Wife wants a late 60's fastback.

You could always check out Dynacorn. They offer an entire '67 body.
You could build your own classic with modern running gear.

Back in late 2016 my wife said she wanted a classic Mustang. We got her a 65 that sits in between my 88 mustang and my GT350. I’ve swapped in an explorer GT40 302, completely redone the steering, and installed an entire stereo system, so far.

She’s driven it once.

Restomod FTW!

Bdubbs said:

Well I keep reminding the wife we need to build a shop to store and work on cars. Hopefully, one day this will happen. Currently one car is in a storage unit, and if she finds one she likes that likely will be too. For the time being.

She's been wanting a fastback mustang, it's her favorite style. I will let her pick the color, must be an automatic.

I'll just make sure it's in good condition. I've just recently been looking online and ClassicCars.com, but I'm not totally familiar with the old mustangs.

Ones we've liked so far are priced 40-50k. These look to be restored, and might not all be matching numbers. For instance, might have had an inline 6, but now a 302.

Is this about what they are fetching? I have a friend that's pretty knowledgeable on old cars, especially mustangs. But he also thinks many things are overpriced, if that makes sense?

Here is an example of one car she really likes.

1965 Ford Mustang | Vintage Planet



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Your wife has exquisite taste. Salut!

Hello Brady,

As most have mentioned there are a lot of variables. I've had my 65 Mustang coupe since 1989. It was 100% stock when I bought it and in average condition. It had a 289, C4 automatic, power steering with manual brakes. It had a single bowl master cylinder and 4 wheel drum brakes. I used to drive it from El Paso to Fort Huachuca in Arizona every weekend when I was in training for about 4 months with the stock rim and tire size. I don't remember having any "driving" issues with it back then (very slow and mild mannered). I had a bad bell housing and my starter bolt would back out and cause my starter to go bad after a while. As a young kid I didn't realize this for a while, so kept replacing starters.

Fast forward many years later and I rebuilt the car. Put in a 347 and beefed up my C4. Everything else was pretty much stock rebuilt. Rear-end, front and rear suspension. I did upgrade the brakes to a dual bowl with front disc (using 03 Cobra brakes) and left the rears drum with everything stock, but new and it was still manual brakes. I did upgrade the fuel system and put 17 inch rims with wider tires..

As others have said that suspension, even though it was new, felt like it floated under all that power. I also felt like I had to push my foot through the floorboard to get those manual 03 Cobra brakes to stop. I had exhaust dumps on it by the rear end. At stops the car's interior would fill with the aroma of fuel. No power windows, so you had to decide if you wanted the passenger window up or down before you left for a ride.

My car was amazing to look at and it had a lot of power, so, in general, it was fun to drive, but in reality not very safe. My wife felt it was a stinky death trap (also did not have seat belts). So', she would not even get in it.

I'm getting ready to upgrade it this summer because I blew the 347 and sold the drive train. Going to put a Mustangs to fear front suspension on it and put a bolt in style 4 link out back. Still doing research on the power brake situation as I will be upgrading to rear disc brakes as well. I'm removing the traditional power steering and putting electronic power steering in it. I'm going from a C4 automatic to a TKO 600 and finally upgrading from a 347 to a 351W based 408 stroker. I'm also getting rid of the carburetor and getting fuel injection.

There is no way in hell I will ever get my money back, but I'm not building it to sell or flip. When I'm gone this car will go to one of my kids. I'm building it because I want it to be amazing to look at, fun to drive and "SAFE" to drive with the power level I'm shooting for.

So, make sure you buy something your wife will enjoy, feel safe in and WANT to drive. The 65 Mustang fastback is the top of the line version 65 and the most desired, which is why it commands 40k to 50K price tag. I love these cars. But, unless they are built to newer technology standards it is NOT like driving a modern car.

Good luck! I wish my wife said lets go buy a 65 fastback LMAO!!!!!

Owned a 1970 Chevelle at one point in time. Monster 454 Rat motor. Transmission needed total rebuild. Car came with the F41 suspension and disc brake package. Didnt stop for shit. Needed complete restoration and it was a 100% rust free desert car.

Part of me wishes I never sold it, but I also couldnt fathom how much money Id be dumping into it just to make it a driver, not even make it a high end resto.

Unless you LOVE projects and enjoy bodywork, find one thats complete or nearly complete.

She needs to drive one before you spend 40+ grand on a car she “wants.” My mother “wanted” a wrangler and she literally rode in the thing three times and three times only, after my father bought the damn thing. I can tell you the driving experience is very different than a modern car. Some things she’ll have to understand is the cars back then didn’t have the regulations or standards of today. If she’s expecting classic style with modern driving behaviors she’s in for a rude awakening unless she goes with a resto mod. Don’t get me wrong I love the classics, and I think their beauty will never, and now can never, be surpassed.
Coming from someone who’s restored 3 cars and currently owns 2 of them; I will say you can get upside down quick if you’re not careful. That’s only if you buy a project or one needing work/completion.


Pick your poison.

