Ford Mustang 1967 News

The 2015 Ford Mustang is on track for an auto show debut within the next six months and already many of its details are becoming known. Today, we learned that engineers developing the car have targeted a substantial weight saving for the new model. A source familiar with the car’s development told Edmunds that the 2015 Mustang will be only slightly smaller than the model it replaces but weigh around 180kg less. The 2014 Mustang equipped with a V6 tips the scales at just over 1587kg which means the new 2015 Mustang may be as light as just a bit more than 1400kg. The source said engineers were trying to improve the fuel economy of the car, though no doubt lobbing off around 180kg from the current Mustang will also yield significant gains in virtually every dynamic statistic. Combined with a new independent rear suspension, the lighter weight should see the Mustang turn in new levels of performance at the track. The 2015 Mustang is expected to be about 38cm shorter than the current car and 15cm narrower. Getting the weight down will be done by using lighter materials such as aluminium instead of conventional steel. Improved chassis design will also mean less reinforcement will be needed. www.motorauthority.com  

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James Bond ‘Goldfinger’ Aston Martin was epic, and the $4.62 million that Steve Champagne (yep, a real name) gave American customiser George Barris for the real Batmobile was serious money, then you'd be wrong.Ford as part of an ongoing product placement arrangement with Warner Bros who financed the movie. Ford also offered two big Galaxie 500s for the baddies to drive in the chase scenes but they were rejected and the producers bought two new Dodge Chargers. And so the main players in this iconic car chase were gathered for the fray.David Burrell is the editor of retroautos.com.au

The Bonhams & Butterfields auction featured actor McQueen's 1949 Chevy pick-up truck offered for sale for the first time by his widow Barbara Minty McQueen. It sold for $37,570.McQueen died in 1980 and left a legacy of films, many of which included car and bike stunts performed, in large part, by the ruggedly handsome actor. They include the motorcycle chase scene in the 1963 war movie The Great Escape and the car chase through the streets of San Francisco in the 1968 movie, Bullitt, which is considered by critics to the best of all time.The auction included a first special edition Mustang Bullitt presented by Ford to McQueen's son Chad who is a professional race driver. Number 1 in the series and dubbed ‘McQueen 1’, the Mustang is in factory original and unmodified condition and has only 2012 miles (3238km) on the odometer. It was not sold but was estimated to go for up to $85,000.McQueen not only performed many of his own film driving and riding stunts, but also raced cars and bikes and represented America in the International Six-Day Enduro motorcycle event. His 1940 Indian Chief motorcycle used as his ‘Hollywood bike’ and featured on the cover of the book Steve McQueen: The Last Mile sold for $106,450 while his 1919 Indian Daytona twin with FLXI sidecar did not sell but was estimated to be worth as much as $135,000. It may not be a car or bike, but its McQueen motoring credentials are bona fide: a Heuer-mounted stopwatch set, used in the film Le Mans, starring McQueen was sold for an undisclosed price.A spokesman for Bonhams & Butterfields said they could not comment on post-sale negotiations, nor publicise the last bid price on unsold items. "But I'm sure Bonhams would certainly entertain offers from interested buyers," he said.Other celebrity vehicles in the auction included a 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz formerly owned by Frank Sinatra which was bought for $131,000 and motoring enthusiast Sam Garrett's collection of 28 American and European cars.Garrett invented the mascara brush by taking a brush used in the maintenance of camera equipment and, together with Max Factor, applying the concept to make-up.His collection includes a 1927 BNC type 110 Roadster, 1935 Brewster Town Car, 1937 Rolls-Royce 25/30 Limousine, 1948 Packard Custom 8 Wagon, 1950 Morgan SS and 1967 Mercedes-Benz 600 SWB. 

The original pony car from the 1960s became a 2010 model today at the opening of the Los Angeles Motor Show with everything you would expect of a Mustang. It has all the familiar keys expected in a Mustang, from the basic shape to a V8 under the bonnet, but has been tweaked and primped for a new edition. It runs on bigger wheels, with a smaller-looking body that is softer around the edges, and also has a new-generation V8 promising more go from less fuel. And to meet a growing band of rivals led by the Aussie-made Chevrolet Camaro. The Camaro and Dodge Challenger have been brought back from the dead, after also starting their lives in the muscle car era of the 1960s, as more and more Americans look for the car they could never afford in their youth. In the case of the Mustang, there are high hopes for a car which is now celebrating its 45th birthday and is the halo car for the whole blue oval brand. "We wanted to take it to the next level. Aggressive, muscular and athletic," says the Mustang's chief engineer, Paul Randle. The Mustang has shared top billing at Ford alongside the F150 truck but, with the recent downturn in demand for pickups and SUVs, the muscle car now sits alone. And Ford knows it has to fire. Chief designer J Mays says the 2010 Mustang is right-sized and done right for the 21st century. "We managed to make it look smaller than Camaro and Challenger," Mays says. The mechanical package includes wheels as big as 19-inch alloys, standard stability control, an optional 4.6-litre V8 and - best of all for Mustang fans - the potential for major upgrades by tuner companies including Shelby. But the basic mechanical package is as basic as always - trailing well behind the FG Falcon in its chassis design and tuning - and there is no chance of the car becoming an official model in Australia. The last Mustang move Down Under was a disaster, once enthusiasts had claimed the first cars, and so the only 2010s likely to hit Australian roads will be private imports which have been converted to right-hand drive by local specialists.  

