured the spotlight as the movie’s undisputed hero: the Need For Speed Movie Mustang. This wasn’t just any Mustang; it was a custom 2013 Shelby GT500, a true American muscle car that dared to challenge and outperform its exotic counterparts, becoming the iconic Need for Speed movie Mustang that fans remember.
Alt text: Custom widebody Ingot Silver 2013 Shelby GT500 Need For Speed movie Mustang hero car, Kona Blue stripes, built by Steeda.
The Allure of the Need For Speed Mustang: An Underdog Story
Dreamworks Production Company envisioned a hero car for the Need For Speed movie that resonated with the spirit of the underdog, a concept perfectly embodied by the Ford Mustang. Against a backdrop of European exotics, the choice of a modified Mustang as the protagonist’s vehicle established an immediate contrast and a compelling narrative. While raw power could be readily enhanced through engine modifications, the production team recognized that to truly compete with and outmaneuver the world’s finest sports cars, the Need for Speed movie Mustang demanded exceptional handling capabilities. This quest for superior performance led them to Steeda Performance Vehicles, a name synonymous with Mustang racing and high-performance modifications.
Steeda’s established legacy in performance builds and Mustang racing pedigree made them the ideal partner for developing the hero car. Dreamworks sought to create a vehicle that was not only visually striking and movie-worthy but also authentically performance-driven, utilizing readily available aftermarket parts. Steeda embraced this challenge, ensuring that every upgrade on the Need for Speed movie Mustang was achievable for enthusiasts looking to replicate the movie car’s performance on their own vehicles. The result was a customized S197 Mustang that was visually and mechanically unique, a testament to both Dreamworks’ design vision and Steeda’s engineering prowess.
Alt text: Action shot from Need For Speed movie showcasing the custom Shelby Mustang racing alongside exotic sports cars on a winding road.
Steeda’s Racing Heritage: Engineering Performance for the Big Screen
Steeda’s extensive racing history underscored the critical role of advanced suspension systems in achieving peak performance, regardless of whether it’s on a professional track or the open road. Drawing upon decades of experience in suspension tuning for both road racing and street performance, Steeda was entrusted by Dreamworks with complete creative freedom to transform the Shelby GT500 into a corner-carving marvel capable of challenging supercars. Steeda’s reputation as a leading name in the Mustang aftermarket instilled confidence in Dreamworks, allowing them to fully entrust the performance enhancements to the experts.
Demonstrating their commitment to quality and real-world performance, Steeda ensured that all suspension upgrades fitted to the Need for Speed movie Mustang were comprised of mass-production parts readily available to customers. Starting with a solid foundation, the custom widebody Shelby Mustang received a comprehensive suite of Steeda G-Trac suspension components. This included the Steeda Coil Over Assembly for adjustable ride height and handling, Steeda Upper Control Arms and mounts for improved camber adjustment, and a Steeda Panhard Bar to maintain rear axle stability, especially crucial after lowering the vehicle. These components formed the bedrock of the Need for Speed movie Mustang‘s exceptional handling, and remain popular upgrades for Mustang owners seeking enhanced performance.
Alt text: Close-up shot of Steeda G-Trac suspension components installed on a Ford Mustang S197 chassis, highlighting performance aftermarket parts.
Suspension Mastery: Elevating the Need For Speed Mustang’s Handling
Building upon the foundational suspension upgrades, Steeda further enhanced the chassis rigidity of the Need for Speed movie Mustang to ensure razor-sharp handling and control. This was achieved through the installation of Steeda Adjustable Front and Rear Sway Bar assemblies, replacing the factory components with Steeda’s performance-engineered designs. To accommodate the visually striking, yet massive 22-inch wheels chosen for the movie, Steeda Lower Control Arm Relocation Brackets were employed. These brackets were essential to ensure proper geometry and clearance for the rear sway bars, preventing any interference with the oversized wheels.
The culmination of these meticulously engineered suspension enhancements resulted in a Need for Speed movie Mustang that not only possessed breathtaking straight-line speed but also demonstrated unparalleled cornering prowess. Crucially, this remarkable handling was achieved using Steeda parts readily available to the public, reinforcing the message that the movie car’s performance was not just Hollywood magic, but attainable reality. Steeda’s decades of expertise in Mustang suspension technology and innovation were directly translated into the hero car, showcasing the brand’s capability to deliver both cinematic performance and tangible upgrades for enthusiasts.
Alt text: Dynamic side view of the Need For Speed movie Mustang cornering sharply on a racetrack, showcasing its upgraded Steeda suspension in action.
Behind the Scenes: A Race Against Time
When Dreamworks and Ford approached Steeda with the project, the timeline was incredibly compressed. Steeda was tasked with building seven identical hero Mustangs for the movie within a mere ten weeks. This daunting challenge was further compounded by the secrecy surrounding the project. Under a strict embargo, Steeda’s team worked tirelessly, even through the Christmas and New Year holidays, to meet the demanding deadline. The fenders were meticulously handcrafted using custom metal fabrication, while the unique front and rear fascias were sculpted by automotive clay artists in collaboration with Ford’s design team before being realized in fiberglass. Remarkably, the seven Mustangs were built using a combination of both standard Mustang GTs and higher-performance GT500 models. Through skillful fabrication and paintwork, and the unifying presence of custom 22-inch Forgiato wheels, the cars appeared indistinguishable on screen.
Bob Adams, President of Steeda Performance Vehicles, recounted the intense pressure: “When we were building the Need For Speed Mustangs we were under a very tight embargo (e.g. no postings, no photography released, no discussions, etc) as everything was a secret at that time as Ford Motor Company’s sponsorship of the movie was not yet revealed. Overall, we had less than 10 weeks to build the 7 identical cars required for the filming of the movie …and that was done over the Christmas and New Year holidays. The team only had Christmas off as our schedule was extremely tight…otherwise it was a 7 day a week operation with long hours each day.”
The robustness of Steeda components was vividly illustrated during the filming of a major stunt scene in Detroit. Despite the extreme forces exerted on the car during the stunt, the Steeda suspension parts endured without damage, a testament to their exceptional strength and reliability under pressure.
Alt text: Behind-the-scenes photograph of the Need For Speed movie Mustang being filmed on set, showcasing the custom fabrication and movie production environment.
