Photo: http://www.autotraderclassics.com
Have we got the car for you. Better known under the "Poison Ivy" moniker, this is a Stang unlike any other you've seen before thanks to its high level of customization and special history behind its retractable metal roof.
To make a long story short, Ford wanted a retractable clamshell-style roof to further raise the appeal of the first-gen Mustang back in the '60s, thus investing lots of money and manpower in this special development project.
Former Ford employee Ben J. Smith was the man that proposed the idea of this outlandish feature, but as the money went by the bucket load without concrete development results, the Blue Oval pulled the plug on the project. However, a retired Smith went solo and created a handful of Hardtop Convertible Stang prototypes in the '90s with his own hands and finances, using the original roof moulds.
The "Poison Ivy" you can admire in the gallery below is one of those unique vehicles. Currently advertised on a classic car auctions website, its current owner specifies that "Ben Smith recognizes Poison Ivy as 1 of only 14 cars built using his design." Based on a 1967 coupe, this restomodded Mustang is currently appraised at $140,000, but the seller wants just $65k for it. What exactly do you get for that kind of money except the interesting history behind it and the Transformers-like retractable hardtop roof?
Starting with the oily bits, the engine is a 302 cubic inch (5.0-liter) Long Block crate V8 from Ford Racing which churns out 340 horsepower. The oomph is sent to the rear axle via a Tremec T5 five-speed heavy duty racing gearbox with aluminum drive shaft, while hooning credentials are ensured by an 8-inch 4 Spider clutch-type limited slip differential.
The vehicles also features a complete Grab-A-Track performance suspension kit, disc brakes on all four wheels, Chip Foose Design 17-inch wheels with Falken 245/45 R17 rubber, Steeroids rack and pinion power steering, as well as air conditioning from Classic Auto.
Open the switchblade doors and you'll find a custom tan leather wrapped cabin which sports Dakota digital gauges, power windows and central locking, a Kenwood sound system with sat-nav capability, custom blue interior lights and power seats sourced from the 2005 Mustang GT.
As for the unique "Poison Ivy" hue, it has a vibrant chameleon effect depending on how the sun or shades hit the paint, bringing forth a lot of sparkle to the color. The stripes flip from orange to yellow and back depending on lighting conditions. Currently located in Arizona, the '67 Mustang shows only 1,600 miles on the odometer.
Former Ford employee Ben J. Smith was the man that proposed the idea of this outlandish feature, but as the money went by the bucket load without concrete development results, the Blue Oval pulled the plug on the project. However, a retired Smith went solo and created a handful of Hardtop Convertible Stang prototypes in the '90s with his own hands and finances, using the original roof moulds.
The "Poison Ivy" you can admire in the gallery below is one of those unique vehicles. Currently advertised on a classic car auctions website, its current owner specifies that "Ben Smith recognizes Poison Ivy as 1 of only 14 cars built using his design." Based on a 1967 coupe, this restomodded Mustang is currently appraised at $140,000, but the seller wants just $65k for it. What exactly do you get for that kind of money except the interesting history behind it and the Transformers-like retractable hardtop roof?
The vehicles also features a complete Grab-A-Track performance suspension kit, disc brakes on all four wheels, Chip Foose Design 17-inch wheels with Falken 245/45 R17 rubber, Steeroids rack and pinion power steering, as well as air conditioning from Classic Auto.
Open the switchblade doors and you'll find a custom tan leather wrapped cabin which sports Dakota digital gauges, power windows and central locking, a Kenwood sound system with sat-nav capability, custom blue interior lights and power seats sourced from the 2005 Mustang GT.
As for the unique "Poison Ivy" hue, it has a vibrant chameleon effect depending on how the sun or shades hit the paint, bringing forth a lot of sparkle to the color. The stripes flip from orange to yellow and back depending on lighting conditions. Currently located in Arizona, the '67 Mustang shows only 1,600 miles on the odometer.
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