Mike Combes – 2017 Ford Mustang GT
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IG: @elevatedstang_17
“Build to your happiness. If it makes you smile, that’s all that matters. Never give up.” – Mike Combes
Some builds are about trophies.
Some are about numbers.
Some are about flexing parts lists.
And then there are builds like this one — the kind that exist for something deeper.
The kind that start with memories.
Roots in the High Desert
Winnemucca, Nevada, isn’t exactly known as a hotbed for custom car culture. It’s a high desert mining town — quiet, rugged, blue-collar. The kind of place where you grow up learning how to work with your hands and earning everything the hard way.
For Mike Combes, that environment didn’t slow the dream down — it sharpened it.
By day, Mike is a Heavy Equipment Operator working in underground mining, spending long hours beneath the surface of the earth. But when he clocks out and comes back up into the daylight, his world shifts from rock and steel to rubber and horsepower.
Cars have always been the escape.
And not just for him.
For his entire family.
Where It All Started
Like most of us, it began small.
Hot Wheels.
Car shows on TV.
Old-school Americana.
And one local event that left a permanent mark.
Every year before Hot August Nights hits Reno, Winnemucca hosts 50s Fever — a small-town celebration of classic cars, chrome, and nostalgia. For a kid growing up nearby, it felt larger than life. Rows of polished classics. Engines rumbling through downtown streets. Families gathering around machines that meant something.
That’s where the seed got planted.
“That early exposure just stuck with me,” Mike says. “I’ve always loved everything — classics, imports, muscle. If it had wheels and personality, I was into it.”
But one car in particular never left his mind.
A 1986 Mustang GT his family owned when he was a teenager.
That Foxbody became the reference point — the emotional blueprint.
Years later, that memory would come full circle.
Funny Enough… It Was His Wife
Here’s where the story gets better.
Mike didn’t find the Mustang.
His wife did.
After years of hearing him talk about Mustangs and that old ‘86 GT, she went searching and found the exact platform he’d always wanted — a 2017 Mustang GT.
That moment changed everything.
“It was one of those ‘this is it’ moments,” Mike says. “She knew what it meant to me before I even said anything.”
And just like that, ElevatedStang was born.
Not His First Rodeo
This wasn’t Mike’s first build.
Far from it.
His first real taste of modification culture came through a 2002 Mitsubishi Galant, cutting his teeth in the Las Vegas show scene. From there, things snowballed — one project leading to another, each one teaching him something new.
Today, the Combes garage looks more like a curated collection than a driveway:
- 1991 Nissan 240SX with an RB swap
- 2024 Lexus IS F Sport
- 2022 BMW M235i
- Mitsubishi Galant GTZ
- And of course… ElevatedStang
But here’s the part that hits different:
It’s not just Mike’s hobby. It’s the whole family’s.
“My wife and kids all have builds,” he says. “We go to shows together. We wrench together. It’s just what we do.”
This isn’t car culture as a pastime.
It’s a family tradition.
The Philosophy: Function First. Style Always.
Mike isn’t chasing trends.
He’s not building for internet points.
His approach is simple:
Make it functional. Make it clean. Make it feel right.
“I try to build every car balanced,” he explains. “Something that looks good but actually works. Not just for show.”
That mindset shaped ElevatedStang into something special — a car that can hold its own at shows but still hit the road or track without skipping a beat.
A dual personality.
Showstopper.
Track-ready.
No compromises.
“I always look back at it when I park,” he laughs. “It’s that realization of the idea that lived in my head for years.”
And honestly?
Every builder knows that feeling.
Build Breakdown — ElevatedStang
Power
- ProCharger Stage 2 Kit w/ P1X Upgrade
- Deatschwerks 1000cc Injectors
- BBK 85mm Throttle Body
- Roush Axle-Back + Steeda H-Pipe
- SCT GTX Tuner
- Mishimoto Cooling System
- APR Carbon Engine Cover
- Amsoil Z-Rod Oil
Forced induction gives the Coyote serious punch while keeping daily reliability intact — the sweet spot for a street-and-track setup.
Handling
- BC Racing BR Series Coilovers
- Full Steeda Suspension Suite
- Adjustable sway bars
- Vertical links
- IRS supports
- Camber arms
- Strut tower brace
- K-member
- Control arms
This thing doesn’t just sit pretty — it corners flat and planted.
Braking
-
StopTech Big Brake Kit
Because speed means nothing if you can’t stop.
Interior
- Braum Alpha-X Seats
- 5-Point Harnesses + Bar
- Steeda Short Throw Shifter
- Carbon Dash Trim
- LED Conversion
- Kenwood Excelon head unit
- Phoenix Gold audio setup
Purposeful. Driver-focused. Zero fluff.
Exterior
- Cervini C-Series Grilles
- APR Carbon Splitter & Canards
- Anderson Composites Carbon Hood
- Stalker Rear Diffuser
- Wicker Bill
- Smoked Euro Taillights
- Custom graphics
Aggressive without being overdone — the perfect balance of muscle and modern edge.
Wheels
- Velgen VMB9 20s
- Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
- 265 front / 295 rear
Proper stance. Proper grip. No shortcuts.
Built, Not Bought
Aside from specialty installs like the ProCharger and the audio system, most of the work was done by Mike himself, alongside friends and family.
Because that’s what this build is really about.
Time together.
Late nights.
Garage memories.
What’s Next?
Like any real project… It’s never finished.
Future plans include:
- Carbon fiber fenders & trunk
- APR carbon spoiler
- Engine internals
- BC Forged wheels
Because evolution never stops.
More Than a Mustang
ElevatedStang isn’t just another boosted S550.
It’s a reminder of why we build in the first place.
Not for trophies.
Not for clout.
Not for validation.
But for that one moment when you shut the door, take a few steps away…
…and turn back for one more look.
If it makes you smile?
That’s enough.
And honestly… that’s what this culture is really about. 🖤