Grandpa Would Approve – A Modern Take on a 1966 Mustang by Vintage Fabrications
The old saying “don’t look a gift horse in the mouth” takes on a different meaning when the gift horse is a 1966 Mustang. Kyle Kupchin’s grandfather restored all types of old cars, but his favorite was always a fastback Mustang. When he gave Kyle a ’66 fastback, Kyle knew exactly what he wanted to do with the car.
“My goal was to do a resto-mod and go above and beyond,” Kyle says. That meant creating a vintage Gulf Racing-themed Mustang with modern Coyote power. Working with the team at Vintage Fabrications in Independence, Missouri, the goal was achieved in bold fashion.
The Gulf blue-and-orange paint scheme is an obvious giveaway to the racing vibe on this 1966 Mustang. The finish covers extensive body modifications that include steel wheel flares, a carbon fiber hood and front end, twin fuel fillers, as well as custom front and rear spoilers.
The modern 5.0-liter Coyote V8 cranks out 430 horsepower and is connected to a five-speed Tremec manual transmission. The front suspension is a Heidt’s Super Ride system; a Heidt’s four-link system controls the rearend. Big-inch Wilwood disc brakes are mounted on all four corners and are connected to 18×8- and 20×10-inch Forgeline H13X wheels wrapped in sticky Michelin Pilot rubber.
Vintage Fabrication and McLin Paint Works joined forces on the substantial modifications to the Mustang body. The Vintage Fabrication team handled the metal-shaping work, while McLin’s team smoothed the body and applied the racing livery using Axalta paint. Flush-mounted front and rear glass, Kindig door handles, LED headlights, and Ringbrothers taillights are among the many exterior upgrades.
The team at Vintage Fabrications handled the interior work that includes Classic Instruments gauges mounted in a modified dash, with a competition-style tach mounted to the right of the gauge cluster. A Billet Specialties steering wheel sits on a Flaming River tilt column. The black Recaro seats feature fiber steel inserts as well as a continuation of the Gulf blue-and-orange theme with two-color accents on the seats and door panels. The custom console features a digital screen, cup holders, as well as other control switches. Pedals and handles are from Ringbrothers, while the rear of the cabin is home to a roll cage and a creative y-shaped fuel filler neck leading from the dual fuel fillers to the tank.
The 1966 Mustang made its debut last fall at the SEMA Show and this year is spending time on the road as Kyle enjoys it. Did the finished ride meet his goals? “I think we did just that,” he says. “It has been a joy getting it put together and wouldn’t have been done without the help of the team at Vintage Fabrication.”
Photos by John Jackson
