Some cars stick with you. You catch a glimpse of one at a show and find yourself searching for it the next year. Some cars stick with you. You catch a glimpse of one at a show and find yourself searching for it the next year. That’s exactly how I felt the first time I saw Ed Curlee’s 1969 Mustang Sportsroof.
Whether it was parked under the sun at Mustang Week or gliding into the lineup at Run to the Sun—both held in Myrtle Beach, SC—I always found myself drawn to it. The color, the stance, the wheels… it’s my kind of Mustang. Subtle aggression meets refined execution.
Ed’s Mustang, cloaked in Jaguar Dark Sapphire, is far from a showroom survivor. Underneath the slick paint lies a brutal, purpose-built street machine. What started life as a factory 302 4-speed car has since transformed into a heavily modified beast known fittingly as Hostile. Ed has personally touched nearly every part of the car, from the CAD-designed, hand-fabricated rear suspension to the meticulously assembled 348ci Dart-block stroker motor.
“I’ve always loved the ’69 style lines and aircraft-inspired features,” Ed says, and it’s clear that his respect for the platform goes far beyond surface level. This isn’t just a Mustang built to impress—it’s one crafted to perform. With a Richmond 6-speed, Moser 9-inch rear, Unisteer rack-and-pinion, and custom four-link suspension, every aspect of this build has been carefully engineered for power and control.
Despite the raw nature of its nickname, Hostile has earned its share of respect. It’s picked up numerous awards at Mustang Week, including Best ’69–’70 Mustang (2020, 2022) and the coveted BadAss Award from Rodney Melton in 2022. But ask Ed about his favorite part of the experience, and it isn’t the trophies—it’s the full-throttle acceleration and the constant stream of thumbs-ups from fellow gearheads.
Ed is quick to credit key people like Mike Barrett at Midland Engine Machine and painter Dale King for helping bring his vision to life, but make no mistake: this is a homegrown, hands-on build. When you see this Mustang in person, just know it doesn’t just look fast—it was designed from the ground up to be fast.
