News Article

Huber's Four-Banger Street Car Goes 8.97/150!

April 27, 2007
Bret Kepner

Photo by bretkepnerphotos.com

Jon Huber, the second-generation pilot of the renowned Huber Performance 178-cubic inch, (2.8 litre), turbocharged four-cylinder '79 Ford Mustang from St. Louis, MO, unleashed the full potential of the diminutive pony car by clocking an astonishing 8.971-second, 150.10 mph pass at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, IL, on April 25th. The effort made Huber the first driver to run in the eight-second zone at over one hundred fifty mph in a four-cylinder rear-wheel-drive machine of legitimate street-legal status.

Fully licensed, inspected and insured with a full interior, Huber's Mustang made headlines last season while finishing in eighth place overall, (behind seven V8-powered rides), at the conclusion of Hot Rod Magazine’s “Drag Week” program in which entries travel a 1500-mile route and compete at five dragstrips in five states over five days. In 2006, Huber also reset the Four-Cylinder Track Records, (9.71/143.17), in Gateway's ultra-popular SX Performance Street Car Shootout Series running on D.O.T. tires. With the vast majority of the engine and drivetrain using custom-built, one-of-kind parts manufactured by Jon’s father at Huber Performance, the Mustang uses a basic eight-valve 2.3 litre Ford Pinto engine block. Although the Mustang receives support from a variety of companies including the Indiana-based Precision Turbo and Engine emporium, the car is still basically the handiwork of two do-it-yourself hot rodders from St. Louis. “Even though my dad does build bigblock Chevys and Fords”, explained Huber, “our specialty is still turbo four-cylinders. Every piece we make is usually handcrafted by my dad for custom applications and this car is full of that kind of work."

"I was surprised by the run", continued the younger Huber, "since it was my first pass for the entire year in preparation for the SCSS program. After having to replace a sleeve in the block over the winter, I tuned it for our last run at Bowling Green, KY, in 2006 and let 'er eat. I think we may be onto something big!".