PROJECT freedom
A Modern American Muscle Icon—Built by Legacy, Driven by Passion
dESIGN & cONCEPT
Project Freedom is the Mustang that redefined what’s possible for a modern American pony car. Built by Cassar Performance & Design™, this 2021 Mustang GT California Special Fastback is our bold, unapologetic homage to the original 1968 California Special—reborn with precision engineering, handcrafted design, and legacy-fueled performance.
It began as a bold tribute to one of the most iconic pony cars ever created: the 1968 Ford Mustang GT California Special. Built on a 2021 Mustang GT California Special Fastback, this car was never meant to be a simple restyle—it’s a reimagining. At Cassar Performance & Design, we asked: What would the California Special look like if Carroll Shelby built it in the modern era? The result is a form-follows-function masterpiece that merges retro soul with cutting-edge performance. Project Freedom is our love letter to American muscle, bold expression, and the legacy of the Mustang—refined, redefined, and reborn.
Inside, Project Freedom channels Grand Touring elegance through the lens of motorsport DNA. Custom CPD-upholstered Recaro bucket seats offer bolstered support for aggressive driving, while remaining refined enough for long-distance cruising. The dashboard, repainted in-house by CPD, honors the simplicity of the S550’s design while adding a tailored, coachbuilt finish. A CPD bespoke carbon fiber flat-bottom steering wheel brings modern performance ergonomics to the cockpit, and our signature white Q-ball shift knob crowns the Barton Hybrid-3 short throw shifter—blending classic cues with modern functionality.
The cabin is both a command center and a celebration of American design—purposeful, bold, and personal. It's where muscle car heritage meets precision GT craftsmanship. This isn’t just a build—it’s a modern blueprint for what the American grand touring machine should be: visceral, beautiful, and uncompromising.
bLUEPRINTED BY PASSION. eNGINEERED FOR FREEDOM.
Build Philosphy
Every decision in this build was intentional—down to the last bolt and body line. Project Freedom wasn’t built to follow trends; it was built to lead with purpose. Starting with the aggressive OEM Mach 1 front fascia—the world’s first full 2021–2022 Mustang Mach 1 clip conversion installed on a California Special—the foundation was laid for a one-of-a-kind silhouette that speaks to both legacy and evolution. From there, we integrated a chassis-mounted front chin splitter from the Mach 1 Handling Pack and paired it with Anderson Composites' exposed carbon fiber Type-AR side skirts and quad-tip rear diffuser. The OEM GT350R carbon fiber spoiler ties the entire aero package together, delivering not just visual drama, but true high-speed stability and downforce.
To control heat and amplify performance, the Stainless Works long-tube headers and Borla Atak catback exhaust were fully Cerakote-coated—both for aesthetics and durability—creating a tone that is ferocious under throttle yet refined in tone. Every line, vent, and angle is engineered for airflow, cooling, and clarity of purpose. Nothing here is for show—it’s all for go.
Born for the Street. Unleashed at SEMA
Unveiling at sema 2022-
where the vision met the world
Project Freedom made its official debut under the lights of Las Vegas at the 2022 SEMA Show—the largest and most prestigious stage in the automotive aftermarket world. Proudly featured in the Royal Purple booth, it wasn’t just another Mustang build—it was a bold declaration. As the very first complete build under the Cassar Performance & Design name, Project Freedom represented more than craftsmanship. It represented identity, purpose, and the beginning of a legacy.
From the moment the covers came off, Project Freedom stood out. Dressed in crisp Oxford White, the body radiated both purity and power—a clean canvas that showcased every sculpted line, carbon fiber accent, and functional aerodynamic upgrade with striking contrast. In a sea of over-the-top wraps and flashy gimmicks, this car earned respect by doing what most builds couldn’t: letting purpose speak louder than polish.
Thousands of SEMA attendees, builders, and enthusiasts stopped in their tracks to see what this machine was all about. Some admired the engineering—the Fortune Auto coilovers, the SPL suspension arms, the Studio RSR chromoly 4-point cage. Others were drawn to the aggressive stance, the first-of-its-kind 2021–2022 Mach 1 front fascia conversion, or the exposed carbon aero from Anderson Composites. But all felt the same thing: this car had soul.
It wasn’t built to chase trends—it was built to set a standard. Every line, every torque spec, every Cerakote-coated component was part of a vision rooted in American muscle heritage and modern engineering excellence. It was a manifestation of CPD’s guiding belief: that a car should be beautiful, functional, and deeply personal. Built with grit, executed with precision, and brought to life with conviction.
Being featured in the Royal Purple booth was no accident—it was an honor earned. With a full suite of Royal Purple synthetics under the hood and in the drivetrain, Project Freedom was powered by the same products trusted in elite motorsports. The XPR racing oil, Synchromax manual transmission fluid, and high-temp protection were the perfect match for a car designed to be driven hard and remembered always.
