LOOKS DECEIVE: This ’67 Mustang GT may look old-school, but has hidden high-tech swagger

March 29, 2016
Posted by Barrett-Jackson

Written by independent automotive journalist Steve Statham

This 1967 Ford Mustang Custom Fastback (Lot #507) heading for the Palm Beach auction block is a textbook example of how to execute the Resto-Mod style.

Ford’s Mustang has been a star from day one, and muscle-car diehards have always loved to make that star shine even brighter. Carroll Shelby was one of the first to raise the car’s status, but for more than 50 years almost every corner of the automotive aftermarket has taken a crack at making the Mustang even more stellar.

Of course, both the Mustang and the aftermarket industry have come a long way since the days of traction bars, glass packs and bolt-on hood scoops. Today’s aftermarket can take classic 1960s raw material and turn it into something that will hug corners like an exotic, brake like a fighter jet landing on a carrier deck and absolutely shred the fastest quarter-mile times from the Lyndon Johnson era. The Resto-Mod is here to stay, blessing us with the combination of peak Detroit styling and techno-performance that borders on miraculous.

It’s that melding of old and new that sets apart this Nightmist Blue 1967 Mustang GT (Lot #507) to be offered at No Reserve at the 2016 Palm Beach Auction. Originally an S-code 390 car, this custom fastback now incorporates leading-edge tech while still retaining the look and feel of ’60s muscle. At first glance, the car is straight-up classic 1967 Mustang, with GT stripes, quad exhaust tips, correct chrome trim and factory paint color intact. The American Racing Torque Thrust II wheels are period-appropriate and the stance is just right.

Pop the hood, however, and the surprises begin. The polished engine appears to be topped by multiple Weber carburetors. But the Roush 402 IR V8 is actually fed by computer controlled “8-stack” fuel injection with eight individual throttle bodies.

The 402 IR (402ci) is based on a stroked version of Ford Racing’s Sportsman Windsor block, with forged rods, crankshaft and pistons, and topped with ported Roush aluminum heads. The builders of this car tuned the V8 song with ceramic-coated headers and Dynomax mufflers.

The engine is teamed with a Tremec TKO 600 5-speed transmission with a Kevlar clutch. A 3.50:1 gear in the rear end ensures stout acceleration along with balanced highway manners. The Mustang’s stock 16-gallon gas tank has been replaced with a 22-gallon Fuel Safe Pro Cell tank.

The suspension in this GT has also come a long way from the early Mustang’s Falcon-based underpinnings. The Total Control suspension package and rack & pinion steering wouldn’t be out of place on a new Mustang, nor would the Wilwood Pro Series front and rear drilled disc brakes.

The interior of this fastback will look familiar to any fan of classic Mustangs (with many replacement parts coming from Mustang Country), plus a few useful additions. The JME Autometer gauges deliver more information than the stock gauge package ever did. The black leather upholstery is a cut above stock as well. Interior noise has been dampened with Dynamat soundproofing materials, which is good considering the stereo has been upgraded to a multi-speaker Alpine system with Bluetooth.

The buyer will receive ample paperwork, with all build receipts and documentation provided, along with a Deluxe Marti Report. The car has been garaged and driven fewer than 3,500 miles since its professional resto-build, although it’s doubtful the new owner will be able to show such restraint. For those looking for a textbook example of how to execute the Resto-Mod style, you need to check out this No Reserve Mustang at Palm Beach.

‒ Written by independent automotive journalist Steve Statham

For up-to-date information on this vehicle, click HERE.