The Hard (Top) Facts - Devin Vanderhoof to Convert Mustang Convertible into a Coupe, And Sells Engine - What’s Next for This 6-Second Mustang?
Devin Vanderhoof is not one that’s content with running with the pack, or just ahead of it. Just when you think Devin has the ’93 Mustang convertible known as ‘Big Ern’ on rails, he makes big changes.
After winning several events, including a pair of class wins at Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, the Mustang had become a unique ride in the drag and drive community. But after an early exit at this year’s Sick Summer, Devin is planning some big changes, and this isn’t the first time Devin has made big changes for bigger and better performances.
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Devin’s Fox Mustang started life as a rare feature car, which were available in three varieties between 1992 and 1993 models. The ‘Triple White’ version had just 1500 built in 1993, and originally sported an all-white exterior with white top, white 5-spoke wheels and white leather interior.
Devin’s car made big news on the drag and drive scene in 2023, when he and driver Jordan Tuck set the small tire world on its ear with a 4.59 pass on the Rowdy Radial 235-spec radial (26 inch-tall x 8.5-inch-width) in route to a 4.64 average, both records that remain intact to today.
Josh David took the wheel of the single turbo big block Chevrolet-powered machine for Sick Summer and Hot Rod Drag Week, where on the larger 275-spec drag radial, Josh and Devin brought home class wins from both events.
For the 2024 season, Devin made some changes before Sick Week, including the switch to twin turbochargers. Their stay at Sick Week was short one, as problems forced an early withdrawal from Sick Week.
It didn’t take long for Devin and Josh to bounce back, scoring a win at No Mercy’s Street Car Braggin Rights class at South Georgia Motorsports Park less than three weeks later, and they added a Run What Ya Brung class victory at the Street Car Braggin Rights event at Carolina Dragway in May 2024.
But instead of continuing that success at Sick Summer, Devin took a step back and stripped the Mustang convertible to a bare shell and roll cage. “After Street Car Braggin Rights, we realized we needed to move to the next level,” Devin said at the time. “Unfortunately, the timeline worked out where we had to do it now, or in December, which would ruin Sick Week for next year.”
A host of changes brought the Mustang to Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive with an aftermarket (parallel) 4-link suspension, a 25.1 / 25.2 SFI-cert roll cage, and about 200 pounds lighter. The duo laid down a new personal best of 6.37 at 227 mph at Gainesville Raceway (4.23 at 181 mph eighth-mile numbers) in route to capturing the Modified class Sick orange helmet, and another Gear Vendors Overdrive Top 3 guitar.
Looking to duplicate his 2023 season when Devin scored both Sick Week and Sick Summer wins, Devin and Josh rolled into Byron Dragway two days early to test. On Day One of competition, ‘Big Ern’ delivered a 6.63 at 217 mph blast, second only to Bryant Goldstone’s 6.60 at 221 mph pass in the Ultimate Iron class.
But that 6-second run resulted in the convertible top being ripped completely off the car, and despite their best efforts to get another one and get it installed, no options were found. Combined with a cracked fuel tank. Devin was forced once again to withdraw from a drag and drive event early.
“After doing some digging on what seemed like a 20-hour drive home from Sick Summer, it is not uncommon to weld a roof onto a convertible and make it a coupe,” said Devin. “So, that’s what we are going to do. We’ve had enough problems to justify doing this. I feel like we’ve put forth a pretty valiant effort into making a convertible as fast as we have.”
The rapid removal of the convertible top has been the latest in a string of issues with the convertible that Devin chalked up to the body difference versus a hardtop. “Data shows vacuum in the cabin,” he said. “Most people look at this and they say ‘air is getting underneath the top and ballooning it up.’ That is part of it, but also the shear - the air that comes across the top - is lifting up on this and picking up on the canvas.”
To make the change to a notch / coupe body style, Devin secured a coupe donor car from BJ Adams at Poverty Motorsports. To prep the car for the coupe conversion, all the convertible remnants have been given their walking papers, and from some initial calculations by Devin, he thinks the car could stand to lose around 65-70 pounds.
“We are going to put a new set of carbon fiber tubs so we can get the ride height we want,” Devin said, which will be lower than before as the tubs were limited by the convertible top frame.
The other big news is the car’s engine bay is currently empty, and the big block Chevrolet that powered the car to this year’s Sick Week win has found a new home, just a few hours after Devin put it up for sale.
What’s going in its place? “We are going to change the engine, and no it’s not going to be a Coyote,” Devin said. He gave no indication of what could be powering the converted coupe, although Devin noted he has retained the HPT twin turbochargers, although they are being shipped back to HPT for some changes.
Watch Devin’s latest video on the convertible’s changes below:
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine, 1320 Video, Motion Raceworks and Devin Vanderhoof.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com