For Cassar Performance & Design, SEMA 2022 wasn’t just a launch—it was a first impression to the world. Project Freedom didn’t just show up—it announced who we are. It stood for everything we believe in: legacy, precision, passion, and the relentless pursuit of perfection.
And from that moment forward, we weren’t just builders.
We were CPD.
And this—this was only the beginning…
530 Horses of Fury. Tuned for the Brave.
American performance Amplified
When it comes to performance, Project Freedom was engineered to do far more than look the part—it was built to dominate. Under the hood lives the heart of modern American muscle: Ford’s Gen III 5.0L “Coyote” V8, precision-tuned to run on E85R fuel and breathe deep through a massive JLT 120mm cold air intake. With a redline of 8,000 RPM, this naturally aspirated engine unleashes 530 horsepower at the rear wheels and 451 lb-ft of torque, delivering power with urgency and throttle response that’s razor-sharp.
Backing that raw output is a Vengeance twin-disc ceramic clutch paired to a Gen III MT-82 6-speed transmission, reinforced with a QA1 carbon fiber driveshaft and Shelby GT350R half shafts to ensure strength, stability, and rotational efficiency. Shifts are short, tactile, and deliberate thanks to the Barton Hybrid-3 short-throw shifter, and fueling is managed by a complete DeatschWerks return-style system—built for volume, consistency, and reliability under sustained load.
Every fluid coursing through this machine is Royal Purple, from XPR Racing Oil to Synchromax manual transmission fluid. We chose Royal Purple not for convenience, but for a simple reason—they make products trusted in motorsport environments where failure isn’t an option. That same level of protection lives inside every corner of this powertrain, keeping temperatures low and confidence high.
Handling is where Project Freedom separates itself from typical street builds. Developed with a “form-follows-function” philosophy, the chassis is reinforced with CPD-designed subframe and chassis bracing, giving the car the rigidity needed to channel all that power to the pavement. The suspension is no compromise either: Fortune Auto 510 Series 24-way adjustable coilovers allow custom tuning for ride height, damping, and rebound, while SPL and AAD Performance billet control arms, toe links, camber arms, and spherical end links bring motorsport-grade adjustability to every corner of the car.
Grip comes from Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires—295/30ZR20 up front and 315/30ZR20 out back—wrapped around Velgen Forged SL-9 wheels (20x10.5 front, 20x11 rear). And when it’s time to stop, Wilwood SX6R 6-piston calipers with 15-inch rotors up front and Aero4 4-piston calipers with 14-inch rotors in the rear provide incredible stopping power, lap after lap. Hawk HP Plus ceramic race pads and stainless braided lines round out the braking package, delivering linear pedal feel and fade-resistant performance.
Whether it’s carving canyons, bombing straights, or hammering downshifts at a track day, Project Freedom is calibrated for action. It doesn’t just move—it attacks the road with precision. Every component, every decision, every pound-foot of torque was chosen for one reason: to build a Mustang that performs as boldly as it looks.
legacy in motion
A Build That RE-Launched a Legacy.
More than sheet metal and horsepower, Project Freedom is the soul of Cassar Performance & Design forged into steel. It was never just a car—it was the first heartbeat of a brand born from passion, purpose, and unrelenting American grit. Every weld, every component, every stroke of Oxford White paint was part of something far bigger: a vision to build machines that carry not just people—but values, memory, and meaning.
Project Freedom is where the CPD ethos was born: that freedom isn’t just about going fast—it’s about creating without compromise. It’s the freedom to reimagine icons. The freedom to engineer with purpose. The freedom to honor where we came from while building toward something greater. With every roar of its Coyote engine and every corner it carves, this car reminds us why we do what we do—because legacy isn't inherited. It’s built.
And in building it, Project Freedom did something more—it rekindled the fire of the Cassar family’s automotive lineage, tracing back to the original Cassar Brothers Garage in Valletta, Malta, where craftsmanship and mechanical skill were the family trade. What began generations ago in a small island garage found new life in this modern American muscle car. This was more than a debut—it was a rebirth.
From this single, unapologetic build came a brand defined by standards, not shortcuts. A design language rooted in muscle car DNA and modern GT refinement. A commitment to excellence that runs through every CPD project that followed—from our C10 SS/R to what comes next. It became the measuring stick for every frame, every panel gap, every bolt that’s torqued into place at our shop.
And at its core, Project Freedom is a tribute—not just to classic American performance—but to those who dared to dream differently. It represents the fathers, the mentors, the builders before us. It carries the weight of generations who handed us the tools, the discipline, and the pride to do things right. It reminds us that a car can be more than transportation. It can be a mission statement on four wheels.