I’ve been hunting for a first-gen Ford Mustang for a while now. Prices on these things are a bit insane at the moment. People want a surprising amount of cash for hunks of crap. And if you want a...
I’ve been hunting for a first-gen Ford Mustang for a while now. Prices on these things are a bit insane at the moment. People want a surprising amount of cash for hunks of crap. And if you want a Fastback? Forget about it. Somehow, though, I managed to find one that is priced very well… even if it too is a hunk of crap.
For now.
This is my 1967 Ford Mustang. Typing that sentence out alone is almost worth the price of admission. I’ve always loved these cars and hoped to own one someday. I can’t believe there’s one actually sitting in my driveway. Granted, this one doesn’t have a battery at the moment, the ignition isn’t hooked up to the starter, and it has some paint on it paired with a fair bit of rust. But I don’t mind all of that because the road ahead is going to be a good one.
This very car was on the first episode of MotorTrend’s Roadworthy Rescues. It sat in a swamp for 28 years before Derek from ViceGripGarage saved it. He got the motor running, put a few floor pans in place, and redid the interior. That’s a great place for me to take it from there and keep on moving this build along.
Under the hood is the 200-cubic inch inline 6-cylinder engine. No, it’s not going to remain in there. Either is the C4 gearbox backing it up. While I agree it would be fun to build up an I6 into a surprisingly entertaining thing, my heart longs for the songs that a V8 sings. The plan here is to clean a few things up, swap in a 302, and then back it up with either a T5 or a T56. To do that, I’ll also need to swap in a new driveshaft and rear end. And if I’m converting the rear to a five-lug then I should do the front as well. With those changes, I’ll get better brakes and a proper suspension setup.
After that? I’ll just drive and enjoy it for some time. Eventually, I’ll get to the looks of the thing, but that’s low on the list. My ideal livery, though, would be a subtle John Player Special design on the car. But again, that will come last. First up? I need to get a battery in there and get this thing drivable so I can move it in and out of the garage as needed.
For those already about to ask? Yes, the Wombat is still a thing. No, I have no idea when it will get an engine bolted in place but there is an engine set aside for that one. So that’s progress of sorts. With this Mustang, I want to do as much of the work myself as I can handle. It’s an easy enough platform with an ocean of parts support. And yes, I’m far more excited about this one than I ever was with my Jag. That was a cool car, but I didn’t talk about it enough and didn’t drive it enough. The Mustang will be a very different story.
So allow me to formally introduce you to NONWICK.
The post Time for a New Project Car: This is My 1967 Ford Mustang appeared first on Hooniverse.