Classic Recreations Unveils 612-HP Bumstead Mustang
A 1969 Ford Mustang built for bodybuilder Chris Bumstead was revealed at the SEMA Show after Classic Recreations emerged from bankruptcy.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Body Building
Classic Recreations unveiled an overhauled 1969 Ford Boss Mustang built for bodybuilder Chris Bumstead at the SEMA Show. The company was pulled from bankruptcy by Velocity Restorations roughly one year earlier.
Why it matters
The unveiling marks a visible comeback for Classic Recreations following its bankruptcy and rescue by Velocity Restorations. The high-profile build for a well-known fitness figure puts the restorer's work in front of the specialty car community gathered at SEMA.
The Megazilla V8 crate engine is rated at 612 horsepower and costs more than $25,000, with a 3.0-liter Whipple supercharger added. The build required more than 2,500 hours of work, and the car's performance has not been independently verified.
The players
Classic Recreations
Classic Recreations is a vehicle restoration company that built the overhauled Mustang and was recently pulled out of bankruptcy.
Chris Bumstead
Chris Bumstead is a professional bodybuilder and fitness figure for whom the Mustang was built.
Velocity Restorations
Velocity Restorations is a vehicle restoration firm that rescued Classic Recreations from bankruptcy roughly a year before the SEMA unveiling.
The details
The Mustang keeps its original 1969 exterior design with new paint, updated headlights, and new hood and trunk hinges. It rides on Forgeline FL500 wheels with BFGoodrich tires and stops with six-piston Wilwood front calipers on 14-inch (355 mm) discs and four-piston rear calipers on 13-inch (330 mm) discs. Power runs through a Suncoast 10R80 ten-speed automatic, while aftermarket JRI shocks, a Detroit Speed QuadraLink rear and new front frame components manage the power.
Timeline
Roughly one year before the SEMA Show: Velocity Restorations pulled Classic Recreations from bankruptcy.
November 4, 2026: Classic Recreations unveiled the Bumstead Boss Mustang at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
Roadmap
Ford's Megazilla crate engine, sold as a high-output option for enthusiast builds, is the foundation of this restomod. Classic Recreations' build places a 612-horsepower Megazilla into a 1969 Mustang body, extending the platform into custom classic-car work.
Enthusiasts planning a high-output classic restomod can use this build as a reference for the cost scale involved, since the Megazilla crate engine alone costs more than $25,000 before supercharging and installation. The 2,500-plus hour build time shows the labor commitment a custom Mustang of this type requires.
The takeaway
A high-horsepower classic build like this one is a reminder that crate engines and quality chassis components can carry a vintage body into modern performance, but the cost and labor are substantial.
Further reading
For more on the fitness world behind this build, explore Body Building coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Carscoops.