UTES are almost compulsory for Jason Hodges. As resident gardener and landscaper on Better Homes & Gardens a workhorse is his first choice. He says he has always owned and driven utes. Hodges' long-term relationship with utes has gone hand-in-hand with his lifestyle. But he does have others in his life -- a 1967 convertible Mustang and a 1963 two-door Falcon - which come out for special occasions.What was your first car?An HQ Kingswood ute. It was white with a blue tarp. I was 17 and I loved it because it was a ute not a car. The worst thing about it was everyone wanted to borrow it, or borrow you, when they moved house.What do you drive now?A metallic blue Commodore ute. I've had about 12 utes. I've had Holdens, Toyotas and Fords, but nine out of the 12 have been Holdens. I also own a 1967 convertible Wimbledon white Mustang and a 1963 two-door Falcon. I usually drive the Mustang to golf on a Saturday or if I'm quoting for a job. I also take it on dates, if I can get one. I'm not sure if the Mustang impresses on dates. I think it can be too showy, whereas the 1963 Falcon, because it's Australian, is a little more understated.Do you have a favourite drive and who would you take?Up to the Hunter Valley from Sydney. I normally go up there with mates. We have dirt bikes up there so I'm usually go there with a bloke, not a girl.How far would you drive in an average year?A lot. I'd do about 35,000km a year.Do you have a favourite motoring memory?I love road trips, especially up to Nambucca Heads or Crescent Head. I've enjoyed them as a kid and an adult. I drive to Tamworth for the Country Music Festival every year and I sleep in the back of the ute. As I've become more recognised for being on TV, people stop and ask, "Where are you staying?'' And when I tell them, "In my ute'' they look a bit surprised. We usually go to the Olympic town pool for a s- - -, shave and a shower. People don't expect me to do that, but I'm still a lad.What would you buy if money was no object?A 1967 convertible Mustang.What music is playing in your car?I like mellow, chilled-out music like Jack Johnson, Pete Murray, Missy Higgins, Lee Kernaghan or Troy Casser-Daly.How much is too much for a new car?I've never bought a new car, but I don't know how much is too much. If it does the job and it makes you happy, you enjoy it and it de-stresses you when you're in traffic ... you can't put a price on that.What should be done to make driving safer?We should be tested more often, not just when we get our licence. I'm sure I have bad habits after driving for 18 years without anyone testing me.Are you sponsored by a car company?No. But it would be nice.

Kelly Landry is a self-confessed action junkie who dreams of slipping into the driver's seat of the world's fastest and most expensive car. For people who don't know - and she is not one of them - that car is a Bugatti Veyron. Landry is an international model and former travel reporter with Coxy's Big Break on Channel 7, but gets her big television break as co- host of Nine's born-again Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune.What was your first car?A 1989 white Ford Laser. It was a beast. I loved that car.What do you drive now?A new Ford Focus.Do you have a favourite drive and who would you take?I love the drive to Daylesford. Aside from the obvious reason, being a weekend away, I particularly love a certain part of the drive when the road is encased with beautiful oak trees and on a sunny day the light strobes through the branches. It would be nice to take a partner on that drive.How far do you drive in an average year?More than I'd like to. I love the open roads, but I think I clock up close to 20,000km sitting in horrible city traffic.Do you have a favourite motoring memory?A couple of times my family holiday involved driving to Queensland. I say a couple because after that we flew. I think three kids in the back for 20-odd hours nearly killed my parents. We sure had fun, though. I also used to own a 1967 Ford Mustang coupe. Every motoring moment was a pleasure in that car.And if money was no object?I have always had a bit of a love affair for a well-shaped motor vehicle. I really love cars so its hard to pick one, but looking at top-end-priced cars on appearance it would be a toss up between the Aston Martin DB9 and Audi R8. But if money was no object, I'd take the Bugatti Veyron out for a spin.What music is playing in your car?Whatever the mood strikes, really. I always have my iPod in the car, but I can be partial to a bit of 3AW. It's great in traffic.How much is too much for a new car?Well, the Bugatti is really a ridiculous amount of money to spend on a car, but I suppose it's all relative if you have a few spare million in your back pocket.What should be done to make driving safer?Road safety is actually really good in Australia in comparison to a lot of other countries. The problem is there isn't just one simple solution to road safety as there are so many variables that constantly change every time you are on the road. Making motor vehicles safer in terms of how they perform in an accident is definitely one on the top of a long list.Are you sponsored by a car company?No.

