A pivotal year for the Mustang was 1967, when the car grew for the first time with a wider track, and received sculptured lines, a richer interior, and optional big-block power. Most '67 Mustangs were produced with the 289 two-barrel and four-barrel small-blocks, while the minority received 200ci sixes. When buyers wanted a substantial increase in power, they didn't order the 289 High Performance with 271 hp on tap. Instead, they ordered 100 more cubic inches in the 320hp 390 High Performance.
The 390 was a big step in displacement for Mustang buyers. Lifting the hood was a rush because the big FE filled the engine bay from tower to tower-good for the ego, bad for the mechanic, who struggled to find room for hands and tools. What made the 390 Hi-Po good for Mustang buyers was that subtle but certain application of torque when the accelerator was pressed. The 390 was nothing like the Camaro's 396ci big-block-a high-revving screamer that hauled Chevy's ponycar down the quarter-mile in short order. Ford's 390 Hi-Po was more reserved, coming on strong quietly with a soft exhaust burble when the butterflies were pinned. The 390 High Performance was a well-mannered gentleman in a lightweight package.
Did you know the greatest number of certifiable Mustang nuts call Pennsylvania home? Tony Hoffeditz is one of them. Subtle yet certain is what Tony Hoffeditz's Dark Moss Green '67 Mustang fastback is all about. It is not equipped with the GT Equipment Group. Inside is the standard Mustang interior in black vinyl with bucket seats. A quick scan of the instrument bezel shows nothing out of the ordinary, with standard instrumentation without the tachometer. On the ground are Styled Steel wheels with Coker Redline radials. Underhood is the centerpiece of Tony's Mustang-Ford's 390 High Performance sporting 320 hp.
Tony's Mustang fastback is a terrific boulevard cruiser because it has plenty of snap on demand. It's a ride people want to see and explore when it's parked with the hood open, yet something that didn't stand out significantly when the car was new. Therein lies the strange irony associated with Tony's fastback-an ordinary Mustang with an extraordinary option.
When you take the wheel of Tony's fastback, it yields an unexpected driving experience due to the abundant torque on demand. Lean on the accelerator and you hasten smartly onto the turnpike. Reaching 60 mph is easy. Put the pedal to the metal at 60 mph, the C6 Select-Shift downshifts, and you accelerate quickly to 100 mph. This is where the 390 outshines its smaller Mustang power cousins, including the 289 Hi-Po. Call it an unusual level of power in a very usual Mustang.