Dennis Meijndert of Airdrie, Alberta, Canada, won’t sneak up on anyone in his ’68 Mustang fastback. A red Mustang is an eye-catcher no matter what, but when it is powered by a turbocharged stroker small-block, it is definitely going to turn heads, even at places like Shelby American.

“I’ve been a Ford guy my whole life,” says the father of two who first cut his teeth reading and learning from his uncles car magazines. It all started with a ’74 Ford F100,” Dennis said. “The first thing I did was install a B&M shifter, 3.91 rear gears, and bigger wheels.”

The excitement was short-lived, however. As Dennis described, “the new kit hit so hard that it broke the rear left spring.”

Today, Dennis and wife Michele have come a long way from that early setback in the form of this tire-smoking beast.

“We’ve owned the Mustang for 21 years,” Dennis said. “It presently has a big-bore 347-cube stroker, a 78/75 VS Racing turbocharger, a Toploader four-speed transmission, and a Pro Touring suspension.”

To that end, Dennis, who likes to run both autocross and drag races, holds a best eighth mile e.t. of 6.9 at 104 MPH and a quarter mile e.t. to date of 10.7 at 130 MPH on 12 pounds of boost. Giddy up!

Not a couple to allow this thoroughbred to sit idle, Dennis and Michele regularly put their pony through its road paces.

“My wife and I took our ’68 Mustang to Las Vegas from Airdrie, Alberta, for the Mustang 50th birthday celebration,” Dennis recalled.

While in Vegas, the couple drove over 400 miles in four days without a hint of trouble in 90-plus-degree heat.

1968 Mustang Mods • CP Carrillo Bullet pistons • C&S blow-through carburetor • Comp Cams Hardened Pushrods • Dart SHP four-bolt main block • Ford Performance hydraulic-roller lifters • Ford Toploader four-speed w/ wide ratios • Hurst Competition Plus shifter • Hydrodipped tall valve covers • McLeod ceramic/ceramic 11-inch clutch and pressure plate • Moroso 8-quart oil pan • Weiand high-flow aluminium water pump

“We cruised to Red Rock Canyon, Count’s Kustoms, and the Carroll Shelby Museum, where upon returning to the car, one of the Shelby engineers stopped us to ask how I had installed the turbo system in my Mustang.”

That’s a testament to the level of detail in Dennis’ build.

Like his prized pony, Dennis doesn’t look to sit still for long.

“I learned early that being in the hobby means getting your hands dirty and learning to fix them yourself. I’ve always had a fondness for Mavericks and Comets,” he said. “I’ve owned a few when I was in high school and wish I had one today.”

For now though until the weather north of the border warms a bit, Dennis says his ’47 Mercury truck has his attention. Once summer comes the Meijnderts will again be back with the local “red-car club,” autocrossing, cruising, and racing through Canada.

Sounds like a winner, eh?