The Rebirth Of Brian Schenk’s Fox Body Dreams

Most stories in human history revolve around a main character who encounters a problem and triumphs over it. Although most of us prefer the main character having complications, but let’s be honest — would you care as much if there weren’t any? The story would not give us the same emotional rollercoaster or the satisfying sense that something was overcome, making it worth reading. While Brian Schenk might prefer not to remember the problems his original Kona Stang faced, the tribulations and the eight-month rebuild make Kona Stang 2.0 a story worth talking about.

Finding His Passion

Brian Schenk, like many automotive enthusiasts, was introduced to working on and building cars by family members during his formative years. Although his father and uncle were Dodge fans — a sentiment Brian later forgave them for — it wasn’t until 2002, when he rode in a friend’s 1991 Mustang coupe, that he found his tribe. This experience inspired him to build a skill set focused on restoration and performance, starting with a black-on-black 1989 hatchback featuring the renowned 5.0-liter small-block Ford.

Eventually, this skill set led Brian to build the first rendition of Kona Stang, a Fox Body painted in Ford’s Kona Blue, a color offered in 2010 and a few limited years afterward. Brian fell in love with the color after riding in a friend’s GT500. Under the hood was a turbocharged small-block Ford with a deep rumble. Having just finished the build and celebrating his birthday weekend, Brian and his friends headed to Mustang Week 2021. Unbeknownst to him, this was the last time Kona Stang 1.0 was operable.

Brian’s Kona Stang 2.0 Fox Body is painted in Ford’s Kona Blue, a color he fell in love with after riding in his friend’s GT500. This modern hue offers a subtle nod to the Twilight Blue originally found on Fox Body Mustangs, but with a deeper, more intense shade.

A Kick Off Party Turned Sour

With the car freshly finished, Brian and his crew of friends decided to make the trek to Myrtle Beach for the annual Mustang Week. The event brings Mustang owners from across the country together for a week-long span of events, activities, and most of all, camaraderie. A day before the week-long celebration of all things Mustangs kicked off, Brian went out to celebrate his birthday and did the responsible thing by handing his keys off to his buddies so he could have a few drinks.