Saturday, January 25, 2014

The next project ?

Since last summer I have spent hours and hour checking eBay, Craigslist, German site Mobile.de and Swedish site Blocket.se as well as local markets to find a reasonably priced car for my next project. As mentioned in my earlier posts, Destiny only needs regular maintenance from now on. Though in my mind I preferred Mustangs (in order to have yet another Bullit or GT-350 clone) I kept my eyes open for Camaros, Firebirds and Cougars from '67 to '68. Of course a classic Chevy would do, but knowing what they are worth and knowing the limitations with the size of my shop I kept the focus on pony-size cars also keeping in mind that the clue in the next project was supposed to have a little bit angrier approach than just a nice looking cruiser.
The European market these days seem quiet when it comes to unrestored cars. Should you be interested in finding a well-restored car, it would not be hard to find one in Sweden, if you are willing to pay what it takes.
I found a '67 Cougar, a newly imported survivor in local sale. I spent a couple of nights planning and projecting what it would become in my hands, and made a decision to buy it. But someone else was quicker and bought it before.
I kept on calculating the costs for importing a car from US and for having it shipped, customs paid and taxed and faced the rough fact that any car doubles its price when doing so. US looks like it is running out of reasonably priced collectibles. Requesting 10 k$ for a project fastback without the engine in not unusual.
So, after approving the fact that obtaining the project would cost more than what I originally had expected led me browsing the Internet day after day and finally bidding (via an agent) for a couple of Mustangs. One was sold locally, the other went too high with price, the third one was pulled out before the bidding time ended and so on.
I was really getting frustrated for the hobby until a friend of mine called me on Thursday (Destiny's 49th Anniversary, BTW) and told that he had found the car I had been looking. And the good new on top of that , it was on sale within less than 10 kilometres from my house.
And here she is, VIN 5F09A******

The front is missing some details

In the dark it was hard to tell the color

The missing fender is included

The original paint on cowl side panel seems like Silver Blue

New tires on '67 rims

'65 Mustang Snowback


The left rear fender is in need for replacement again.

So, this cars has a lot of work to be done

  • rust to be fixed
  • broken windshield
  • torn upholstery
  • wrong rims
  • drum brakes, no power brakes


But it also has a lot of potential

  • engine said to be a 302 block, rotating (never fired up this side of Atlantic, though)
  • 4 speed manual transmission with Hurst shifter
  • all sheet metal needed included 
  • passenger side fender included
  • all the hard-to-find expensive fastback specific parts are there
  • rear window with defrost panel (can't wait to see the D.S.O. of this one)
  • NPD export service in Ocala, FL waiting for an order for missing parts
The car has now been towed in and today afternoon I'll be able to see it in warm shop, hoisted up and with good lighting. Should the car be what it is said to be I'll buy it !

10 comments:

  1. Congrats! Good luck. I hope the car turns out to be a winner.

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  2. I Think if this Project will start it should be really nice, just as your Destiny Project.

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  3. Thanks fellows ! The hands were shaken and it's a deal. I'll upload a couple of more photos and maybe start a new blog of her own soon.

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    Replies
    1. Congrats. This i will follow, just as Destiny

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  4. Awesome find! Seems like "Destiny" has visited your shop once again! Looking forward to seeing you bring this one back to life as well!

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  5. Looks like a good find, Can't wait to see another one restored!

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    1. Thanks Grant ! Hopefully you'll have an early and warm spring in Utah. This winter there is not so much snow over here as you can see.

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  6. A blog of her own http://65fastback.blogspot.fi/

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  7. Hi Risto,
    Its Shane Becker the original owner of your mustang fastback.I also located the original engine for my stang when I owned it back in 1982-1983.The car was bought from my aunt in 1978 when I was 11 years old.I did some work to it as a kid but I never stopped buying cars and engines after I bought this fastback by cutting grass that summer.i did locate the original engine for the fastback though but the other car projects started mounting and I never had a chance to do what I wanted to do with the fastback.it is a 64-65 k code engine 289 hipo that has sat in a garage since it was pulled from the car.wether it was a mistake at the factory or who knows?it has a great big vibration damper on it[lol].I would be willing to sell it if you might be interested.i almost sold it when I sold the car but with the car but the buyer tried to get it for nothing and I refused to sell it to him.i always wanted to get that hot 289 hi po back in that fastback.a dream I always had growing up.it took me about 7 years to track original engine down back in the non computer days of 1983.
    I did receive your letter and I will get some pictures for you of the car.
    I also had a 65 ragtop with original pony interior with a code below the k code original 289 in it.a guy by the name of Jason Musheletti[a con man]from austrailia talked me out of it from ebay.he lied like heck to me the bum.he got it pretty cheap from me.i shoulda just kept the listing on ebay instead of selling it to him. also had many other mopars Pontiacs chevys fords[still have a ford 427 engine]out of an old galaxie or t bird left lol] but wound up selling them.
    give me a call sometime if you wish.it was nice to hear from you.
    best regards
    Shane Becker
    1-610-559-0109
    Easton p.a. USA

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