The S550-generation Ford Mustang is in its waning days, and the S650-generation Ford Mustang fast approaches for the 2024 model year. With the most powerful iterations of the now-famed 5.0-liter V8, plus a litany of dynamic and technological improvements, it's set to be the best modern Mustang ever. But what if you're not quite sold on the new model and would rather skew towards something with a bit more flare? Stop and give RTR Vehicles a long, hard look.

We'd argue that relative newcomers at RTR are more than capable of satisfying the itch for a go-fast muscle car with a little more pep in its step and a touch more style in its wardrobe. They're fast, sleek, and, best of all, an incredible value compared to their more established peers, such as Roush or Shelby American. And like these competitors, RTR Vehicles is born from motorsports, enabling every one of their fast Fords to be held to a similarly high standard by a well-versed team of like-minded enthusiasts.

No, RTR may not have the brand cache that rivals are known for, but that's fine. It can more than deliver in the same departments and then some, and that's why we're hailing it as the aftermarket muscle car to snag in 2023.

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RTR Is A Youthful Brand Born From Motorsports

2022 Ford Mustang In The Mountains
RTR Vehicles

It's true that Saleen, Roush, and Shelby American trace their roots to racing and motorsports. But so does RTR.

The "Ready-To-Rock" brand has become revered as the youthful, hipster-chic tuner Mustang for its heritage in Formula D, being championed by the now-retired Vaughn Gittin Jr. Also backing the team is YouTube personality, Adam LZ, as well as drift instructor and former stuntman, Chelsea DeNofa. Their influence in motorsports has garnered them a strong online following. They've even reached deep into younger audiences with appearances in numerous Need For Speed titles for over a decade.

Nowadays, Vaughn continues to work closely with Ford, performing promotional stunt driving and co-development on the S650 Mustang, making him one of the few outsiders to sample the new pony car.

RTR Mustangs Are Highly Tunable For All Styles Of Driving

RTR Spec 5 Mustang 10th Anniversary rear third quarter view
Lebanon Ford Performance

Their niche has pushed them to develop genuinely worthwhile products to piece together an adaptable Mustang variant that can satisfy a wide array of driving enthusiasts. From canyon carvers to track drivers and drift fanatics, there's a package for them. Adjustable shocks are offered for non-MagneRide Mustangs, and the brand recently rolled out its own line of coilovers for adjustable camber and ride height settings. Additionally, adjustable sway bars allow individual drivers to tailor their driving characteristics, enabling them to dial an extra ounce of under or oversteer.

Regarding aesthetics, RTR's styling is fairly subtle relative to their completion, with their current hallmark on most Ford vehicles being the diffused grille lights. However, for those wanting some Shelby-rivaling presence, you can order the Spec 5 widebody from their website. Their in-house wheel selection is far more expansive than their peers, even offering a thick-rimmed design pulled right off the Formula D competition cars.

Sure, they're admittedly not the most featureful Mustangs, nor are they often the showiest and most extravagant without any sort of body kit, but they succeed in striking a perfect balance to cater to most drivers, which can then be altered by the drivers. They're adaptable and tunable, as a proper tuner car should be.

RTR Mustangs Are A Strong Value

Via Lebanon Ford Performance

Just a few years ago, RTR was on-par with close rivals such as Roush, but they've managed to surge in value as new entry-level models were added to RTR's range and dropped from their competitors.

Today, the least expensive RTR Mustang, the looks-focused Design Package, stickers for $3,495 before the cost of the base Mustang. Next up the rung is the Spec 1, which rings in at $7,995 and includes a few more aesthetic touches and mild suspension upgrades. For reference, the current entry-level package from Roush, the 450R, stickers at $12,100 and takes a strikingly similar approach to modification. Its only advantages are an exhaust and available MagneRide tuning.

Climb the ladder, and the price gap among its peers remains if not widens further. For example, the $22,995 RTR Spec 3 package adds a Whipple supercharger, good for 750 horsepower and 615 lb-ft, adjustable suspension hardware, and available coilovers for non-MagneRide cars. By comparison, the similarly-equipped Roush Stage 3 goes for $24,995, while the Shelby GT retails at $28,995.

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RTR Vehicles Builds Other Fords, If You're Interested

Ford RTR Bronco hd wallpaper view
Via: RTR Vehicles

Not the biggest Mustang fan? That's fine. RTR Vehicles' tight relationship with Ford nowadays enables them to develop a suite of packages for many other Ford vehicles. Akin to their competitors, they currently have a large variety of available vehicles as far as any big-name Ford tuner is concerned, from Mustang variants to off-road specials.

Truck fans eager to get down and dirty will especially be able to take advantage of RTR's "fun-haver" mentality with RTR's Ranger and their Bronco, now one of their most popular platforms. And like their Mustangs, any part a buyer could want is available individually from their site.

As the tagline suggests, the brand truly knows how to have a fun time, both on and off the track, and despite their motto of "available to all, not for everyone," we'd argue they're the closest to appealing to everyone in such an expansive audience. Born to give a new splash of youthful, purpose-built charm to the Mustang aftermarket, Vaughn's brand has exploded from a mere Formula D contender to an international performance marque.

From their parts supply to their full-blown Mustang and truck packages, anyone can take their cool Ford and build it into something truly ready to rock. Fingers crossed for what's in store for the next generation of fast Fords.

Source: RTR Vehicles