{"id":31086,"date":"2023-06-24T09:31:04","date_gmt":"2023-06-24T13:31:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=31086"},"modified":"2023-06-24T09:32:15","modified_gmt":"2023-06-24T13:32:15","slug":"payne-revology-mustang-startup-goes-back-to-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2023\/06\/payne-revology-mustang-startup-goes-back-to-the-future","title":{"rendered":"Payne: Revology Mustang startup goes back to the future"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><em>Ann Arbor<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Auto startups are all the rage this decade as entrepreneurs see a historic shift to electrified and autonomous vehicles. On the electric front, companies like Rivian, Fisker, Lightning eMotors, Lordstown and Vinfast aim to recreate the magic that made Tesla the industry\u2019s highest-valued automaker. Tesla, meanwhile, dreams of a self-driving jackpot alongside startups Cruise, Waymo and Zooks, which are flooding select cities with the latest self-driving bots.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">But while these automakers chase huge market caps for a new world order, other startups are going back to the future.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Startups like Revology, which is manufacturing a stable-full of classic 1960s Mustangs upgraded with state-of-the-art tech. If more startups follow (Los Angeles-based Singer Design does resto-mod Porsche 911s), it echoes the automotive future predicted by industry icon and ex-GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz in 2019.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/06\/23\/PDTN\/ab1ed5bb-2a74-4a42-9c0e-ca864d9cc6e4-RevologyGT500_fr3-4.jpg?crop=3057,1896,x675,y186&amp;width=990&amp;height=615&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" width=\"566\" height=\"352\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cWe are approaching the end of the line for the automobile because travel will be in . . . fully autonomous modules. You will call for it, input your destination and go to the freeway,\u201d wrote Lutz in a much-buzzed-about Automotive News op-ed. \u201cLike racehorse breeders, there will be manufacturers of race cars and sports cars and off-road vehicles. But it will be a cottage industry.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<div id=\"ad-slot-7103-mi-detroit-C1561-native-article_link-money-autos-1\" class=\"gnt_x_sl gnt_x_al\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"lazyLoadX\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Perhaps like the 51,000-square-foot Orlando \u201ccottage\u201d where Revology churns out its ponies. Now in its\u00a0<a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/story\/opinion\/columnists\/henry-payne\/2018\/10\/31\/revology-makes-classic-mustangs-21st-century\/1773495002\/\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|${u}\">sixth year of production<\/a>, Revology is growing with eight models to choose from, including best-sellers the1966 GT convertible and 1967 Shelby GT500 that I tested here. While the company has a sliver of the production orders from massive startups like California-based Rivian (not to mention market cap) it has moved production in-house and is nearly doubling output to 64 vehicles this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cOur customers want V-8 engines,\u201d smiled CEO and founder Tom Scarpello from the right seat before I drowned him out by flattening the throttle and letting loose 710 horses down Huron River Drive.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">With disposable income to buy Revology\u2019s $200k-plus cars, Scarpello\u2019s customers look a lot like Lutz\u2019s \u201cwell-to-do (drivers who), to the amazement of all their friends, still know how to drive.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/06\/23\/PDTN\/137e3c01-069e-4c88-b93b-9bca7245a96b-RevologyGT500_Scarpello.jpg?width=980&amp;height=552&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Ex-Ford veteran Tom Scarpello created Revology in 2015 with manufacturing beginning in 2018. Today he sells over 60 classic like the 1967 Revology GT500 a year. In 15 countries. To cusomers like Bill Ford. Jr.\" width=\"536\" height=\"302\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/06\/23\/PDTN\/137e3c01-069e-4c88-b93b-9bca7245a96b-RevologyGT500_Scarpello.jpg?width=980&amp;height=552&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/06\/23\/PDTN\/137e3c01-069e-4c88-b93b-9bca7245a96b-RevologyGT500_Scarpello.jpg?width=1960&amp;height=1104&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"Ex-Ford veteran Tom Scarpello created Revology in 2015 with manufacturing beginning in 2018. Today he sells over 60 classic like the 1967 Revology GT500 a year. In 15 countries. To cusomers like Bill Ford. Jr.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"Ex-Ford veteran Tom Scarpello created Revology in 2015 with manufacturing beginning in 2018. Today he sells over 60 classic like the 1967 Revology GT500 a year. In 15 countries. To cusomers like Bill Ford. Jr.