Vehicle Description
Given the propensity for early GT350 clones and stock restorations,
it's no surprise that you don't see many Pro-Touring/Restomod early
Mustangs. But once in a while you find one that nails it, like this
stunning 1966 Ford Mustang convertible. It includes a sharp 5.0
under the hood, an upgraded suspension, and plenty of appearance
mods to grab your attention. After seeing this car, maybe the
Mustang guys will rethink their next restoration.
Sure, it's Signalflare Red, but somehow it clings to the sheetmetal
on this early pony in an entirely different way. The body mods are
significant, but since you definitely don't want to erase the
inherent goodness of the original design, they stick to
period-looking upgrades. Look closely and you'll find a custom
Eleanor-style hood, a deep chin spoiler, and Shelby-style C-scoops
in the quarters. The bright paint is a few years old and has some
use, but a professional cut and buff would really wake this car up.
Panel gaps are excellent, including that custom hood and for a
unit-body convertible, this one is reassuringly straight and solid.
There's a custom mesh grille behind the factory pony "corral", the
bumpers have been painted to match the body so it has a cool
monochromatic look, and, of course, there's no avoiding the GT350
stripes that reveal a seriousness of intent.
The two-tone red and white Pony interior is really the only logical
choice here, but it sticks to the original design to keep it
looking right. The seats feature fresh reproduction Pony seat
covers, and there are matching door and side panels to complete the
look. Red carpets continue the theme and again, they're original
spec. The dash has been given a new dash pad and the original
gauges take care of monitoring the warmed-over 5.0 under the hood.
A trick touch-screen entertainment system has been added in the
dash and feeds new speakers throughout, including subwoofers in the
trunk. There's a white convertible top that fits well and includes
a split glass rear window that's a nice upgrade over the usual
cloudy vinyl. The trunk is pretty bare, but as I mentioned, it's
full of stereo gear and exactly zero signs of a hard life in a
snowy climate.
The engine is a 5.0 V8, better known as a 302, equipped with a
whole host of upgrades to make it live up to the legend. A polished
Edelbrock intake manifold inhales through a matching 4-barrel
carburetor, MSD ignition components light the fires, and there's a
serpentine drive system for the accessories borrowed from a
late-model. With chrome valve covers and an Edelbrock air cleaner,
it looks highly detailed under the hood. Functionally, things like
the aluminum radiator and chrome shock tower braces are a definite
improvement. It's linked to a T5 5-speed manual transmission and an
8-inch rear out back, so there's no worry that you'll break it. The
front suspension is fortified with new bushings, steering
components, and an oversized sway bar. Front disc brakes help it
scrub speed effortlessly and the dual exhaust has a nice rumble
that is aggressive but never annoying. And the finishing touch are
those 15-inch Centerline wheels, but imagine this car rocking a set
of Eleanor-style alloys!
This slick convertible will run circles around its stock siblings,
and will easily give even a Shelby a run for its money, all in a
package that retains all that was wonderful about the early
Mustang. Call today!