1968 Ford Mustang Gets First Wash in 18 Years, Becomes Surprise Graduation Gift

It's safe to say that more than a million classic cars are still waiting to be rescued from American barns right now. And needless to say, not all are valuable collectibles. In fact, only a tiny fraction of them are actually worth big bucks. Most of them aren't worth restoring relative to their market values. But that's not to say they shouldn't see daylight and get a second chance at life.

A 1968 Ford Mustang is far from mundane, but it's not a particularly expensive classic unless it's a Cobra Jet or a Shelby. But I'll never get tired of seeing these ponies being dragged back into the light after decades in storage. And this Wimbledon White coupe is totally worth it because it's a fine survivor.

It's not one of those unrestored and unaltered rigs, but it comes close. While it did get a respray at some point, nearly everything else is original, including the V8 engine. Moreover, even though it spent almost 20 years off the road, it got a warm roof over its head, so it's pretty much rust-free.

But like most classics that didn't see daylight for so long, it was covered in dust, and its interior became home to a few rats. The owner decided it was time to get it back on the road and called the guys from YouTube's "WD Detailing" to give the pony a professional makeover. His plan also included giving the Mustang to his daughter as a graduation gift.

A two-owner car with no issues aside from a slightly weathered paint and some wear and tear inside the cabin, the Mustang re-emerged as an attention-grabber once our hosts were done with it. It looks like the kind of classic you take to the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals (MCACN) and have gearheads gathered around it. I'm not a big fan of white Mustangs, but this one packs a nice color combo, thanks to the burgundy interior.

But does it still run after 18 years without a sip of gasoline? Well, now it does, and the 289-cubic-inch (4.7-liter) V8 still sounds wild when the pedal hits the metal. And it's heartwarming to know that this Mustang will finally make it back on public roads after so many years in the dark. See it emerge from storage and get a much-deserved makeover in the video below.