The world’s best-selling sports car, the Mustang has been an integral part of the motoring landscape since its big reveal at the New York World’s Fair in 1964. Indeed, the story of the ’Stang is a pretty incredible one: still available as a new model today, it’s America’s best-selling sports car of the last fifty years, and in late 2018 the ten-millionth Mustang rolled off the production line at the Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Michigan. Since officially going on sale in the UK in 2016, over 7,000 new Mustangs have found homes here as well as 40,000 across Europe, so it’s fair to say we’re starting to climb on the bandwagon, but it’s undeniable that the Mustang is part of the cultural bedrock of America. 

The original pony car has always been a pretty diverse offering too; right from its early days you could specify it as a saloon or a convertible, with a racy fastback arriving in the line-up to really tap into teenage drag-race dreams. The model’s fortunes have been a little up-and-down over the generations, with the Fox-body Mustangs of the 1980s and the polarising Mustang II dividing opinion, but on the whole it’s been a relentless success. Fast, practical, reliable motoring for the masses, with sporting intent and race heritage woven throughout.

The earliest cars, built between the 1964-and-a-half and 1966 model years, are the go-to choice for certain collectors seeking genesis status, although many prefer the 1967-68 cars, like the one we have before the lens today. You see, the ’67 model year saw a major redesign, akin to photocopying the original car at 110%. Every significant proportion of the car was enlarged ever-so-slightly – not so much that you’d notice unless you parked the old and new cars side-by-side, but the change was significant: above all, it allowed the big-block V8 engines to sit between those inner wings. The cabin space and the boot were consequently more spacious too, and the styling was refreshed with the introduction of the much-admired concave taillights and rakish side scoops. And while the fastback may be the car many hanker for to fulfil their Bullitt daydreams, it’s this three-box notchback body style that represents the archetypal Mustang profile.

The story of this Mustang is one of rebirth. We can’t speculate on the first half-century of its lifespan, as it’s quite simply an unknown – aside from a little detective work with the VIN number, that is, which shows us that it’s a 1967 New Jersey-built car, originally fitted with the 2-valve 289ci V8. (You’ll also note the GTA badges; GT spec included such upgrades as power disc front brakes and grille-mounted fog lights, while the A denoted the automatic transmission.) But what we can be sure of is that it’s a rock-solid and honest example with many tales to tell. 

The seller, in fact, started his own relationship with this car by weaving a fairly rambunctious narrative across the freeways and backroads of North America. Having purchased the car sight-unseen online, he then flew out from the UK to Texas to meet his new Ford. As the car was being sold by a third party, he wasn’t able to glean any specific details of the car’s history in terms of its originality, provenance, service records or geographical pinpoints, but what he did know was that it had recently received a full and sympathetic restoration, the drivetrain was tastefully upgraded and running like a Swiss watch, and the car was complete and ready to rock. A point which it neatly proved straight away: the gleeful new owner proceeded to take the Mustang on a two-week road trip across America. He drove to the Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans, found himself cruising into a huge car show in Knoxville, and took in Nashville, Philadelphia, and on to New York, where the car was then shipped to Britain.   

The owner has kept the car largely as-bought over the last six years, simply making a few gentle upgrades where he saw fit. The standard steering wheel has been swapped for a prettier wood-rim Mota-Lita item, while the taillights have been upgraded to LEDs to ensure that following cars can safely see the brake lights illuminate – this is a neat retrofit which would be simple to return to standard. A new fuel tank was also fitted, not because there was anything specifically wrong with the original but simply for the sake of belt-and-braces. The car has been correctly and regularly serviced and maintained. It is MOT exempt, although the owner has still had it MOT’d every year for peace of mind; the most recent MOT expired in April, and the sole reason for non-renewal has been the Covid-19 situation – he is happy to renew it before this sale is completed. This is a beloved and cherished car, which is only being sold as the owner has recently completed ‘The Knowledge’ and will be replacing it with an EV taxi.

The overall condition of this Mustang is superb – if a buyer was looking for a complete and immediately usable ’67 with a few period-appropriate modifications, there’s little better on the UK market. It’s a car that wants for little and could immediately be pressed into service for high days and holidays or, if your pockets are deep enough to cover the fuel bills, boisterous daily driving. It’s not quite at the level of being a concours trophy winner, owing to a handful of minor body imperfections as detailed below, but it’s certainly not a Mustang to be afraid of – there are no hidden horrors, it’s a solid and decent car that’s ready to be used.

