The Kirban Flaming Pony emblem...
The Kirban Flaming Pony emblem begins life as a brand-new factory Ford emblem mounted on the stock mounting bracket. The chrome plating is stripped from the emblem and the airbrushed flames are applied via a handmade template mold. The finished work is then clearcoated for protection.
When Ford debuted its now-famous Flaming Pony ad a few years ago on the West Coast, it was an instant hit. The Flaming Pony brought together the instantly recognizable running-horse emblem of the Mustang with the classic California look of a flamed paint job. Posters, hats, and other goodies soon followed to capitalize on its popularity. We even snagged one of the huge Flaming Pony banners at a Fun Ford Weekend (with Austin Craig of J. Walter Thompson's approval, of course).
We recently came across the real thing when we found out Kirban Performance Products-the wholesale dealer of all those polished and billet underhood detail goodies everyone sells-now has an airbrushed version of the Flaming Pony available as a grille emblem for '94-and-later Mustangs. We ordered ours from Holcomb Motorsports' catalog (PN DK5076 for the '94-'98 model; PN5087 for the '99-'01). Each version is available for $69.95 through Holcomb's catalog.
Installation is a breeze and takes just a few minutes. The only "gotcha" is that you will need a T25 tamper-proof Torx bit or socket to remove the OE anti-theft screws for the factory emblem. We picked up the proper Torx bit for less than two bucks at a local auto parts store.
Using a 1/4-inch drive ratchet...
Using a 1/4-inch drive ratchet and the T25 tamper-proof Torx bit, remove the two T25 screws. Make sure you hold on to the emblem so it doesn't fall and scratch your paint job.
The new emblem is a direct...
The new emblem is a direct replacement for the stock chrome version. Line up the lower mounting tab and slide the emblem into place, lining up the two screw holes at the same time.
When reinstalling the T25...
When reinstalling the T25 Torx screws, be careful with the passenger-side screw, as the location of the screw may cause your ratchet to rub the new Flaming Pony emblem. Protect the emblem with a small towel during installation.
The finished look is downright...
The finished look is downright awesome, especially here on Editor Turner's Chrome Yellow Cobra, where the horse's colors go well with the topcoat.