PHIL's 1965 MUSTANG GT FASTBACK
A smokin' "A"-code 4-speed Pony Car
Raven Black with Red Deluxe Pony Interior.
One of the best looking '65 or '66 Mustangs you'll ever see!


I took it in for my first hour long drive today and it ran like a sewing machine.
"That's one smoken Stang! Wow!" Kevin

This is a 1965 A-code Mustang GT Fastback
w/289 V8, 4bbl, 4-spd, power steering with
front disc brakes, 3.00 limited slip, rear disc brakes,
dual exhaust, Deluxe "PONY" interior,
140 mph speedo, Day/nite mirror,
console, fold-down rear seat,
fog lights, heavy-duty front sway bar,
 Magnum 500 wheels, and upgraded radio/stereo.


Custom painted gas cap.
I liked the looks of the '66 GT cap but I had to change some of the coloring on it.

"This is one of the NICEST and tastefully done Mustangs I have ever seen!
...I am totally impressed." Tony B.

Eat your heart out Chevy & Dodge owners!!!
"Goosebumps... That is truly incredible looking." Manny

'Gotta like those red stripes on the Raven black car.
"Very beautiful car man! Nice work..." Tom

"THAT HAS TO BE THE BEST LOOKING CAR I HAVE EVER SEEN!!"  Brent M.

"Beautiful car, Phil...love the car" Ian

I love this rear view shot shown above.
"WOW!  Now, that's a head turner." Matt R.

It's VERY SHINEY!
"Beautifully done! How I love black and crimson together." Stephen

Fiberglas scoop
"Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!"Doug

INSIDE IS AN ALL NEW INTERIOR!

"VERY nicely done...absolutely love the color combo with red interior!" Mike T.
TMI SPORT SEATS with headreasts up front...yes, with ponies.
Python original restored front Deluxe seat belts.

 "...looks like a really beautifully done mustang!" Buckeye
The interior is nearly completely new.
Even new front and rear glass with new rubber seals were installed.

"That's definitely one of the nicest Mustangs I've seen in a long time. It looks very well put together."Doug K.
It went to the upholstery shop and came back with all new EVERYTHING!
I chose the red headliner and sunvisors as I didn't think
the factory white colors looked correct for this car.

"Love your fastback!  Niiiiiice!!!  Guy
I chose the smaller 13" Grant steering wheel because at 6'-2" I need all the leg room I can get.
Yes, the reverse is "UP" on a hurst shifter.

WOO-Wee! How about a 45 year old car with that new car smell!
"Looks really nice! They did a great job! I'm not a red interior guy but yours does look great !"Mike

"All i can say is WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A truely beautiful job!"  Meric
Note red headliner and sunvisors - not factory white.
Of the 559,451 1965 Mustangs built, a mere 5,776 built
were fastback cars with PONY interiors (1%).
So, figure this one out.....
if 5,776 were built, probably 1/4 of them were 6 cyl. cars.
The remaining 4,332 cars were V8s.
Of those V8 cars probably 1/3 were automatics,
1/3 3-speeds, and 1/3 were 4-speed cars.
That's only about 1,430 4-speed fastback pony cars.
Of those cars, there were then 17 paint colors to choose from,
mine is raven black.  That's probably only 85 raven black cars.
Most of the black cars had either red or black interiors
and a very few were white.  So, going by the options and numbers,
there probably were only 28 raven black 4-speed fastbacks
made with red pony interior!
How many of those 28 have survived????
Just having FUN!!!!

"Turned out AMAZING, looks so good, congrats." Tim
Custom red trunk carpet.  OH, how I hated that old gray plaid vinyl.
My plan is to add a Mag 500 with a knockoff sitting there for the spare tire.

Below conept pics edited by Phil Pignon
I conceived this look and edited to the way I wanted it to look.
My original concept photo below.

My actual car below...  How'd I do?

"Wow! Your car looks wonderful! Are you furnishing sunglasses for everyone
so they aren't blinded by that shine? Sure turned out just like you planned,
Don't you love it when a plan comes together. Very nice job" Mike
It has custom fog lights.
15" Magnums and wuth BFGs.
The ID plate says it is a factory deluxe interior car, so I
put back the correct red '65 Deluxe interior.

And now, my personal favorite (edited photo)...

"Man you have got one sweet car! No doubt about that!" Terry


A friend came down with his newer GT and we had to take some pics.
I also edited this pic with the logos, legends and horse.
I hope you like it.  Phil

HOW ABOUT THE ENGINE?
APR 09 - THE ENGINE IS OUT!

The engine was painted the later '66 Ford blue when I bought the car and I want the inside of the engine bay
to be black (like original '65 engine color) and chrome or aluminum with red details.
So, I have had the engine pulled, to not only paint it but to replace the valve seals, replace any guides,
deck the heads, check the springs, and clean up the ROLLER ROCKERS.  It has
already been bored .030 and a high revving street cam installed.


