Mustang Archaeology

Steve · #1 11-13-2024, 04:39 AM

This is a Mustang thread, but not an SSP Mustang thread. But it may be of interest to some because it is a restoration and is still a Mustang.
In November of 2019, as my '82 SSP 0255 was nearing completion, I visited it at my buddy's body shop and was poking around in the boneyard behind the shop. Lots o old cars, car parts, junk. I noticed the shell of a 65 Mustang. I was looking at it when my buddy walked up and said "That's a 64 1/2 Mustang". I replied that I could see it was an early one and I always did like those 65 Mustangs. I was 8 years old when I saw them and always liked them and wanted to have one. He said "You want this one? You can have it...no cost". I said, well, the only thing is, it looks more like archaeology than restoration. The shell was stripped of everything except for the drive train and 4 wheels. He said he had most of the stuff that was taken off in storage in various areas of the shop. I then asked if I could do the work there, as with 0255, and he said yes. I pulled the car out of there, took all of the junk, car hood, etc. that were piled on top, cleaned the junk out inside, and vacuumed it out. The three pics below are what it looked like.

Steve · #2 11-13-2024, 04:42 AM

I'll post more pics later, but here's what the front looks like now.

MOstang · #3 11-17-2024, 11:10 AM

Wow, wonderful transformation!

ImEvil1 · #4 11-21-2024, 10:11 PM

Nice!!

Steve · #5 06-07-2025, 12:55 AM

4 1/2 years into this project, this is what it looked like on April 14. We had just put the new headliner in (with bows, the original type) and were getting ready to install the windshield and back glass. We rolled it out in the sun and I took the attached pics. That's my friend in one of the pics, a good Ford mechanic that has helped me a great deal. We rebuilt the C4 auto transmission in his garage shop.

Cobra Jet · #6 06-12-2025, 10:13 AM

Looking good and nice color! Is the interior going to be black or are you going to do a 2-tone Pony interior upholstery?

Steve · #7 06-12-2025, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobra Jet

Looking good and nice color! Is the interior going to be black or are you going to do a 2-tone Pony interior upholstery?

The interior will be white and blue, with the Pony style for the seats. I am also planning to install a "repro" air conditioning system. The one I like is completely separate from the heating system. It has the compressor plumbed to the evaporator unit that mounts under the dash, like the original. They do make systems that combine the evaporator into the heater box like modern vehicles, but I don't like that and spent way too much time and effort completely rebuilding the original box anyway.
There is a company that finds original systems and rebuilds them to as new status, but they're pricey and I could be wrong but I am guessing a new compressor will perform better than one from the days when the technology was still comparatively new.

28HopUp · #8 06-15-2025, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve

4 1/2 years into this project, this is what it looked like on April 14. We had just put the new headliner in (with bows, the original type) and were getting ready to install the windshield and back glass. We rolled it out in the sun and I took the attached pics. That's my friend in one of the pics, a good Ford mechanic that has helped me a great deal. We rebuilt the C4 auto transmission in his garage shop.

WOW! That sure looks pretty. Thanks for sharing.