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Customers like Edsel Ford and Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford who \u2014 while touting an all-EV Ford future \u2014 makes no secret about his love for classic ponies. Bill Ford has a 1966 Revology GT Convertible on order.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cThe V-8 engines are part of the experience. You just\u00a0<em>feel<\/em>\u00a0it,\u201d said Scarpello after I brought the GT500 back to earth at a dull roar. \u201cWe talk to our customers about making EVs with classic Mustang bodies, but they don\u2019t want electrification.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<div id=\"ad-slot-7103-mi-detroit-C1561-native-article_link-money-autos-2\" class=\"gnt_x_sl gnt_x_al\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"lazyLoadX\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">What they want is that timeless Mustang style \u2014 our growling, \u201967 GT500 stopped people in their tracks as we cruised through Ann Arbor \u2014 but without the hassle of owning an aging classic with 55-year-old wiring. They also want the latest amenities like a touchscreen, backup camera, Apple CarPlay, push-button start, and \u2014 well, Roush power.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/06\/23\/PDTN\/2da2b828-114b-4e4b-b658-b66e7e59dbf3-RevologyGT500_tesla.jpg?width=980&amp;height=552&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Bucking the EV startup trend started by Tesla (left), Revology goes back to the future with updated classics like the 1967 Revology GT500 (right).\" width=\"523\" height=\"295\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/06\/23\/PDTN\/2da2b828-114b-4e4b-b658-b66e7e59dbf3-RevologyGT500_tesla.jpg?width=980&amp;height=552&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/06\/23\/PDTN\/2da2b828-114b-4e4b-b658-b66e7e59dbf3-RevologyGT500_tesla.jpg?width=1960&amp;height=1104&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"Bucking the EV startup trend started by Tesla (left), Revology goes back to the future with updated classics like the 1967 Revology GT500 (right).\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"Bucking the EV startup trend started by Tesla (left), Revology goes back to the future with updated classics like the 1967 Revology GT500 (right).\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Sourced from Roush in Livonia, the supercharged 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 under the hood puts out an astonishing 710 horsepower compared to the original\u2019s 335.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The first company to license Ford and Shelby heritage models and refresh them with modern know-how, Revology offers these models for order on its website, just like a big automaker:<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">-1966 GT Convertible ($255,700)-1966 GT 2+2 Fastback ($263, 470)-1966 Shelby GT350 ($283,660)-1967 GT 2+2 Fastback ($249,855)-1967 Shelby GT350 ($271,950)-1967 Shelby GT500 ($320,600)-1968 GT 2+2 Fastback (248,345)-1968 GT500 KR ($320,600)<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<div id=\"ad-slot-7103-mi-detroit-C1561-native-article_link-money-autos-3\" class=\"gnt_x_sl gnt_x_al\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"lazyLoadX\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Scarpello knows muscle. He started in manufacturing with Ford in 1988 before going back to school for degrees in finance and marketing. Working for Ford\u2019s SVT performance division from 1998-2004 \u2014 which inspired vehicles like the Ford GT \u2014 inspired Revology\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cThat was a great time,\u201d said Scarpello. \u201cWe worked at a company within a company. A lot of that philosophy I\u2019ve adopted with Revology. We\u2019re taking an existing (Mustang) design and modifying it to make the cars more fun to drive. We want to keep their style and character and make them modern in the way they function.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/06\/23\/PDTN\/77d99032-734b-47bd-9bbc-e561bc245a93-RevologyGT500_rr3-4.jpg?width=980&amp;height=552&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The 1967 Revology GT500 is one of eight Mustang models that the Orland-based company makes on the M50 chassis.\" width=\"536\" height=\"302\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/06\/23\/PDTN\/77d99032-734b-47bd-9bbc-e561bc245a93-RevologyGT500_rr3-4.jpg?width=980&amp;height=552&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/06\/23\/PDTN\/77d99032-734b-47bd-9bbc-e561bc245a93-RevologyGT500_rr3-4.jpg?width=1960&amp;height=1104&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"The 1967 Revology GT500 is one of eight Mustang models that the Orland-based company makes on the M50 chassis.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The 1967 Revology GT500 is one of eight Mustang models that the Orland-based company makes on the M50 chassis.