Vehicle Description
With all the merely "pleasant" Pony Mustangs selling like hot cakes
these days, it's nice to see one that walks with a bunch of
swagger. Open-checkbook restored with performance and killer looks
as the main goals, this restomod beauty is one of the slickest
early Mustang coupes we've ever featured here at Streetside, and
we've had quite a bit. Beautiful dark blue paint, a wicked stance,
and a modern 5.0L HO V8 matched with a 5-speed manual transmission,
this '66 Mustang checks all the boxes. The only thing it doesn't
have is a pack of Luckys rolled up in its shirt sleeve.
But before we talk about the hardware, take a look at how pretty
this coupe is. With a finish that looks like it was borrowed from a
late-model color palate, the super-clean Caspian Blue metallic
paint looks just right on the vintage coupe's bodywork. Miles deep
with a great luster that pops out in the sunshine, it has a great
shine thanks to the recent application, plus an inviting look that
doesn't hide the Mustang's identity behind excessive flash.
Instead, it shows off laser-straight sheetmetal, precise gaps, and
a lot of the love that went into the build. Clearly someone was
thinking carefully about this car as it was going together, and
they kept it simple; no gaudy stripes, no silly wing out back,
nothing but a subtle hood scoop and hood pins to distract from that
classic look. Sure, it's no trailer queen and some minor
imperfections might be found upon closer examination, but with curb
appeal like that, you won't find any complaints from me. The front
grille features the iconic "galloping stallion" in the center, and
with a racing-style gas cap and trumpet dual-exhaust out back,
"sporty" doesn't even begin to define this coupe. Bright chrome
trim on the bumpers and window surrounds is all quite nice, given
that the aftermarket is full of quality replacement parts, and the
entire car has a very polished look that hasn't been diminished in
the 9,544 miles since it was built.
As nice as the exterior is, the Pony interior will simply break
your heart. Sure, simple black always looks great, but somehow this
two-tone blue and white combination is especially appealing. The
seat covers have that soft shine that only comes from correct
materials, and the embossed running ponies on the seatbacks are
crisp and vivid, the sign of the high-dollar stuff, not the cheap
covers. Ornate matching door panels look practically new, as does
the taut white headliner and distress-free dash pad, and the light
blue plush carpets below are the correct pile and loop for the era.
A custom center console is a great addition to any Mustang, and it
houses a brushed-aluminum shifter that manages the quick-shifting
5-speed manual transmission below. There's a GT-spec gauge panel
ahead of the driver - filled with Dakota Digital units that are far
more accurate than the original units - and the woodgrain accents
on the gauge bezel, glove box, and door handles really warm things
up inside this deluxe interior. Anchoring the cockpit is a
beautiful 3-spoke wood-rimmed steering wheel that feels great in
the hands of the driver, and a push button starter is about as
high-tech as you'll ever find in a vintage Pony. A Kenwood
touchscreen multi-media head unit lives in the center of the dash
and manages the entertainment, and it's loaded with color-correct
seat belts that were standard equipment on the Mustang, which was
the first car to include them. The trunk is as neatly finished as
the rest of the car, and sports a correct plaid mat that looks
great.
Since the modern 5.0 liter H.O. V8 is essentially a Windsor-based
302, it slides right between the '65's shock towers without a lot
of hassles. Transplanted from a 1995 Mustang GT, it was built to
deliver performance that can handle regular driving on modern
roads, delivering great power up and down the throttle. Torquey,
smooth, and virtually bulletproof, the fresh 5.0 works as well here
as it did back in the mid-90s, effortlessly moving the lightweight
coupe around town. Keeping as many OEM components as possible means
it's reliable and easy to service with over-the-counter parts, and
thanks to Ford's wonderful EEC-IV engine management system, it
starts instantly and idles smoothly every time, regardless of the
weather. And you'll never get tired of watching the jaws drop when
you pop the steel hood at a show and everyone sees that familiar
long-runner cold-air intake and serpentine belt drive system.
There's also a 4-point shock-tower brace that helps stiffen the
body through the corners, and a big aluminum radiator and electric
fan help keep the small block cool under any condition. The
aforementioned 5-speed manual transmission is the perfect
complement to the fuel-injected V8, with a race-ready clutch and
heavy-duty Ford 8.8-inch rear end that can handle off-the-line
power and highway cruising speeds alike. Long-tube headers feed
into a custom H-pipe dual exhaust system that was fabricated for
the new motor, and it has that familiar, throaty 5.0 bark that we
all know and love. The front suspension is a custom A-arm setup
with power rack-and-pinion steering and 4-wheel disc brakes with
slotted rotors give it modern stopping power. Slick 17-inch
American Racing Torque Thrust 'Old Style' wheels are always in
fashion and they carry staggered 225/45/17 front and 235/55/17 rear
performance rubber that fits the car's personality perfectly.
Given the price of the conversion and the quality of the paint and
interior, we have to call this car a screaming bargain because it
would take considerably more to replicate the build. And like most
Pony Mustangs here at Streetside Classics, we doubt it'll last
long. Call today!
