Beefy 1965 Mustang Restomod Proves Fastbacks Aren’t Everything
With all of the major mechanical and cosmetic concerns taken care of, this Craigslist Mustang would be a great start to someone else’s dream.
Early Mustangs represent an iconic, functional slice of Americana that you can park in your garage. To the prospective ’64-’66 Mustang owner, the fastback typically represents the peak of desirability.
This is reflected in the prices, which can often be orders of magnitude more expensive than their coupe or convertible counterparts. As a result, many opt to base their performance restomod on the more-attainable coupes.
Such is the case with this 1965 coupe that we found offered for sale on Craigslist in Fresno, California. Originally a C-code coupe, this Mustang has been treated to a restoration with high performance in mind.
With Grabber Orange paint, silver Shelby stripes, and a fiberglass Shelby hood with hood pins, this coupe certainly looks the part. The 17×8-inch American Racing Torq-Thrust 2 wheels and NASCAR-style side exhaust add to the high-performance posturing.
There’s definitely performance to back those looks up, though. Originally a C-code 289 two-barrel, the engine was rebuilt with power in mind. The two-barrel carb and manifold were swapped for an Edelbrock 600CFM carb sitting atop a Torker intake manifold. A K&N filter is the cherry on top of the four-barrel sundae.
Engine internals are more or less standard fare, although the ignition and cooling systems have been upgraded. Full-length exhaust headers connect to 2.5-inch piping that feeds into raucous glasspack mufflers before exiting in front of the rear tire on either side.
The V8 is backed up by a three-speed C4 automatic. Suspension, brakes, and interior have been similarly freshened up, with a bare minimum of accessories.
All in all, this coupe has just enough performance to back up its tough looks. there’s plenty of room for the next owner to grow and add their own personal touches (we’d start by upgrading the four wheel drum brakes to discs). What would you change about this Mustang?
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