A homage to the world’s most famous movie car
Beautiful Fastback with the mighty 390 engine
With its current owner in Vienna for almost ten years
Regularly driven and maintained
By the time Ford revised the Mustang for the 1967 model year in the autumn of 1966, its surprise success had long since become an institution. More than a million examples had already been sold, but the competition was not standing still. Chevrolet in particular entered the fray with the Camaro, a serious new rival. The Mustang therefore needed to grow up – and, above all, make room for more engine.
The body grew in both width and length, giving the Mustang a stronger, more muscular appearance. This particularly suited the Fastback, still officially known as the “2+2 Fastback”. Its long roofline, flowing all the way to the tail, now featured distinctive side vents, while the front became broader and more purposeful. Inside came a redesigned dashboard and additional comfort options. The Mustang was no longer merely a pretty pony car; by now it could be specified to a surprisingly luxurious standard.
What really mattered, however, was what would fit beneath the bonnet. For the first time, the Mustang could be ordered with the 390-cubic-inch V8 from Ford’s FE engine family. From its 6.4 litres, Ford officially claimed 320 SAE hp and an enormous helping of torque. At last, the Mustang had a proper big block. It naturally did not become any more light-footed in the process, but at least overtaking required rather less deliberation.
Below that, the choice remained broad, ranging from the economical straight-six through various 289 V8s to the new 390 GT. The GT package added, among other things, a sportier suspension set-up, front disc brakes and the appropriate visual embellishments.
The 390 Fastback therefore illustrates the Mustang’s transformation particularly well. Within just a few years, the affordable and handsome sporting coupé had developed into a fully fledged muscle car. Still elegant enough for the boulevard, but now with sufficient cubic capacity to disappear from it very quickly should the occasion arise.
This Ford Mustang Fastback came from Berlin to Vienna in 2017 and makes no secret of its famous inspiration. Finished in “Dark Highland Green”, its appearance inevitably recalls the Mustang Steve McQueen hurled through the streets of San Francisco in the 1968 film “Bullitt”. It would be difficult to choose a more famous role model.
The resemblance does not stop with the looks. Beneath the bonnet sits a mighty 390-cubic-inch big-block V8 displacing around 6.4 litres – the very engine specification associated with the movie Mustang. Appropriately, the Fastback sits onMagnum Styled Steel Wheels, which should settle any remaining questions about the family resemblance.
Since arriving in Vienna, however, the Mustang has not been relegated to the role of mere showpiece. Its owner has driven it regularly and had it maintained accordingly. This large-engined American has therefore been allowed to do what a big-block Fastback was intended to do. After all, it would be rather a shame to keep 6.4 litres of engine in the garage merely to look at it.
Today, this Mustang presents as a coherent classic with unmistakable inspiration: Fastback bodywork, Dark Highland Green and the mighty 390 big block. That its role model actually belonged to the 1968 model year hardly matters. Anyone seeing this Mustang is unlikely to think of model years first.
They will think of Steve McQueen, San Francisco and one of the most famous car chases in film history.