[afd516]

Hi, I am new here but not new to the mustang. I have owned 2 66 mustangs a 1965 and a 1989 fox body.

I have recently acquired a 1964 mustang convertible from my dad. He has had it for about 20 yrs.

My question has to do with rebuilding this gem. My dilemma is what is the best way to build it? As I mentioned I have had a few mustangs in the past but none of them have had the potential value that this one could.

My first one was a 66 with the inline 6 cylinder. It was my first car at the age of 16. It was a car that you could do a few things to it and not loose much if any value to it. I did things like change the auto to a 3 speed, I changed the color of the car, and ran after market wheels. It was a complete rebuild and a fun car at the time.

My second 66 I built for the track. It would haul some buns. Again, this was a run of the mill 289 car that I put a cammed 302 in and changed the gears. I put some sub frame connectors on it and strapped some Mickey Thompson I Bones to it. Primered and ran it. Fun car.

The 65 never ran. I got rid of it along time ago.

Anyway, that is a bit of my history with these cars which, leads me to my reason for this thread. I am 35 now with a good job and I have the money to build this car properly.

The question is what is best for it?

I could hot rod it out, lower it a bit, mustang II front end, put some nice after market wheels on it, swap in a nice fuel injected roller, and trick out the interior with a stereo and nice fabric. I could also do some trick things with the body and paint.

Or, this car was an all original convertible built May 18th 1964. I have the original 289, transmission, axle, wheels, interior, but the top needs replacing. It also has all the original gauges, generator, interior, body trim, never wrecked. I could put it back to like the day it came off the show room floor.

Or, I can put it back to original and do some updated mods such as fuel injection to the original 289. maybe put a small cam in it. I could put the original 4 speed back in. Update it with some disc brakes.

Sorry this is long winded, but I need some sound advise as to what direction I should build this thing. I would love to make it a street rod of sorts but do not want to hurt the value of it if I should choose not to put it back to original.

What do you guys think?

Here are pics as it sits now.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6...6/Image048.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6...6/Image044.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6...6/Image045.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6...6/Image046.jpg

[Irishking]

afd516
It looks like a super solid and nice 64 Stang convertible. I would restore it to showroom condition.

By the way, does it have a power top?

[afd516]

Originally Posted by Irishking

By the way, does it have a power top?

No power top.

There is absolutely no rust on it. My dad bought it in 89, tore it down and painted it with in the first year or 2. Then it sat in the garage. My parents sold the house and bought a new one and the car sat outside for about 2 years while he built the 30x40 it is in in the pics. While it was outside the car cover blew around and rubbed the paint off all the corners of the car. In addition, it got hail damage on the hood and down the side of the car. Needless to say it also received damage from just sitting in storage for the past 15 years. Therefore the first thing I am going to do is repaint it.

Aside from the paint and body (going to original) there are so many options I can incorporate into the build. I would really like to resto mod it but I am concerned that I will ruin the value of the car.

Basically, if someone could answer me this:

If I restomod this car is it going to ruin the value of it, or might it even add a little value to it?

I understand that this car is not a Shelby or a Boss or anything like that but there is still some value to this car. I do not want to ruin it in the way I build it.

[Flatrocker]

These verts can sell for 25 to 30 grand on ebay, but usually only as classic rebuilds. People like the paint and trim to match the codes. If you're keeping it, do what you like.

[afd516]

Because I am keeping it, I am leaning toward building it the way I want to enjoy the mods I did to it. I do not plan to do anything to it to drastic to where it could not be changed back to an original rebuild, should I, for some dumb reason, sell it.

[Dustysdawg]

There is one other way to look at it. ANYTHING you do can be turned back to original with a little work. Everything on these cars can be purchased new. You could tub it and still put it back to original with new inner fenders, some cutting and welding.

Do it up the way you want it, and have fun with it. You only live once.

DD

[afd516]

Your thoughts are pretty much what I was thinking. I am leaning toward something like this when it is done. Of course, it will be a long, slow, expensive process to get it there.

http://um0612.files.wordpress.com/20...black_w7_2.jpg

I have already started the body work, starting with the hood.

[MagsGT]

Such a rare, early car is probably most valuable as restored to original. It may have some sentimental value too. But in truth, these old cars don't always perform the way we'd like them to in stock form. Case in point:
My husband bought me a beautifully restored-as-stock '65 GT 4-spd convt. We've since lowered it an inch, and are adding power steering (for me) and a 5-speed (for the freeway).
As long as we can 'bolt-on-bolt-off' these mods, we don't feel we are doing any damage to the car. And, it makes it much better to drive. Hope that helps. Mag

[RDinTN]

Originally Posted by afd516

Your thoughts are pretty much what I was thinking. I am leaning toward something like this when it is done. Of course, it will be a long, slow, expensive process to get it there.

http://um0612.files.wordpress.com/20...black_w7_2.jpg

I have already started the body work, starting with the hood.

Wow! That's a beautiful goal to shoot for. A restomod can look stock & even better, and it'll treat you good.

May as well disabuse yourself of the notion of bringing it back to life for sale to make money. Pieces always cost more than the whole. Buying one already built is the way to go. Let the builder lose his shirt.

But if you love the car & love the build, have fun- save that Mustang! Looks like you've got a great place to work.

I say all this with a '60 Stude Hawk field stripped in my garage...