The Black Mamba
The interior of the Black Mamba was approached with the same philosophy that guided the rest of the build: every visible surface and every functional control had to feel intentional. This was not a matter of simply restoring a stock Mustang cabin, but of creating an interior that matched the engineering, finish, and individuality of the car itself.
The original interior served only as a starting point. The finished cabin combines hand-fabricated components, custom upholstery, modern instrumentation, and integrated controls into a cohesive environment that feels both purposeful and refined.
The interior work was carried out by Rene Cornejo and Ben Lizardo of Acme Tops and Tunes, with additional fabricated and modified interior components upholstered by their team.
The original dash was fitted with Classic Instruments Shelby Signature Series gauges and brushed aluminum panels, giving the driver a purposeful instrument layout while maintaining a strong visual connection to the Shelby heritage behind the car.
Two gauges in the console presented a unique problem. At the time, no Shelby Signature voltmeter or nitrous pressure gauge was available, so Autometer Phantom gauges were initially used because their appearance closely matched the Shelby instruments.
Later, after discussing the issue with Classic Instruments, they agreed to custom-produce matching Shelby Signature versions of the voltmeter and nitrous gauge. In order to do so, Classic Instruments obtained the necessary approval from Shelby and created the two custom gauges specifically for this car. Those gauges replaced the original Phantom units, and to our knowledge, no one else has them.
The upper and lower consoles were designed to incorporate far more than trim alone. They house additional gauges, the air ride control module, Electric Life window switches and door locks, the audio head unit, and the all-important nitrous arming switch.
This made the interior not just attractive, but truly integrated - a place where the car's systems could be controlled cleanly and logically.
The wiring for the Black Mamba was not assembled from a collection of aftermarket harnesses adapted to fit the car. Instead, Tony Silva fabricated the entire electrical system specifically for this build.
This was a fully custom wiring installation designed around the car's unique systems, controls, and layout. Given the level of integration required for the air ride system, custom instrumentation, lighting, audio components, nitrous controls, and other accessories, a purpose-built electrical system was essential.
The result is a wiring package that matches the rest of the car's philosophy: clean, deliberate, and engineered specifically for the Black Mamba rather than modified from something generic.
The cabin was upholstered in black leather, including the Shelby Signature Series seats and the custom interior panels. A Moto Lita wood-grain steering wheel sits atop a Flaming River polished stainless tilt column, combining classic visual character with modern function.
Rather than relying entirely on stock interior components, many of the front and rear panels were hand-fabricated or extensively modified before being upholstered, reinforcing the same custom-built philosophy seen everywhere else on the car.
The interior also incorporates modern comfort and entertainment features, including an Eclipse head unit, Boston Acoustics amplifiers and speakers, and a fully integrated control layout that supports the car's street-driven nature.
The result is an interior that feels finished, tailored, and complete - not simply built to match the car, but built to belong inside it.