Restomodding the Classic Ford Mustang: A Step-by-Step Guide to Modernizing Vintage Muscle
An American icon and king of the streets, the Ford Mustang has been a pulse-pounding embodiment of muscle car prowess since the 1960s. And for those who wish to combine its quintessential vintage look with today’s modern performance, this is where the restoration or “restomod” fits in. Taking aging sheetmetal and invigorating it for a truly modern experience, the term restomod essentially uses traditional old-school muscle while incorporating modern technology, capabilities and accommodations for that original spirit.
Transforming what some considered neglected junk and restoring it as the modern pavement-eating beast we are referring to does require wrench turning, but more importantly, it involves exploring the booming lifestyle centered on an enthusiastic group of people skilled in creating them. Choosing a quality classic to base a restomod on and the daily experience with such a completed project are full of its own decision, and challenge, and rewards. Here is everything it takes to wake a classic Mustang from the past.
1. Finding the Ideal Candidate
Before pulling out a single tool, it’s absolutely crucial to have a financially sound plan in place. It can very quickly turn into either the budget busters or dream machines, in terms of money, thanks to what you choose for parts, and also in relation to labor costs if you’re doing work with a shop or other builders. A sound budget considers your car’s purchase cost, initial mechanical needs, as well as necessary repairs that will always appear when the project is real. One of the best ways to avoid having your small issues become massive timeline killers is to be ready with either extra funding or the option of holding one task for a while longer.
What to Look for First:
- Solid chassis, sound body
- Clean title, no accidents
- Avoid heavy rust damage
- Check model year, mileage
- Pick common, well-supported trims
Upgrades like late-model engines, upgraded trannies and heavy-duty brakes should have a dollars-to labor estimate if you use a shop to install them. Putting an additional safety factor into the equation will take care of unexpected problems should they occur, allowing your build to proceed without getting too far over budget. Conservatively built builds are much less prone to stressful decisions once you’ve gotten deep into the tear-down, which is often when problems will arise that weren’t apparent during the inspection and you really need that safety money to take a potential panic-producing situation into a planned-for problem.
2. Setting a Realistic Budget
With the car contained and a budget figured out, it’s time for planning out each detail of the build itself. Every mechanical alteration planned to the car-things like putting modern suspension components on it, to putting better brakes on the vehicle, and modifying the motor-is charted at this phase. This overall guide helps to ground subsequent decisions and not work haphazardly on the build as things turn out to be not fit or work on whatever point and later in the project that that decision occurs.
Budgeting Essentials:
- Account for purchase price
- Include mechanical maintenance costs
- Factor in repair work
- Price engines and transmissions
- Add a financial cushion
Comfort enhancements account for about a million miles of daily-drivability in a restomod so budgeting and planning for a freezing cold AC, power windows, and modern stereo is key. Engaging with a reliable shop or restoration specialist in the planning stages aids in prioritizing the most important of the modern creature comforts, keeps your build moving forward in the right direction and helps avoid costly structural or mechanical pitfalls. An owner might not think about what a mechanic or restorer experienced with the car would notice immediately and it might present conflicts with originalist principles vs. Restomod comfort expectations.
3. Crafting a Comprehensive Build Plan
The physical modification is done by completely stripping the vehicle’s chassis of every other piece and component. The mechanic(s) remove the original engine, transmission, suspension, brakes, and interior wear parts. All this creates a chassis blank on which the new parts will sit. The decade or more of wear is worn away to show a naked basis on which the whole vehicle will be built, and the extent of wear is usually identified and corrected along with any previous damage such as rust or previous crashes (identified now rather than later, which will save some time and money down the road).
Building the Master Plan:
- Map suspension and brake upgrades
- Plan powertrain enhancements early
- Add modern comfort features
- Include A/C and stereo
- Consult experienced mechanics first
Proper re-assembly requires significant skill and care. Often custom pieces are necessary to help the modern components mate with the classic bodywork. Documenting each and every installed part and material as well as labor ensures that the build stays on budget. That knowledge trail also gives a history lesson to whoever may be purchasing the vehicle in the future if, and or when it is ever sold.
4. Tearing Down to the Bare Frame
The climax of the transformation is the final paint job. A well done paint job that’s done in a subtle custom color or factory correct color can do wonders for the look of your ‘Stang. You are in the final few steps in the cosmetic modification where all your mechanical work has a corresponding top layer look to match the work you’ve done! Many see this stage as the most rewarding step as the finished car begins to look like the dream you had the first day of working on it!
The Teardown Process:
- Strip vehicle to bare frame
- Remove engine and transmission
- Extract suspension and brakes
- Pull out worn interior parts
- Prepare chassis for new hardware
Stripping out all the old materials to lay down some soft new carpeting, and the better-than-factory upholstered seats with the factory integrated power seats give this thing interior luxury and head-turning capabilities. Adding on the perfect look of a cool custom set of wheels really solidifies the stance for one nice, custom, head-turning muscle car at every stop sign and traffic light. You want every stitching and wheel design that you can get added to this package for how good this thing looks on the road or show.