Engine was pulled and repainted the correct 1965 black.
As of mid-April 2009, the engine has aluminum COBRA valve covers, with matching COBRA air cleaner,
Edelbrock endurashine RPM 302 intake, aluminum Holley 670 cfm Street Avenger, Edelbrock endurashine
hi-flow water pump, Holly 110 GPM polished fuel pump, MSD distributor cap, MSD wires, MSD Coil,
new alternator, chrome oil pan, chrome Flex-a-lite fan, new radiator, hoses, motor mounts and belts.
Also, new stainless montecarlo bar, with chrome export brace and shock mounts,
with Edelbrock IAS Performer shocks have been installed...and all mounted
with SS hardware.  Hooker headers pushes the exhaust into the flowmaster exhaust.

Carb is now a 670 cfm Holley Street Avenger (had junk Demon crap and it was removed)
along with lots of other Edelbrock parts.   Edelbrock IAS Performer shocks
help complete the red, black & chrome theme.
Valve covers are the COBRA polished aluminum covers that were then powder
coated clear, with the custom matching air cleaner.
A polished stainless-steel monte carlo bar, chrome export brace, shock tower tops,
and aluminum COBRA valve covers with air cleaner add lots of BLING.


A toploader 4-speed from Mark at Top-loader Heaven was newly installed.  This
was Mark's personal transmission that was just recently rebuilt for his Grabber Mustang.
I was fortunate to call at the right time to talk him out of this transmission.
It has the special Top-loader Heaven modified Hurst
shifter and came with all new upper shifter and knob. The transmission
looks like it came from the Ford factory as an NOS item!  If you need parts for your
toploader, give Mark a call.  He helped me out on my first Mustang too.
It is now installed and shifts wonderfully!

WHAT ELSE WAS DONE?
Fiberglass Shelby style hood scoop was also installed with a large
air inlet hole cut into original all steel hood.
A new ring-gear & pilot bearing was installed, as well as the clutch checked
when the new toploader was installed.
New tie-rod ends, steering ram and hoses/belts were installed as well
with the power steering.  And lastly a Grant walnut 13" steering wheel.
I'm a 6'-2" big boy so that smaller steering wheel along with a
modified turn signal lever gave me some much needed leg and knee room.
Westin Driving lights mounted behind the grill with a modified latch support panel.

The paint job was started at the first of the 2010 year!


It went to the painters on DEC. 29, 2009.


above pics taken on 15 JAN 2010

Getting ready for paint at 3weeks.  22 JAN 2010

Laying out stripes on hood. Notice hole in hood for scoop.  28 JAN 2010

Red stripes on rear now. 28 JAN 2010

Red stripes on, clear on, color sanding. 4 FEB 2010

Reassembling. 16 FEB 2010

It's back home...for now. 20th of Feb.

Waiting for the trip to the upholstery shop. (20Mar10)

The first year I had this car I left it as an all black GT while working on the drivetrain.
I have LOTS of cool ALL BLACK pics like the one above on page 2!
Click this link for my OLD pics PAGE 2 (all black version before adding stripes)

Car Description:  1965 Ford Mustang Fastback A-Code

Engine: Engine is a 289 4 BBL bored .030 over, high-rev cam, hardened valve seats, w/roller rockers.
New fuel pump, new chrome water pump, new chrome flex fan, new Holley carburetor, new Edelbrock
polished alum. intake, new water temperature & oil sending units, new chrome COBRA valve covers and air cleaner
(both clear powder coated for ease of cleaning). New alternator and voltage regulator, new belts hoses and clamps,
new thermostat, new correct radiator. Every thing has been rebuilt or replaced. Just a great restoration on the
motor compartment and really on the complete car.

Chassis: Chassis has has been restored for driving. All tie rods and lower control arms and upper control arms
have been replaced or checked. New shocks also. The suspension does not need a thing.
The 4-speed transmission just shifts like new because it has a custom Hurst shifter but has
a modified Ford shift handle and was totally rebuilt by Mark at Toploader Heaven.
The rear end is a Lincoln Versailles 9" 3.00 gear limited slip with disc brakes.  The front end has factory disc brakes as well.
Just one of many neat things that have been done to this car.  It is a blast driving this car.

Body: Body was partially stripped, primed, blocked and painted with two stage urethane. Base coat, clear coat.
The paint is very slick and just beautiful to look at. Floor pans are solid ,doors, quarter panels, fenders, trunk,
hood are just great.  If you are looking for a very solid car and has been restored to high standards this is it!
The chrome bumpers and all of the emblems and the window moldings are new or have been restored to
new condition.  All of the weather stripping has been replaced.  New front and rear glass.

Interior: Interior has been restored just like the rest of the car. From new dash pad to the new carpet ,door panels,
headliner, kick panels, scuff plates, sunvisors, mirrors, door handles, window handles, TMI sport seats,
Grant wood steering wheel, arm rest and just like the body and the motor compartment nothing
was left to do but enjoy the car.

Other: The tires are new and the wheels are new Magnum 500's.
The tire size are BFG 235/60R15s on the rear and 215s on the front with 15x7 Magnum 500 wheels.

Inquiries can be sent to: fastback65gt@aol.com

If you like my Mustang, check out my 1st place pickup truck here at
Phil's Ranger 4.0 4:10

Images and information are not to be copied or reproduced without written permission from Phil Pignon.
(C) Copyright 2009, 2010, 2011, Phil Pignon