1965 Ford Mustang

The first-generation Ford Mustang was manufactured by Ford from March 1964 until 1973. The introduction of the Mustang created a new class of automobiles known as pony cars. The Mustang's styling, with its long hood and short deck, proved wildly popular and inspired a host of competition,

It was introduced on April 17, 1964, as a hardtop and convertible, with the fastback version following in August 1964. Upon introduction, the Mustang, sharing its platform with the Falcon, was slotted into the compact car segment.

The first-generation Mustangs grew in overall dimensions and engine power with each revision. The 1971 model featured a drastic redesign. After an initial surge, sales steadily declined, and Ford began working on a new generation Mustang. Eith the onset of the 1973 oil crisis, Ford was prepared having already designed the smaller Mustang II for the 1974 model year. This new car shared no components with preceding models.

The standard interior was available in various colors and features included adjustable driver and passenger bucket seats, an AM radio, and a floor-mounted shifter. Ford added additional interior options during the 1965 model year. The Interior Decor Group was popularly known as "Pony Interior" due to the addition of embossed running ponies on the seat fronts and included integral armrests, woodgrain applique accents, and a round gauge cluster that would replace the standard Falcon instrumentation. Options included sun visors, a (mechanical) remote-operated mirror, a floor console, and a bench seat. Ford later offered an under-dash air-conditioning unit and discontinued the vinyl with cloth insert seat upholstery that was available only in early 1965 models.

In 1965, Harry Ferguson Research purchased three Mustang hardtops and converted them to 4x4 in an attempt to sell potential clients on their FF AWD system. A similar system was used in the Ferguson P99 Formula One race car and would go on to be featured in the Jensen FF that is considered the First AWD non-all-terrain passenger car. As in the Jensen FF, the AWD Mustangs also featured anti-lock braking that would later be known as ABS. The Dunlop Maxaret system was modified from its original use on airplanes.

Our client brought in his Mustang to have a complete upgrade done on the vehicle. We will be upgrading the brakes, engine and a brand-new paint job done. We have removed the old weatherstripping from the doors and trunk areas. Here we removed the tires and drums to take a closer look at what shape the brakes are in.

Beginning stages of removing all trim and windows has begun to prepare for the body to be media blasted. Along with the exterior of the vehicle, we have taken out all the interior for the body to be media blasted. The fenders, doors, hood and deck lid have been removed for a proper media blast.

We have completely removed everything from the interior and have covered the engine bay to protect the engine. After the body was media blasted, there were a few spots of rust found that will need to be repaired. We have begun the repairing some of the rust spots and pulling dents out of the body. Cutting out the rusted floor pan to weld in a new metal floor pan in the front passenger side.

The new passenger side floor pan has been welded in and seam sealed. Beginning the bodywork on the passenger side of the body. Moved to preforming bodywork to the trunk area. Driver side front fender bodywork has been complete. Now we started bodywork on the passenger side front fender. Here the hood, doors, fenders and valances have been primed. We have sprayed the body with epoxy sealer.

The hood, doors, fenders, deck lid and valances have been painted a white. We have sprayed the pearl over the white per the clients' specifications. The radiator and valve covers have been removed in preparation to remove the engine. Preparing to remove the engine and transmission. The engine and transmission have been completely removed.

After removing the engine and transmission, we power washed them and then painted them. With the rear axle removed, we cleaned it up and painted it black. We have reinstalled the rear axle and leaf new springs. Beginning to install the new front-end components. We have installed the new shocks on the rear of the vehicle and reinstalled the rear tires.