The paintwork has a beautiful finish, its lipstick-red having a deep lustre and no signs of fading or spidering. The bodywork is remarkably straight with superb panel gaps, and appears to be entirely solid from external inspection. The only blemishes are a number of rust bubbles under the paint along the edge of the bootlid (below the spaced MUSTANG lettering), as well as similar bubbles beneath the paint on either door beneath the white side-stripes. There are also paint imperfections on the lower body behind each rear wheel, and a few very small chips – most notably on the driver-side edge of the boot and the driver-side side scoops.

Under-bonnet presentation is pleasing, with no evidence of leaking fluids or excess grime of ages. It’s a very tidy and thoughtfully upgraded unit, the 289ci (4.7-litre) small-block V8 benefitting from MSD ignition, a Holley four-barrel carburettor on an Edelbrock Performer manifold, and aluminium heads with Cobra rocker covers. The original VIN plate is in place, and the presence of the period FoMoCo advice sticker is an endearing detail.

The interior is a particularly joyful place to be, with the supportive seats showing no sign of sagging and wearing their retrim beautifully. A new carpet is complemented by Mustang-branded overmats. The seats recline as they should for rear access, and the windows wind up and down correctly. The steering wheel is a new Mota-Lita item. The stereo is an original Mustang-branded radio, the dash clocks are beautifully presented, and the mileage is reading 94,161 – although, of course, we can take this with a pinch of salt given the various unknowns of the car’s early life. The only minor blemish concerning the interior is the rear parcel shelf, which is slightly cracked in the corners beside the retro-fit speakers. The dash-top is nice and straight with no signs of sun damage. 

The boot is dry and solid, with the spare wheel and tool kit in place along with a period-correct dealer sticker outlining jack usage. In the glovebox, you’ll find the original owner’s manual from when it was first purchased back in 1967.

The underside of the car appears to be in good and solid order, with no corrosion visible in the sills and no signs of impact damage. There are no visible fluid leaks, and the suspension components and brake lines appear to be in good order.

The defining characteristic of a 1960s Mustang is surely its V8 heart, and this is certainly a good one. The 289ci features healthy upgrades to fuelling and ignition, and the noise is enough to win the heart of any muscle car fan: a malevolent rumble at idle, and a raucous bellow under load. 

The motor fires up on the first turn of the key and sets to an even idle; on the move, it revs cleanly and provides exactly the sort of thrust you’d expect. It’s a solid and dependable engine, with no leaks, knocks or rattles. The car also benefits from an immobiliser and tracker.

The automatic transmission in the Mustang is a C4 3-speed, a hardy and robust unit, and this one selects smoothly and shifts at the right times with no issues. The chassis is similarly trouble-free, with no worries from the power-assisted steering, the brakes or suspension – everything behaves as you’d expect and nothing is unduly worn. All four tyres are recent and have plenty of tread, and are wrapped around a wonderful set of American Racing wheels with just a touch of patina to the centre caps. If you’ve driven a Mustang of this era, you’ll know what to expect – the handling isn’t the last word in precision, but it isn’t meant to be; this is a classic slice of Americana which was designed to fulfil two roles at once – to be a comfortable cruiser when you want it to, underpinned by the firepower to hold its own on the dragstrip if required. Blood-and-thunder grunt, with an undercurrent of cosseting finesse. Not a scalpel, but not a sledgehammer either… it is, quite simply, a Mustang. And a jolly decent one at that. 

The Ford Mustang is a car which has enjoyed an enduring appeal right back to its inception in 1964 – and with such a lengthy production run across numerous distinct generations, its appeal keeps on coming in waves. The early cars are particularly sought after today, with collectors pondering whether to take the plunge on a 1964.5 original, or the updated 1967 model (or, often, both). The growing popularity of the modern (S550) model in the UK and Europe has fuelled enthusiasm yet further – the new-wave interpretation of the formula pays sterling tribute to the Mustangs of the 1960s, so it’s not too much of a logical leap to arrive at the conclusion that an actual 1960s Mustang must be even more satisfying.

Buying a Mustang, then, is as much about fulfilling a dream as it is acquiring a machine… but, of course, it’s important that you buy the right one, so that your dream doesn’t manifest itself simply as a pretty ornament. This well-specced and superbly presented 1967 GTA ticks a whole lot of boxes: it’s got the iconic small-block Windsor V8 with a few tasty upgrades to ensure it always plasters a smile across your face. It has a fabulous and period-perfect interior, making every drive feel like you’re in a movie. And best of all, the mechanicals are dependable and reliable, with nothing to worry about throughout the chassis. This is a pretty and eye-catching Mustang which is ready for you to jump straight into and take on an epic road trip. That’s precisely what the last owner did. The next adventure is entirely your own...