Wild horses

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/11/2014 (4197 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Despite only minor trim restyling changes between the car’s introduction in 1964 and through 1966, the Mustang continued to sell like proverbial hotcakes. Ford’s one and only entry into the pony-car market proved a winner, and the car was so well received, they didn’t dare change it, at least from an appearance standpoint.

Available as a convertible, hardtop or fastback model, they fit just about everyone’s fancy and became most people’s dream car. Any changes that did occur were upgrades to suspension, brakes and optional equipment that largely went unnoticed by most buyers. Based on the compact Ford Falcon platform, the Mustang was growing up and steadily earning a reputation as a performance car. When equipped with the right brakes, suspension and powertrain, the lightweight Mustang could be a real mover.

Today, the early Mustangs are still plentiful, in restored or original condition, and when paired with modern technology they can be built into everything from a street cruiser to a serious track car.

For Larry Tanchuk of Winnipeg, he purchased his 1966 Mustang coupe as a candidate for a father-son project in 1999. The 289-cubic-inch V-8, automatic-equipped car was originally sold in Saskatchewan and had received a previous restoration sometime in the 1980s. After driving the car basically as is for a year, Tanchuk decided it was time to get down to business and started dismantling the car for a full restoration.

With the car in pieces, it was time to get into removing any rusted panels from the body. As usual, several places had fallen victim to corrosion and that meant their removal and replacement with new panels. For the task, Paul Gagnon from St. Andrews had fabricated and installed new floor pans and prepped for new inner and outer wheelwell housings. Moving forward Tanchuk installed the rear wheelwells and new rocker panels. With the help of his cousin Barry Levandosky, they fit the car with new rear quarter panels and fabricated several other panels required. Tanchuk says, “Barry really helped keep me on the straight and narrow and gave me some much-needed tips on metalworking, fit and fabrication.”

Following the body restoration, Lee Harrison helped get the Mustang prepped and ready for paint before turning it over to autobody painter Tim Taylor. After another round of final fit and prep, Taylor laid down a gloss Black paint finish followed with a blue infused pearl clearcoat. A new rear bumper and a pair of chrome Talbot racing mirrors adds some fresh sparkle to the package.

Striving to make the car more of an agile handler, Tanchuk used a set of subframe connectors to link the front and rear subframes together to minimize body flex. Then came new springs, Munroe gas shock absorbers and larger sway bar. Bringing the ride height down for improved handling, one-inch lowered front A-arms were used. For better stopping power, the front drum brakes gave way to a set of power-assisted disc brakes from a Ford Grenada. Tying the coupe to the road is a set of 70-series Cooper Cobra raised white letter performance radials riding on 15-inch black steel wheels with chrome trim rings.

Motivation for the Mustang comes from the same 289 V-8 that was completely rebuilt by Ken’s Kustom Auto Machine, equipped with GT 40 cylinder heads, Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold and Pertronix electronic ignition. A new fuel tank supplies fresh fuel to a 600 c.f.m. Holley four-barrel carburetor prepared by Brian Wheatley and the total package is much more in tune and ready for the road. Keeping up appearances in the engine compartment, there are a set of Ford Racing aluminum valve covers, Monte Carlo bars tying the shock towers together and a K&N air filter. Cooling duties are handled by a three-core radiator from City Radiator and the engine exhales through a set of chrome-plated Tri-Y exhaust headers leading to a custom dual exhaust system with a pair of throaty Thrush mufflers.

Backing the engine is a 2,000 r.p.m. hi-stall torque converter leading to a Mister Transmission rebuilt C4 automatic transmission. Specially prepared for Tanchuk by Bill Kibbins, it features a manual valve body for full manual operation and gets the power back to the Mustang’s original rear axle.

Inside the passenger compartment, the Mustang is mostly new. Tanchuk installed a new carpet, dash pad and headliner from the Mustang Shop in Calgary. Seat upholstery is black vinyl in the original pattern that was installed by Norm at Precision Upholstery & Glass. Mustang parts supplier Scott Drake supplied a new instrument cluster to replace the faded look and old gauges with new modern pieces. We also find there is a new tinted windshield, AM radio, floor shift, Grant wood steering wheel and Auto Meter tachometer.

Throughout the process, Tanchuk admits, “It was a lot of work, but the connections you make with the people you meet in the process, everyone becomes friends.” Since the Mustang was completed, it’s travelled some 8,000 kilometres, taking in local cruise nights, shows and summer driving for Tanchuk and his wife, Jean’s, enjoyment.

Now more than a half-century later, the Mustang still enjoys solid sales. The original pony car, it delivers that high-perFORDmance driving experience and a host of options we could only dream of in the ’60s.

classicdargis@mymts.net