This one was built for some serious road miles.
Text and photos by Mark Ehlen / MCR staff
People choose to restore classic muscle cars for a variety of reasons. Some weren’t able to own one when they were new or at least could still be had in excellent condition so they are fulfilling a lifelong dream of owning one. Others were born too late to be in on that era but really appreciated the classic styling of that time and now want one of their own. And still others just think that all cars today pretty much look the same and want something that really stands out.
No, all of today’s cars don’t look the same but the 60’s and 70’s arguably produced some of the best designed most distinctive cars ever. There was no confusing GM vs Ford vs Chrysler in those days.
What owners intend to do with their cars varies as well. Some literally intend to put them in a private museum. Many want to spend time at shows meeting other enthusiasts and discussing the finer points of this and that about their cars. There are the cruisers of course who enjoy that scene evenings and weekends around town. They’ll drive to and from the shows as well.
And then there are the drivers. These are the ones that intend to put some miles on the car and, unless the weather is looking bad, their muscle car is their first choice.
The owner of this ’67 Mustang fastback is one of the later. A retired truck driver, he used to make regular runs between Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. He built his Mustang not only to fulfill a dream but also drive from the Chippewa Falls area to the Twin Cities on a regular basis to visit family. If he’s going to spend a couple of hours on the road each direction, he wants to enjoy the trip.
And there is absolutely no doubt that he will. With a Holley Sniper equipped 390, a 4-speed and a 3.00 9-inch rear, this thing loves the open road. The Wimbleton White paint with Cranberry Red stripes will not be mistaken for anything from this decade. The interior retains the factory red bucket seats and Dynamat sound deadener has been added to make each trip even more pleasant.
This Mustang got the full on Muscle Car Restorations’ resto process of course but, given that it’s going to rack up some miles, special materials were used underneath to help keep it looking beautiful and to make it easier to clean.
It may never make it to a formal car show. Instead it will be a one car show every time it’s on the road.
