Ford Rolls Out a Reproduction Body Shell for the 1965 Mustang Convertible

http://editorial.autos.msn.com/blogs/autosblog.aspx?feat=62e4d9a0-963a-4caa-9ea7-a4264f3688fa&icid=autos_0034

"Ford Mustang fans now have another option to preserve or create a first-generation car--a reproduction body shell of the 1965 Mustang convertible.

Ford has licensed Dynacorn Inc. of California to produce new body shells of the '65 Mustang. Depending on the choice of powertrain and trim, the body shell can be completed to specifications for a 1964 ½, '65 or '66 Mustang.

“The 1964-66 Mustang is the most restored vintage vehicle,” said Dennis Mondrach, Ford Restoration Parts licensing manager. “But the number of original 1964-66 bodies is shrinking every year. Most of the original Mustangs left in scrap yards are rusted or wrecked beyond repair.”

The shell is built with modern welding techniques and comes rustproofed and ready for paint. Ford says suppliers of restoration parts must meet or exceed fit, finish and quality of original. That's why the Mustang body shell is constructed of higher-grade steel than the original, according to Ford. The company allows suppliers to work off old technical drawings, blueprints and specifications for parts.

Once the shell is bought, the powertrain, suspension and brakes, the electrical systems, the interior and the trim can be transferred from an existing car or bought new from the Ford-approved parts bin. Almost every piece needed to build a complete Mustang is now available from suppliers.

The '65 Mustang body shell is in production now and can be delivered by truck to any address, including to a home. It comes with the doors, trunk lid and all the sheetmetal from the radiator support to the taillight panel. The only pieces it doesn't include are the hood and front fenders, which are available separately. The Mustang body shell starts at $15,000.

Ford is displaying the 1965 body shell at SEMA next week in Las Vegas. The company also has licensed complete body shells for the 1967-68 and 1969-70 fastback models.

Content provided by AutoWeek.

Get more Car News from AutoWeek. Get the latest Car Reviews from AutoWeek."

Oh joy.

I fully expect more 64-66 Mustangs running around than Ford actually made.

And I expect most of them to be the exact same color, with a 302 and billet wheels.

Repost

Sorry it's a repost, but i love Mustangs and i think it'd be cool to see more classic ones around.

I don't see it as a big deal. You can already rebuild a first gen Camaro, Firebird, or 57 Chevy Bel Air from Repro parts.

What I can't figure out is why this particular Dynacorn body is getting so much more publicity than all the others they've been building for years.

Well you see, i didn't know any of that. I knew you could get parts from YearOne, like replacement panels and stuff, but i didn't know Ford made new parts like that for their classic cars. I kind of think Ford's doin it right.

I can build my favorite childhood HW. A white 65 Mustang 'vert with a red interior.

In reply to neon4891: You lost me at red interior. Also, i know a dynamite place in Cali that can re-chrome that bumper.

EdenPrime wrote: Well you see, i didn't know any of that. I knew you could get parts from YearOne, like replacement panels and stuff, but i didn't know Ford made new parts like that for their classic cars. I kind of think Ford's doin it right.

The thing is, Ford isn't building the new bodies...they're made by Dynacorn. The individual panels are stamped overseas, then they're assembled here. All Ford is doing is licensing them.

They already sell bodies for 1967-1970 Mustangs, 1967-1969 Camaros and Firebirds, 1970 Chevelles, and 1947-1957 Chevy pickups.

edit: as mentioned earlier, you can also get a 1957 Chevy body, as well as a 1955 Chevy, but they're made by some other company. There are also the steel bodies for 1930-1934 Fords, 1940 Fords and there's probably some others I've forgotten about.

In reply to stuart in mn:

The Camaros and Firebirds, are the parts sold by Chevy? or also by Dynacom?

EdenPrime wrote: In reply to stuart in mn: The Camaros and Firebirds, are the parts sold by Chevy? or also by Dynacom?

Dynacorn doesn't deal with the public directly, they wholesale them to aftermarket dealers. I think that's the case with the new Mustang bodies as well as their other offerings. Year One is one example, but there are other companies as well.

I gotcha. I gotta tell you, my favorite thing in the automotive world is to see a classic that's been rotisserie updated; like chassis reinforcements, new engine (usually LS1), lightweight wheels, lower-profile performance tires, racing seats/updated seats, new suspensions, ect. So i'm pretty excited to learn about all this.

It is a pretty neat thing. The asking price for a new body may seem kind of steep, but compared to starting with a 40 year old body and having to repair rust, dents, cracks and other wear and tear it's not all that bad.

In reply to stuart in mn:

Also, the new ones are made of better steel and are treated, as i recall.

stuart in mn wrote: It is a pretty neat thing. The asking price for a new body may seem kind of steep, but compared to starting with a 40 year old body and having to repair rust, dents, cracks and other wear and tear it's not all that bad.

There is much truth in this.............

As a former, long-time employee of Year One, I have seen it from both sides. The repro bodies aren't cheap but are a better platform for a build project if you don't care about provenance or want extensive upgrades. Restoring an "original" car will require replacing most everything.

Neither way is cheap and it's only a matter of personal choice.

The only thing different about Mustangs than the other bodies made, is that there were so many of them produced originally. It's the same reason my really nice, original Mustang isn't worth much. With so many of them out there, and the prices low in comparison to some other cars from the era, the price doesn't seem like a good value to me.

Talk about NOS !