Drive Buy
Vendor: Rob Woodall, Crewe, Cheshire Telephone: 07946 470254
Price: £39,500
If you’re thinking this car looks familiar, that’s because it was this magazine’s Project Pony a few years back. It’s a 260cu in convertible (making it an early model, hence 1964½, although technically a 1965 model) with automatic transmission. The car was fully restored and documented in Classic American magazine over a period of 12 months, in 2014-15, and a complete set of the magazines will be passed to the new owner, together with the original handbook showing the first owner and supplying Ford dealer. Finished in its original rare factory colour of Silver Smoke Grey, the interior is black vinyl, which matches the top. Original factory options include a power convertible top and centre console, as well as power steering. During the restoration, inertia reel front seat belts were fitted. All the original outer panels have been retained with excellent panel fit. A recently fitted set of period-correct wire wheel covers further enhance this striking car and as a concession to safety, four-way hazard warning lights have been added. As a retirement project, a good deal of time was spent to ensure the body kept its accurate alignment through the use of a substantial jig. By making use of slightly thicker steel for the out-of-sight, inner longitudinal chassis sections, the Mustang’s handling benefits considerably from this extra rigidity, a point noted when the car was driven. In terms of work on the engine, it was re-bored +30 thou, with new pistons and rings, new cam bearings, timing chain and the crank re-ground and polished to the first undersize (-10 thou). The heads were re-faced/ ground and hardened valve seats fitted for use with unleaded fuel. Also fitted were a new oil pump and fuel and water pumps. The engine’s rotating assembly was balanced at Basset Down Balancing in Hungerford and all that little lot cost about £2k alone. Similarly, the transmission was rebuilt with a full kit and it works fine with no leaks. New rear brake drums and a pair of later finned fronts were fitted and silicon fluid is used in the system to better cope with corrosion. There are many other new parts fitted, including a new starter, as well as a couple of subtle upgrades: headlamp dip-beam relay, modern blade type fuse box, oil pressure gauge and of course hazard warning lights. A battery isolator is out of sight under the battery tray.
Effectively this is a new car when compared with how it started off and, apart from all the structural and bodywork upgrades, original panels were retained and repaired as much as possible for authenticity. Plus the fact that many replacement panels are of poorer quality and fit than the originals – all the interior has been replaced, including new carpet, seat coverings, door panels and even the dash. The Mustang starts on the key and out on the road feels tight and firm with little scuttle shake, even with the top down. Power comes through smoothly and the steering is accurate and precise, while the brakes are firm and responsive. The power steering is a desirable option for lower speeds or when parking and the power top operates perfectly. The attention to detail with the restoration on this car is exceptional and it would be correct to suggest that in many ways, it’s probably better than when it was new, especially when considering panel gaps and paint.