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">He has slowly built his business \u2014 first sourcing bodies from Dynacorn in which to stuff the Herculean engines from Roush. But over time, he has learned manufacturing integration, and now his ponies are made in house on a single chassis to better fine-tune the product. That has led to changes like a new 8.8-inch rear axle.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cWe are able to control the packaging. WE need to have the dimensions exactly right,\u201d said the Revology chief. \u201cWe are loading so much more power into the body than the original design.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">It\u2019s a fine balance. At the reins of the GT500 (car #163 that Revology has built), I found the beast remarkably poised like a modern Mustang GT even as I gripped a wood steering wheel right out of the \u201860s. In addition to the old school six-speed manual, about 50% of customers opt for Ford\u2019s state-of-the-art, 10-speed transmission. I could even Bluetooth my phone \u2014 if you can hear it ring.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<div id=\"ad-slot-7103-mi-detroit-C1561-native-article_link-money-autos-4\" class=\"gnt_x_sl gnt_x_al\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"lazyLoadX\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Revology has added minimal sound-deadening material to keep the V-8\u2019s raw emotion. Other throwbacks include high beams that are still activated by your foot toggling a floorboard button.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Part of what\u2019s driving the industry to electrification is prohibitive, mutli-million-dollar fines to discourage V-8 engines. But Scarpello\u2019s cottage flies under those regulations as long as he makes fewer than 325 vehicles a year with industry-proven engines and chassis equipment..<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/06\/23\/PDTN\/994d44ae-d9fe-4ec4-9539-5a9ac58f27bd-RevologyGT500_steering-wheel.jpg?width=980&amp;height=552&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Wood 'n' muscle: The 1967 Revology GT500 features an old-school wood steering wheel and a modern 710-horse V-8.\" width=\"513\" height=\"289\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/06\/23\/PDTN\/994d44ae-d9fe-4ec4-9539-5a9ac58f27bd-RevologyGT500_steering-wheel.jpg?width=980&amp;height=552&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/06\/23\/PDTN\/994d44ae-d9fe-4ec4-9539-5a9ac58f27bd-RevologyGT500_steering-wheel.jpg?width=1960&amp;height=1104&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"Wood 'n' muscle: The 1967 Revology GT500 features an old-school wood steering wheel and a modern 710-horse V-8.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"Wood 'n' muscle: The 1967 Revology GT500 features an old-school wood steering wheel and a modern 710-horse V-8.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">He\u2019s a long way from 325. But as he ramps up production \u2014 his cottage now employs 92 elves \u2014 other manufacturers are eager for him to maintain the Detroit legacy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cChevrolet and Dodge have both expressed interest in doing similar, classic Camaro and Challenger models,\u201d he smiled. \u201cThough they haven\u2019t said if they\u2019d provide the capital.\u201d Scarpello financed the company himself, and he has been careful not to get ahead of his skis.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cVery few costumer products have had the life cycle that Mustang has had, and that really resonates with people,\u201d he said. Indeed, Ford is just rolling out its latest, seventh-generation pony on a global scale, which in turn complements Revology\u2019s classics. \u201cIt\u2019s a global phenomenon \u2014 we have customers in 15 countries.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><em>Henry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at hpayne@detroitnews.com or Twitter @HenryEPayne<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ann Arbor\u00a0\u2014 Auto startups are all the rage this decade as entrepreneurs see a historic shift to electrified and autonomous vehicles. On the electric front, companies like Rivian, Fisker, Lightning eMotors, Lordstown and Vinfast aim to recreate the magic that made Tesla the industry\u2019s highest-valued automaker. Tesla, meanwhile, dreams of a self-driving jackpot alongside startups [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31086"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31086"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31086\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31088,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31086\/revisions\/31088"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31086"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31086"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31086"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}