71JSCJ
Member
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2011
- Messages
- 24
- Reaction score
- 5
- Location
- winnipeg
- My Car
- 1971 j code fastback
1972 q code convert
2 65 k-code fastbacks
Hello from snowy and impossibly cold Winnipeg, Canada, everybody! I decided to become more active here after doing some reading here - this seems like a great group and I'd be happy to take part. I'm creating this thread to share my ongoing projects in the hopes of of entertaining people, but doing this is also a motivation, and to some extent, therapy!
Without further adieu, here's my dad's favorite child
We bought it in March of 2006 from Dorr, Michigan. It's an early production 1971 Mustang sportsroof with a J-Code (Ram-Air) 429, 4 speed Toploader and drag pack! We bought it from a GM production line manager who had the shell and intended to finish turning it into a drag car, but couldn't go through with it. It was just a rolling shell at the time, with all the "modifications" that you see. The fact that the metal work was done badly is just adding insult to injury.
It's got five options - the 429, the drag pack, power brakes (mandatory?), trim rings and sport mirrors. It was originally sold to Ford Marketing Corporation in Dearborn, but we cannot identify its purpose, or anything else through the 1970s and 1980s. Rumor from those who know the car think that the car was never actually driven - this is explained later.
As you can see, a lot of metal work needed to be done. We enlisted the help of the grey 1971 coupe seen in the background - it was a California car that got repo'd, and we picked it up at a decent price. It donated it's floor to the cause. Next, we had to source non-fold down seat sheet metal, which was next to impossible. We called around to a hick town here in northern Manitoba, and they had 3 of them. :huh: Go figure.
Metal work!
Here's where the miracle happens. It took us 5 years to gather up all of the engine and driveline parts to make it drive again. In my opinion (not my dad's), this car was a bit of a bastard - without numbers matching, it doesn't do much for me. In January of 2012, I was fishing on eBay through active listings, and nearly pooped myself when I found a powertrain listed, with the serial number of our car. The deal was done within 12 hours, and it's going back to its original house. Bastard no more! The seller of the motor stated that the whole powertrain was sent to Holman-Moody in 1971 straight from Ford, and has never been run. The shell was being turned into a pro stock chassis, so there was definitely funny business afoot when the car was new. The project was obviously abandoned, and the powertrain and chassis stayed thousands of miles apart for over 40 years. It is amazingly complete - manifolds, carb, all smog equipment, original belts, even bits of the wiring harness that were missing from the shell!
My dad has a feeling that this car was meant for him. Buying the car was easy, and it's been smooth sailing on its assembly. Of note, we did sell the car a few years ago, but the sale fell through because everything that could have gone wrong, did, when it came to trying to deliver it.
Project 2:
This is a car we bought for no real good reason, but it's here anyway, so why not? It's a 1972 Q-Code convertible, red-on-red, mildly optioned California car. We bought it when projects were still cheap, and it came to us with a gallon of bondo on the quarters and a municipality-ordered destruction notice slapped on the windshield. Its bodywork is done, and it will be going together when our '65 is done (see below).
For the eagle-eyed purists, we elected to leave the exterior decor group mouldings and black paint off the bottom. It's not original, but we think it looks better in solid red. We can always put it on if necessary.
With NOS quarters, it went together really easily. There's something to be said about rust-free California cars (there's also something to be said about cars that haven't been hit, but I don't know what it is)
Current project:
This one is almost ten years in the making. My dad used to restore 1961-1964 Jaguar E-Types, and after the last one went in 2001, he decided he wanted something 'simpler' and 'less finnicky' (note - vintage Mustangs are worse than British cars at this). This is a 1965 K-Code 289 fastback, numbers matching, 4-speed Toploader, factory 4.11:1 gears. My dad bought it as a present for himself on Christmas day of 2001 when he ran out of projects. We've discovered so much hidden rust on the car that most panels have been replaced. Regardless, she's a beauty now and it's almost finished. It's going to be my brother's car, although he knows little about cars. Oh well.
E-Type:
'65 Mustang
Thank you for reading. I will definitely update this thread with progress if there is interest.
Without further adieu, here's my dad's favorite child
We bought it in March of 2006 from Dorr, Michigan. It's an early production 1971 Mustang sportsroof with a J-Code (Ram-Air) 429, 4 speed Toploader and drag pack! We bought it from a GM production line manager who had the shell and intended to finish turning it into a drag car, but couldn't go through with it. It was just a rolling shell at the time, with all the "modifications" that you see. The fact that the metal work was done badly is just adding insult to injury.
It's got five options - the 429, the drag pack, power brakes (mandatory?), trim rings and sport mirrors. It was originally sold to Ford Marketing Corporation in Dearborn, but we cannot identify its purpose, or anything else through the 1970s and 1980s. Rumor from those who know the car think that the car was never actually driven - this is explained later.
As you can see, a lot of metal work needed to be done. We enlisted the help of the grey 1971 coupe seen in the background - it was a California car that got repo'd, and we picked it up at a decent price. It donated it's floor to the cause. Next, we had to source non-fold down seat sheet metal, which was next to impossible. We called around to a hick town here in northern Manitoba, and they had 3 of them. :huh: Go figure.
Metal work!
Here's where the miracle happens. It took us 5 years to gather up all of the engine and driveline parts to make it drive again. In my opinion (not my dad's), this car was a bit of a bastard - without numbers matching, it doesn't do much for me. In January of 2012, I was fishing on eBay through active listings, and nearly pooped myself when I found a powertrain listed, with the serial number of our car. The deal was done within 12 hours, and it's going back to its original house. Bastard no more! The seller of the motor stated that the whole powertrain was sent to Holman-Moody in 1971 straight from Ford, and has never been run. The shell was being turned into a pro stock chassis, so there was definitely funny business afoot when the car was new. The project was obviously abandoned, and the powertrain and chassis stayed thousands of miles apart for over 40 years. It is amazingly complete - manifolds, carb, all smog equipment, original belts, even bits of the wiring harness that were missing from the shell!
My dad has a feeling that this car was meant for him. Buying the car was easy, and it's been smooth sailing on its assembly. Of note, we did sell the car a few years ago, but the sale fell through because everything that could have gone wrong, did, when it came to trying to deliver it.
Project 2:
This is a car we bought for no real good reason, but it's here anyway, so why not? It's a 1972 Q-Code convertible, red-on-red, mildly optioned California car. We bought it when projects were still cheap, and it came to us with a gallon of bondo on the quarters and a municipality-ordered destruction notice slapped on the windshield. Its bodywork is done, and it will be going together when our '65 is done (see below).
For the eagle-eyed purists, we elected to leave the exterior decor group mouldings and black paint off the bottom. It's not original, but we think it looks better in solid red. We can always put it on if necessary.
With NOS quarters, it went together really easily. There's something to be said about rust-free California cars (there's also something to be said about cars that haven't been hit, but I don't know what it is
)
Current project:
This one is almost ten years in the making. My dad used to restore 1961-1964 Jaguar E-Types, and after the last one went in 2001, he decided he wanted something 'simpler' and 'less finnicky' (note - vintage Mustangs are worse than British cars at this). This is a 1965 K-Code 289 fastback, numbers matching, 4-speed Toploader, factory 4.11:1 gears. My dad bought it as a present for himself on Christmas day of 2001 when he ran out of projects. We've discovered so much hidden rust on the car that most panels have been replaced. Regardless, she's a beauty now and it's almost finished. It's going to be my brother's car, although he knows little about cars. Oh well.
E-Type:
'65 Mustang
Thank you for reading. I will definitely update this thread with progress if there is interest.
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