5. The Final Cosmetic Transformation
Taking a forgotten classic and turning it into a modern-day, pavement ripping monster. This isn’t some dad in the garage, fixing and tinkering, it’s more like becoming involved in a massive and driven specialist culture. At the very top, however, is the largest Mustang Restoration shop in the world, family-owned since 1980. And to this day these guys, affectionately named the ‘Doctors of Restoration’ are taking on each vehicle, led by founder Chris “The Doc” Ingrassia, striving for ultimate accuracy and precision in bodywork, painting, mechanicals and customization and changing what was thought possible
Finishing Touches That Pop:
- High-quality custom or factory paint
- Fresh carpets, premium upholstery
- Integrated modern power features
- Comfortable, head-turning cabin
- Eye-catching custom wheels
Having the interior refurbished, including new carpets, new upgraded upholstery and the addition of integrated power accessories transforms the cabin into something that’s actually inviting and attracts stares in every possible direction. Bolting up a unique set of customs ties it together with the stance and the result is a truly one-off muscle that gets noticed anywhere and everywhere.
6. Meet the Masters: The Mustang Brothers
Resurrecting a dusty legend and transforming it into a modern-day pavement-ripping machine isn’t merely about turning tools in a garage-it is about entering a highly active, vibrant world of highly dedicated craftsmen. The titan of this scene-the biggest Mustang restorers in the world, a family-run business since 1980 and the so-called “Doctors of Restoration”-is founder Chris “The Doc” Ingrassia.
A Family Restoration Legacy:
- Largest Mustang shop worldwide
- Family-owned business since 1980
- Founder: Chris “The Doc” Ingrassia
- Twin brothers: Cody and Preston
- Precision in body and paint
Along for the ride as well, are identical twin brothers Cody, with an accounting degree and Preston, with business. Known as The Mustang Brothers, the two men put two sharp minds and two able hands to the task of once again making iconic steel roar to life, merging a pragmatic head for business and a truly enthusiastic heart for metalwork.
7. Teaching Instead of Selling
The genius behind this restoration culture is an educational element to “Teach, don’t sell”. Hundreds of “how to” videos on youtube have allowed novices to learn maintenance processes, perform their own rust-repair work, or a proper convertible top install, straight from the experts. This widespread diffusion of knowledge has been instrumental in the success of this community and made the restomod crowd that much more robust and technically competent.
Sharing Expertise Freely:
- Hundreds of YouTube tutorials
- Teaches rust repair techniques
- Covers convertible top installs
- Built custom Mustang Limousine
- Discovered lost 1968 GT500KR
Their profound knowledge has also resulted in awe-inspiring achievements as The Doc can show you with anything from a fully customized build to a one-and-only Outlaw Mustang, to bringing some of the most revered iron back to life. Imagine the astounding find of a long lost 1968 Shelby GT500KR after more than forty years hidden inside a barn in rural Illinois: The Doc has done just that.
8. Living the Restomod Driving Lifestyle
After having gone through the mechanics, a restomod Mustang is guaranteed to usher in an exciting lifestyle of ultimate driving moments, from the minute you hear and feel it rumble to finally taking it for a cruise and retrace iconic road trip routes or even take it out for a seaside trip down by the coast, and see and drive legendary American muscle on an exhilarating coastal drive.
Drives Worth Living For:
- Classic route road trips
- Coastal seaside cruising drives
- Leisurely scenic sunset drives
- Top-down urban city cruising
- Michigan Ave, Lake Shore Drive
Whether thrill-seekers want to take their time driving a beautiful byway just before sunset or be daring for a hot urban adventure: drop the top! Just visualize: take your morning commute, top down on Michigan Ave, take it all the way down Lake Shore Drive with a machine so exhilarating at a stoplight. This car handles like an extension of you and you WILL get looks around the entire city.
9. Joining a Vibrant Community
Restomoding, living this lifestyle and joining a community with other owners, is all the fun of sharing this love for old cars. Whether you want to organize a Mustang club chapter near you or attend car shows and events where awards (Mopar or Truck, Best Mustang) are handed out-think of the Annual Mustang Brothers car show each year, for example-being a part of this community becomes more enjoyable than the project itself.
Ways to Connect:
- Start a local Mustang club
- Attend Mustang Brothers car show
- Compete in vintage-only races
- Join DIY customization workshops
- Visit vintage car expos
Vintage car expos are your chance to show off unique and exotic models and trade car stories with like-minded gearheads. And if you really enjoy a little friendly racing competition, vintage-only races offer you a chance to run the classic lines at race speed-and workshops give you opportunity to hands-on tune-up your project.
10. Creative Ways to Use a Restomod Mustang
There’s so much more the refreshed Mustang can be used for aside from pure personal kicks and it does give you some cool life opportunities. These machines are the most glamorous way to be rented as a wedding car for the lucky couple, add 60s cool to the prom party or simply “kill” the look with a dramatic arrival in the parking lot of a drive-in movie night. A nicely done restomod will be enjoyed in the company of the car itself and not only a weekend trip to the beach.
Beyond the Open Road:
- Stylish bridal wedding rentals
- Classic prom night transportation
- Drive-in movie night showpiece
- Featured in music videos
- Charity “Cruiser for a Cause” rides
Their aesthetic perfection has made these beauties a darling in some nostalgic and retro styled music videos or photoshoots alongside classic attire. Enthusiasts can take a tour around old historical places by using restomods as they take historical tours on roads designated for these vintage cars or rally them for a charity using their own style of charity rides called “Cruiser for a Cause.” Surely restomods are more than just garage collectibles.
