Today on Ford Mustang: The Early Years, we’re diving into the journey of a lifelong Mustang dream—centered on a 1965 Fastback that’s evolved through multiple rebuilds, setbacks, and reinventions. From a rough Craigslist purchase with questionable prior work, to a budget-minded daily driver, to a full-blown high-horsepower street-and-track build, this story captures the heart of Mustang ownership: passion, persistence, and the emotional pull of a car that just won’t let go. It’s a testament to the imperfect, personal, and ever-evolving first-gen Mustang—Vik Day, welcome to the show.

Vik Day - today's guest

He bought his dream car—a 1965 Mustang Fastback—in December 2018, nearly 20 years after first wanting one. Before that, he’d owned and driven performance cars like a Porsche 996 GT3, an air-cooled 911, and even a 1970 Bronco he quickly sold. But he kept coming back to the pull of a first-gen Mustang. He found a Wimbledon White Fastback on Craigslist in Denver. He shipped it to Texas, only to discover it was far rougher than advertised: a non-original T-code car with a tired 289, questionable mechanical work, unsafe wiring, poor rust repairs, and dangerously low oil pressure. Still, it had a beautiful red deluxe pony interior and working factory R12 A/C—enough to justify saving it.

He began by prioritizing safety and drivability with upgraded brakes, suspension components, fuel and brake lines, a clutch conversion, and a full electrical cleanup, choosing not to rebuild the original engine since it was already near the end of its life. He then installed a budget-friendly Blueprint 302 with Holley Sniper EFI to create a reliable daily driver that made strong rear-wheel power and sounded great, but the engine suffered a catastrophic bearing failure after just 6,500 miles, leading to a warranty rebuild and months of downtime. Now he’s fully committed to building the ultimate dual-purpose Mustang—comfortable enough for street use and a car seat, yet capable on track in Houston heat—with a 507-hp Ford Racing 363, TKX transmission, upgraded suspension, steering, chassis stiffening, and supporting hardware. Along the way, he tested his loyalty by buying other Mustangs, including a pristine Rangoon Red ’65 Fastback and a high-school-dream Foxbody, but kept coming back to the original T-code; despite its flaws, it remains his favorite, and he plans to complete the latest evolution, or is he?

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An Expert’s Guide to Maintaining Your Classic Mustang

www.TheMustangPodcast.com/repair

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Email Doug: doug@turnkeypodcast.com

"Keep it safe, keep it rollin’, and keep it on the road. Until next time!"

Doug Sandler

"My 67 mustang has always been my dream car. It's a Mustang coupe 289 with a C4 transmission, power steering, power brakes, and deluxe interior. I've owned it for 3 years already and I have done extensive work to get it to where I want it to be. The Mustang is mostly up to my standards but the work never ends on these cars. Currently I'm working on the front floors and going to add factory style AC to it." Edgar, welcome to the podcast.

Connect with the show:

@mustangpodcast

https://www.instagram.com/mustangpodcast/

An Expert’s Guide to Maintaining Your Classic Mustang

www.TheMustangPodcast.com/repair

Sponsored by: National Parts Depot

www.npdlink.com

With 4 warehouses nationwide, you’ll get your parts fast!

Email Doug: doug@turnkeypodcast.com

"Keep it safe, keep it rollin’, and keep it on the road. Until next time!"

Doug Sandler

MotorCity Grind IG Page

https://www.instagram.com/motorcitygrind17/

Connect with the show:

@mustangpodcast

https://www.instagram.com/mustangpodcast/

An Expert’s Guide to Maintaining Your Classic Mustang

www.TheMustangPodcast.com/repair

Sponsored by: National Parts Depot

www.npdlink.com

With 4 warehouses nationwide, you’ll get your parts fast!

Email Doug: doug@turnkeypodcast.com

"Keep it safe, keep it rollin’, and keep it on the road. Until next time!"

Doug Sandler