8. Larger-Diameter Wheels and Bigger Tires
This is a popular upgrade that makes a car look and drive better. And, if you so desire, you can quickly go back to the original wheels and tires you had to begin with. Across the board, a 16-inch wheel is the ideal diameter for any '65-'73 Mustang, such as the 16x8-inch Vintage 45s shown on the '69 fastback on the first page of this story. Staying with a 15-inch wheel, such as the popular American Racing Torq-Thrust D, on a '65-'66 car is usually an easier fit. A '67-'73 Mustang can easily accommodate a 17-inch wheel, as shown on the '67 fastback here, as long as wheel offset is correct and the tire isn't too large. Also consider factory-style wheels like a Styled Steel or a Magnum 500 in larger 15- and 16-inch diameters available from a variety of manufacturers and parts houses.
As for tire sizes, our experience has shown that on a 16-inch wheel, 225/50R16, 245/50R16, and 255/50R16 tires fit well on '67 and newer cars, while several sizes fit nicely on 15-inch wheels for '65-'66, including 215/60R15s, 225/50R15s, and 205/55R15s. For 17s, a 245/45R17 like on the '67 shown here is a good size. Of course, any make of modern radial tire will be considerably better than the bias-ply skins used in the '60s and '70s.
9. Mild Interior Upgrades
Driver comfort can be improved greatly with different seats and a new steering wheel. Aftermarket wheels from LeCarra or Grant are popular choices. Better seats are available from many manufacturers, and you can also fit factory seats from a newer Mustang into a vintage car. Fox-body Mustang GT seats in a '65 coupe are a good example. Also consider power windows if you're not concerned about factory-appearing door panels.
10. EFI Conversion
Although this isn't one you'd likely change back to stock, factory EEC IV EFI conversions in vintage Mustangs have been popular for nearly a decade. Look for info on this subject in our sister magazine, Mustang & Fords. When combined with an overdrive trans, an EFI transplant in a vintage Pony always wows the crowd at any cruise night. And it's a real treat on the road, too. We suspect the majority of our readers wouldn't do this to an extensively restored or original early Mustang. But why not save the restored car for the judged show circuit and have another car restomodded for the street and highway? If a late-model Ford EEC IV EFI in a vintage Mustang piques your interest, DB Performance Engineering and Windsor-Fox Performance Engineering are both well known resources.