I agree with everyone here about her driving one. My 1968 coup is totally rebuilt with better springs shocks and sway bar and it still drives like an old car. For 40-50 you can probably find something with fuel injection and overdrive. Those two items will make it much nicer to drive.


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Recon said:

She needs to drive one before you spend 40+ grand on a car she “wants.” My mother “wanted” a wrangler and she literally rode in the thing three times and three times only, after my father bought the damn thing. I can tell you the driving experience is very different than a modern car. Some things she’ll have to understand is the cars back then didn’t have the regulations or standards of today. If she’s expecting classic style with modern driving behaviors she’s in for a rude awakening unless she goes with a resto mod. Don’t get me wrong I love the classics, and I think their beauty will never, and now can never, be surpassed.
Coming from someone who’s restored 3 cars and currently owns 2 of them; I will say you can get upside down quick if you’re not careful. That’s only if you buy a project or one needing work/completion.


Pick your poison.

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I might’ve been too harsh, so I’ll add this.
I was supposed to have a 350Z for my first car. It was a very very nice, really low mile car, but wasn’t me. I wanted a classic muscle so the Z was sold and my Impala SS came home. That was May 9, 2009 and I’ve not regretted a single second of ownership. The restoration was a fun learning experience and she’s won some car shows. 2 best of shows, stock/original class, then 2 or 3 top 25. I’ve had several offers, one in particular was generous, but answer will always the same regardless of the amount. She’s not as stout as the mustangs but they aren’t as heavy as she is. She floats like a Cadillac, the ride is truly something to experience. The bigger cars are like that, depends on the suspension. Now the brakes, compared to a modern car, they suck. Plain and simple, but they’re big drums, take it for what it’s worth. My mother says she’s my wife and that seems accurate. I share her with no one. Other people that have driven the car, very few family members and coworkers testing maintenance. One good family friend has been behind the wheel, and that’s it.
Now we’re working on the T/A and she’s coming along well. Engine is being fussy, but that should be resolved soon. She’s a very beautiful car and the strength of the engine is as addicting as my supercharged Roush. Raw is putting it mildly and the scary thing is it’s a lightly modded small block. You’d never know it unless I told you. It’s modded internally, and even then it isn’t much. She’ll be attending shows hopefully this spring.
They have a beauty that’s unmatched by their descendants, but they are not impervious to the flaws of their time. If your wife can get past the flaws she love them as much as I do.


Pick your poison.

www.nada.com for muscle car values

Oh, one thing I forgot to add. Make sure what you buy has upgraded lights or you will need to do that as well. Original lights (headlights, taillights, brake lights) are all very dim compared to today's lighting. I put LEDs for my brake lights and taillights. Upgraded to brighter bulbs and a headlight harness so I could see decently when I drove at night.

This is nice.
67 Mustang Fastback - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle automotive...

Brady, what's the other car she has in storage? I ask because I'm wondering if she will be happy with the way a late '60s Mustang fastback will drive. Obviously very different, in a negative way, than modern day Mustangs, even including your Cobra. It sounds like she won't really drive it much, so it would be more of a collectible car to cruise around in on occasional weekends? If you would drive it often at some point, then a restomod would be a better route to take IMO.

CobraBob said:

Brady, what's the other car she has in storage? I ask because I'm wondering if she will be happy with the way a late '60s Mustang fastback will drive. Obviously very different, in a negative way, than modern day Mustangs, even including your Cobra. It sounds like she won't really drive it much, so it would be more of a collectible car to cruise around in on occasional weekends? If you would drive it often at some point, then a restomod would be a better route to take IMO.

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Bob,

She doesn't have a car right now. You are correct, it would be a nice day cruiser. Probably not get driven a lot. Something to collect. I personally would like a resto mod. Newer technology and more fun to drive.

I think she's good with that.

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If she IS agreeable to it, I would bet she would much more prefer a modern power/drivetrain. It would make her car much less temperamental and way more dependable. You would know best, though, Brady. LOL.

GOTSVT? said:

Old cars are fun to look at, that’s about it.

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They are way more fun to work on than modern cars. And my most modern car is from 1998....

I just bough me and my wife a '71 Ranchero. Because we needed a trailer to haul junk, so why not instead buy a Rancho?
We'll see how she likes it, I've gotten her all worked up for a '58 Edsel. So eventually I'll sell the Rancho for an Edsel.
She's also got a '63 Austin A40 Farina to drive around with soon, as it's nearly completed.

This is the entire reason all mustangs for the past 15yrs play off the old ones.

For a vehicle she can actually USE, start there.

As someone who owns a 1969 vehicle, they are certainly not like todays vehicles and are unforgiving / demanding to drive in most every way. They are also about as unsafe as riding a motorcycle. If I wreck or if I take a hard hit in the old vette, it’s probably going to kill me. Literally.

Even just being rear ended is a very likely fire; moreso even with a mustang as the tank is the trunk floor. They were just prettier Pintos.

Stunning cars and a much better investment, but all around I’m not sure I’d want my wife in one without the background and her really understandingz