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1966 Ford MUSTANG

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DanielSteel

History

My seven-year restoration is nearing completion however I have run into trouble with Western Australia bureaucracy. The Department of Transport are claiming my car now has a high-performance engine as I lifted a 302 block from a later model, 5.0 roller cam engine. It's beginning to look as though I will not be able to license my Mustang for use in WA in its current form. The amount of hoops I would need to jump through are unrealistic and unable to be met by me. During my full nut and bolt restoration, where every single part was inspected and either renewed or replaced, I spent tens of thousands of dollars upgrading suspension and brakes from 1966 items to, modern, safer and more effective steering, brakes and suspension. I also increased the engine capacity from 289 cubic inches to 302 cubic inches. Those 13 cubic inches has left me with a bunch of unreasonable and ridiculous requirements that seek to make a 55-year-old car comply with today’s vehicle standards. The result is, a piece of Australian motoring history will be lost to WA. This car is one of around 200 Mustangs converted by Ford Australia in 1966/67. These Mustangs, bearing a Ford Australia compliance plate, are becoming rare and few remain in their original condition. The most ridiculous thing is, I have all the original parts, if I reinstall all the old brakes, steering suspension and engine, it would sail through inspection. I produced a vehicle that is much safer than it ever was and now to some bureaucratic nonsense this piece of motoring history, once owned by an Australian motor racing legend, could be lost from WA. Certainly, I could rebuild and refit the old 289 but I’ve already spent a huge amount of money on this car and another large wedge leaves a sour taste in my mouth. On top of that, there’s no guarantee it will get through licensing even then, such is the nonsensical decisions currently coming out of the DoT.

Modifications

I'm now seven years into a total nut and bolt restoration with too numerous modifications to go into here. The pics will tell the story, but, just for starters, the car has new doors, bonnet, boot, floor, rear quarter panels, rear tail-light panel, upper and lower wiper cowls, inner and outer sills, both seat mounting panels, rear kick panels, rebuilt and slightly warmed over 302 Windsor, RRS steering and suspension. I'm thinking of naming her Theseus (as in the Ship of Theseus).

Vehicle Specs

Body Style: Coupe

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