1965 Ford Mustang Fastback - K-Code Restoration

1965 Ford Mustang Fastback

Full RestorationCompleted August 2025

The Story

Sarah inherited this rare K-Code Mustang from her father. The car had been driven regularly until 2010, then stored improperly. Despite the storage damage, this matching-numbers Hi-Po 289 car was worth saving. Sarah wanted to honor her father's memory with a proper restoration.

Challenges

Rust bubbling through original paint in multiple areas
Hi-Po 289 running rough with low compression
Original pony interior faded and cracked
Rear quarters showing rust-through at wheel wells
Numbers-matching engine required careful documentation

Solutions

Media blasted body to bare metal, repaired rust with proper metalwork
Rebuilt original Hi-Po 289 maintaining numbers-matching status
Sourced correct date-coded interior components for restoration
Fabricated lower quarter panel sections maintaining original stampings
Photographed and documented all serial numbers before disassembly

Before Restoration

Quarter panel rust — Rust damage at rear quarters

Transformation

After Restoration

Hi-Po 289 engine — Numbers-matching Hi-Po 289 rebuilt

Restoration Process

Quarter panel metalwork — Fabricating quarter panel sections

Engine assembly — Assembling rebuilt Hi-Po 289

Interior installation — Installing restored pony interior

What Sarah Thompson Says

“Dad would have loved what Frank did with his Mustang. The attention to keeping everything numbers-matching while making it reliable enough to actually drive means everything to me. Frank understood this was more than just a car.”

— Sarah Thompson

Ready to Start Your Project?

Get a free quote and let's discuss how we can bring your classic car vision to life.