1965 Ford Mustang 2+2 Fastback Coupe
OWNED BY: Peter and Sandra Hibbert.
Late 2003, a friend advised me of a restorer needing to sell a fully restored and slightly modified Ford Mustang Fastback and we followed the lead that eventually led to a purchase and within 2 weeks, it was safely in our Garage.
The Mustang apparently spent its prior existence in California as an original ownership paper states the Town As “Inglewood”. The original CA license No. indicates as being “PEV 856”, yellow digits on black plate background.
The Australian purchaser prior to me submitted an importation brief to the agent stating the Mustang should be as follows:
“V8 T/BAR AUTO, PONY INTERIOR PREFERED, STYLE STEEL WHEELS/MAGNUMS, RUST FREE ORIGINAL BODY, CENTRE CONSOLE, POWER STEERING, COMPLETE, NOT NECESSARILY RUNNING AND AIR CIRCULATION VENTS TO REAR QUARTERS”.
The Agent, after obtaining the many USA & Australian Permits and Approvals delivered the sun burnt, tatty (but not rusty) Mustang to the purchaser around November 1995. The new owner set about putting his long planned restoration intentions to work contracting many areas of mechanical and bodywork to experts. He had to be satisfied to receive the Mustang with standard steel wheels and standard interior trim that were replaced.
The 1965 model year was the first year of the very popular Fastback body design and the 2004-5 models in the USA continue to repeat the retro style.
The whole restoration took about 5 years and the Mustang was fitted with a fresh mildly modified Ford Windsor V8 engine finished superbly coupled to a Ford C9 Automatic Transmission to a Tail Shaft driving the standard ratio Differential. The entire body was cleaned and finished in Ford “Silver Blue” standard colour with the Engine bay and Bonnet underside finished in mirror black. A full trim Kit ex USA was fitted and new matching colour floor carpets throughout. A non-standard wood rim Steering Wheel similar to a Factory option was fitted to the RHD converted standard column.
A Vic Roads accredited Engineer was engaged by the owner to certify the few modifications made prior to permitting a Road Worthy Certificate to be issued by a licensed Motor Mechanic.
Many readily available reproduction parts were fitted and the availability of those is the prime reason many Mustangs are imported for Australian conversion and restoration. It is not a requirement currently to convert any LHD vehicle to RHD provided it is 25 years old or older. Many LHD vehicles are now commonplace on our Victorian roads.
I had the Mustang on my hoist a few days checking, cleaning, adjusting, servicing and “fine tuning” the car to satisfy my standard of presentation.
Ford Mustang in USA celebrated its 40th Anniversary in 2004 and many huge events were held during 2004 in Australia to join in the mile stone.
Back in the early 1960s, a Ford Employee, Lee Iacocca was acting as Vice President and General Manager of Ford. He was an Engineer, Sales/Marketing guru and an all-around car guy. He worked his way up through the Ford ranks quickly. With the advent of Chevrolet’s Monza and 300 HP Chryslers hitting the streets, he realized something had to be done at Ford and fast! Working together with Fords Chief Engineers Bob Negstad and Hal Sperlich, and a host of other professionals, Iacocca scrambled together a “think-tank” dream team. Concept after concept emerged eventually culminating in the two 1964 models, the Coupe and the Convertible. Ford realized the 60`s buyers wanted many build options.
Many were offered, sold and built in to suit the buyer’s needs or whims.
In the first official week in 1964, the Dearborn plant whilst making Fairlanes, completed 867 units, second week, 1995 units, then 75/hour,
(1,200/day). Orders came so fast that the production topped at 7,000/month! The 1964 ½ cars totalled 121,538 units. 1965, 559,451 units. 1966, 607,568 units. No wonder we see so many on our roads and at shows!
Ford went on to many special builds including the GT`S, Cobras etc. and some have reached well over the US$100,000 value today.
The result of many Ford employees foresight is a great two door car product that still looks very smart on the roads today.
ROLL ON Ford MUSTANGS
Peter Hibbert. Proud Mustang owner!