Vehicle Description
Admit it: if you were going to build a cool Mustang resto-mod, it
would be something very much like this 1965 Ford Mustang 2+2
Fastback. With updated 347 Stroker V8 power, a quick-shifting
5-speed manual gearbox, a custom suspension providing superior
handling, and a first-class Burnt Orange over Black leather
appearance package, it's everything that's great about an early
Mustang Pony with the volume turned up to 11.
This isn't a car for the purist looking for a stock, survivor-type
pony. There's no question that it's been upgraded with high-end
stuff throughout, and you can see it everywhere you look. But at
the same time, it's classically beautiful, with the perfect
proportions that make the early fastbacks some of the most
highly-sought pony cars of all time. Painting this one a
high-impact color like Burnt Orange Metallic gives it a modern look
that suggests some high tech work, but adding a few Shelby-inspired
design details ties it to the past, making for a formidable
combination. Check out the not-so-subtle hood scoop, the custom
front billet grille, and the requisite Shelby stripes down the
middle and at the bottom portion of the car - blacked-out to
provide nice contrast to the shiny finish. Lower body molding, a GT
racing gas cap, and exhaust trumpets through the rear valence are
other worthy ties to the car's '60s styling, while the HID
headlights, and slick two-stage urethane paint job are pure 21st
century. There's only 4,149 miles on this build so even today the
finish quality is darn near immaculate, with little to no
imperfections to speak of and a deep, lustrous shine that matches
the high-quality of the bodywork and excellent panel gaps all
around. There's no doubt that cubic dollars were required to get it
this Fastback looking this nice. Fresh chrome bumpers look great
against the hot orange paint and all the stainless has been buffed
to a blinding shine, so the whole car looks fresh wherever you
look.
The completely restored/upgraded interior offers that same smooth
blend of old and new on the exterior, starting with sporty, deeply
bolstered bucket seats up front upholstered in high-quality leather
hides. A Shelby-style wood-rimmed wheel warms things up a bit and
original door panels with Cobra badging keep the ties to 1965 very
much alive. The original woodgrain instrument panel has been filled
with aftermarket AutoMeter gauges laid out in a similar
configuration to the original GT cars, although those modern units
now keep a more accurate eye on the feisty small block under the
hood. Splitting those soft, racing-style front seats is a custom
center console that houses a trick 5-speed shifter painted to match
the exterior finish, along with switches for the power windows and
an Alpine double-din touchscreen head unit that handles the car's
entertainment through a system of great-sounding
speakers/subwoofers/amplifiers. Original-style under-dash A/C blows
ice cold thanks to modern hardware working behind the scenes, and
with flashy touches like the racing pedals and chrome e-brake
handle, this car practically begs you to go fast. The cabin feels
tight and nicely sealed, mostly due to the plush black carpets with
Cobra mats, the taut headliner above, and extensive use of
sound-deadening materials throughout the interior. And the 2+2
fastback might just be the most practical body style, with room for
two in the back seat and a good-sized trunk that houses some of the
car's high-end stereo equipment.
No early Mustang feels right with anything but a small block under
the hood, but this one is packing some additional firepower in the
form of a 347 cubic inch stroker motor built by Keith Craft. Quick
to rev yet surprisingly torquey, it makes this fastback feel quick
without working too hard. The engine is a work of art itself, with
flashy polished aluminum valve covers, chromed accessories pulled
tight to the block via a serpentine belt/pulley system, a polished
intake, and fresh plumbing/wiring that all make for an attractive
engine bay. Even the inner fenders and firewall were beautifully
finished and coated with matching Burnt Orange paint, contrasting
perfectly off of the blacked-out air cleaner, shiny aluminum
radiator, and billet hood hinges. Thanks to a set of AFR aluminum
heads, a QuickFuel 750CFM 4-barrel carb atop an Edelbrock polished
intake, and ceramic-coated long-tube headers, the 450HP rating
seems conservative, but that's okay because there's more power here
than you'd ever really need. A quick-shifting Tremec 5-speed manual
handles all that power with ease, spinning a heavy-duty Currie
9-inch rear end filled with 4.11 gears. Underneath, a custom
Flowmaster dual exhaust system with an X-pipe set-up sounds
spectacular with that familiar 5.0 performance sound, and one-quick
look at the chassis and you can see where a lot of the money was
spent during the rotisserie restoration. The subframe, axles,
suspension, and pans were all painted to show off, and there's a
laundry list of performance goodies that help the car's handling,
highlighted by the tubular A-arms, sway bar, and coilovers up
front, power rack-and-pinion steering, Baer 4-wheel disc brakes all
around, and a set of air shocks out back that help set the stance.
Halibrand-style alloy wheels with spinner are a perfect fit, and
they're wrapped in staggered 235/45/17 front and 245/45/17 rear
Falken performance radials with plenty of grip.
Fastback Mustangs never stick around for very long, and if you want
one of the best we've seen that you can still drive and show, this
is an excellent choice. Call today!