It's not unusual for classic cars to spend decades in storage. Many owners stopped using them and locked them up in barns or garages. Likewise, it's not uncommon for these vehicles to emerge back into the light with severe rust issues. But some get lucky and take decades of sitting like a champ. This 1967 Ford Mustang fastback is one of them.
Found and rescued by classic car prospector Dennis Collins in Wichita, Kansas, this once-gorgeous pony car was parked in the 1980s and remained in storage for almost 40 years. Come 2023, the owner finally agreed to let it go, and Mr. Collins took the trip to Kansas to add it to his already massive first-generation Mustang collection.
Is it a rare 'Stang? Well, not exactly. Ford sold a whopping 472,121 Mustangs that year, and this one is one of 71,042 fastbacks built. The engine under the hood, a C-code 289-cubic-inch (4.7-liter) V8, is also quite common.
Rated at 200 horsepower and 282 pound-feet (382 Nm) of torque when new, it was the least potent V8 available at the time. It slotted between the 225-horsepower four-barrel 289 and the entry-level 200-cubic-inch (3.3-liter) inline-six (good for 120 horses). The car also lacks optional goodies such as power steering and power brakes.
On the flip side, it's a red-on-red example, with both the exterior and the interior finished in Candyapple Red. It's not a super rare combo by any means, but they're getting increasingly harder to find in unrestored condition. And not only is this Mustang an unrestored vehicle, but it's also in surprisingly good condition for a pony car that spent four decades off the road.
Sure, the engine looks rough and will need a lot of work to run again, but the exterior is rust-free, aside from a few issues on the lower side panels. And even though it's covered in a thick layer of dust, the Candyapple Red paint should clean up nicely and show some beautiful patina.
The interior, which features the desirable Deluxe option, is in even better condition. There's some wear and tear on the seats and the door panels, but it will become a nice place to spend time with proper cleaning. And needless to say, the silver inserts look fabulous next to the red vinyl.
It's definitely one of those classics that deserve a restoration (I love cars with color-keyed interiors) despite not having a rare V8 under the hood. Unfortunately, Dennis says he wants to use some of the parts in a few Shelby models he is restoring, so this Mustang won't get a refresh.
But I guess that's a better fate than rotting away in a garage, so yay for yet another pony car saved. See it coming back into the light after almost 40 years in the video below.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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