“When I saw the first one come into the workshop I sat in it all day. My boss had to come get me out to do some work,” he says. Monk had fallen for the American muscle cars, in particular the Ford Mustangs. While he was used to heavy and underpowered British cars such as the Hillman his father drove, Monk says the new American thoroughbred was a welcome breath of fresh air. More than 40 years on and Monk's garage features not just one but three shiny Mustangs. His pride and joy is the 1967 Fastback he paid $30,000 for six years ago. “I had a 1965 but I always wanted a Fastback. I preferred the shape and when this one came up I bought it,” the 59-year-old says. Monk has since sold his 1965 model, but his wife, who shares his Mustang passion, has a 1967 convertible and he's also got a more modern version with a 1994 convertible. Monk says the 1967 Fastback was in good condition when he bought it, but he has carried out some work on the engine and the trim, and lowered it. “It was a little bit too high, they used to call it the four-wheel-drive Mustang because it was so high off the ground,” he says. The Mustangs weren't officially released in Australia in the 1960s and '70s, but some enthusiasts did import them into the country. Monk says Ford imported some models for sale. But in America, they instantly became a hit. “There were countdowns to when the Mustang was released,” Monk says. “When they were released people queued up to buy them, they slept in dealerships. That was in America.” Ford didn't build any right-hand-drive versions of the Mustangs, so the ones that came into Australia had to be converted. “Up until 1998, you couldn't drive a left-hand-drive car in Australia, so you had the added cost of conversion,” Monk says. “You could in South Australia and Canberra but not NSW.” This made them quite expensive for the average Australian, making it much cheaper to opt for a locally manufactured car. The cars originally sold in the US for about $US2500, but according to Monk, they were more expensive here because of the conversion costs. Monk says when these cars were first released, they were ahead of their time, offering a five-page list of options such as cruise control. “It's automatic. The rear seat folds up and down giving access to the boot. It's a lovely car, it's just unusual and it's candy apple red in colour, it's a known fact that red Mustangs go faster,” he says. Monk says there are now a lot of them in Australia as many people have imported them over the years. The Mustang Owners Club of NSW alone has 600 members with about 800 cars. Monk's 1967 Fastback spent most of its life in the US, coming to settle Down Under at the beginning of this century. “It was born on August 1, 1967, that's the day it was manufactured, all this has been verified by Ford and the compliance plate on the car,” he says. “It came into Australia in 2000 when a father and son brought it in and did it up. They sold it to the guy I bought it off, who had it for a while. But he needed some money so he sold it to me and it will be a dark day before I sell it.” The classic Mustangs are now selling for about $50,000 for an average model. But many Mustang fans are happy just to get a look. Last year, Monk and 24 fellow Mustang owners took their vehicles more than 3000km on a club trip to Tasmania. One local found out about the team of Mustangs hitting town, so frantically rang all the motels in the area to find out where they were staying, in a hope of getting some happy snaps. But this sort of attention isn't new to Monk. “When you stop at traffic lights people offer to swap Commodores for the Mustang,” he laughs. “We meet a lot of people. At a car show this bloke came up to me and said he was the bloke who brought it into Australia, he used to own it.” Many people in particular have come to recognise the Mustang muscle car from its role in the hit film Gone In 60 Seconds, which introduced a new generation to the classic. Monk says his model is the same shape and same kind of Mustang as Eleanor, the one Nicolas Cage drove, but is just a different variant. While Monk is satisfied with his current Mustang collection, like most car enthusiasts he would like to see it grow in size. “There are always plans for more Mustangs, it's only the bank account that prohibits any more,” he says. “I'd like to get a current model, but I'd have to sell the house and live in a caravan to do that.” Although he likes the new modernised version, Monk says his true passion lies with the classic Mustang models. But in his books, you can have any Mustang to be considered a real car owner. “There's only one car, a Mustang, all Fords come second ... then there's the rest,” he says laughing. “If you don't own a Mustang we say you've gone to the dark side.”   Snapshot 1967 FORD MUSTANG FASTBACK Value when new: $US2500, about $5000 in Australia after conversion Value six years ago: $30,000 Value now: Between $50,000 and $75,000 Verdict: It's not hard to fall in love with the classic shape and looks of this American muscle car, well-known for its role in the action film Gone In 60 Seconds.  

The two Fastback coupes, a 1967 right-hand-drive GT500 and a 1968 left-hand-drive GT350H will be up for grabs in the Exhibition Centre at Darling Harbour on the last day of the show, November 5.The auctioneers, Shannons, say the GT500 (build number 500) is one of just 2048 Shelbys built with Ford's big block Police Interceptor 428 V8 engine in 1967. It has a fully documented history.The Le Mans Blue GT500 up for auction was delivered new in California in March 1967 and has a four-speed manual gearbox. It came to Australia in 1969 and was totally restored in 1999.The left-hand-drive red 1968 GT350H (build number 01140) was originally delivered to the Hertz Car Rental Company in Detroit in 1968.It came to Australia in the late 1990s.Shannons expect the Shelby GT500 to attract bids in the $170,000-$200,000 range and the GT350H to sell for $150,000-plus.