1300 Horsepower Classic Car Loses Its Breaks During Test Drive....Things Don't End Well

AutotopiaLA provides many muscle car fans with their weekly or biweekly fix of adrenaline-pumping V8 monsters with perfect paint jobs. However, as you’re probably aware, Shawn Davis couldn’t film live walkaround videos for a while because a serious car crash put him out of commission. Some months later, we finally get to see that crash, involving complete brake failure on a powerful Mercury Comet.

The Comet Caliente belonged to Russ and Jo Stover, a life-long dream that took 23 years to finish. The build had just been finished a few months prior to that, and sticking right through the hood was this amazing new engine, a Merlin IV Big Block Chevy that had been bored and stroked to 632 cubic inches, which is 10.35 liters of displacement.

An advanced fuel injection system and powerful blower ensured this gigantic motor could produce 1,332 horsepower and 1,040 pound-feet on pump gas. The owner had hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on everything from the custom lowered suspension (no airbags) to the full roll cage and wheelie bar. But that day, one important component decided to give up: the brakes.

Complete brake failure occurs just a couple of miles from where they set off. The driver puts it in neutral, and swerves a little but knows they have to brace for impact. The red Mercury Comet plows into the back of a Honda Odyssey at about 45 miles per hour. Shawn was only wearing a lap belt so he smashed into the metal dashboard, which broke four of his teeth and busted his lip.

The owner suffered major injuries to his right elbow, but the good news is that he’s recovering. Cars can be rebuilt, and dreams can be remade, but this video remains a lesson to the muscle car community to prioritize safety.