Classic cars can spend many years in storage. A lot of owners stopped using them and kept them locked up in garages or barns. Additionally, it’s not unusual for these automobiles to reappear in the open with serious rust problems. But other people are fortunate and can endure years of sitting with ease. One of them is this 1967 Ford Mustang fastback.
Dennis Collins, a historic car hunter, discovered and saved this once-beautiful pony car in Wichita, Kansas, where it had been abandoned for almost 40 years. When the owner eventually agreed to sell it in 2023, Mr. Collins traveled to Kansas to purchase it to add to his enormous collection of first-generation Mustangs.
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 other hand, it’s a red-on-red illustration, with Candyapple Red used for both the outside and interior. It’s not a very uncommon combination, but they are becoming more and more difficult to locate in unrestored condition. This Mustang is not only a completely original automobile, but it is also in surprisingly good shape for a pony car that has been off the road for forty years.
With the exception of a few faults on the bottom side panels, the exterior is rust-free, even if the engine looks worn out and will require significant maintenance to function again. Additionally, even though it is heavily dusted, the Candyapple Red paint should clean up well and develop a lovely 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.