Automobiles have come a long way since 1965. Those creature comforts that used to be options, like air conditioning, cruise control, stereo sound, and even seatbelts, have become standard equipment today. As a result, we've become accustomed to them in our daily lives. This is probably why most of you can't conceive of driving a classic Mustang on a daily basis.
Years ago, many of us drove our vintage Mustangs every day, which is probably why few of us are now driving them daily. We remember the really crummy four-wheel manual drum brakes that pulled in hard braking, muscle-wrenching manual steering, leaky Bendix power steering, uncomfortable bucket seats, no safety features, lap belts instead of three-point safety belts, road boom and wind noise, poor fuel economy, hit-and-miss performance, and occasional roadside assistance.
We're convinced that if you're reading this article, you have more than a passing interest in driving your older Mustang daily. Or maybe you are already driving it every day, wondering how to get to your destination without the shortcomings remembered from high school and college. So what to do? For one thing, you can incorporate a lot of modern features and creature comforts into your vintage Mustang without losing the car's original personality. It is called restomod-nice, constructive improvements to your early Mustang-achievable without the loss of the car's classic lines or value. These improvements make an early Mustang nicer to drive on a regular basis.
Drive It Every Day!When you consider the way our Mustangs were originally equipped, it's a wonder we survived to reminisce about the good old days. In the Mustang's first four years, the breed lacked good safety equipment. Seatbelts were optional in 1965, before becoming federally-mandated standard equipment in 1966, as did back-up lights. Additional dash padding and collapsible steering columns didn't arrive until 1967-'68. Shoulder belts showed up in 1968. And air bags? Forget it.
If you're going to drive your Mustang daily, you should do what it takes to make the car safer. Lap belts, for example, will keep you inside the vehicle in an accident. But they won't protect your torso and face from injury. Daily drivers need three-way passenger-restraint belts from Custom Auto Accessories. Three-way belts are easy to install and are safer than lap belts. Also from Custom Auto Accessories are bolt-on headrests for '65-'67 Mustang bucket seats. They are designed to protect your head and neck in a collision.
If your daily driver is a '65-'69 Mustang, it's a good idea to determine the structural integrity of the bucket seats. These seats have a history of broken seatbacks, which cause the driver to fall into the back seat when the seatback breaks. If you're having the seats reupholstered, make sure they are structurally reinforced before the upholstery goes on. Also, if you have one of the '68 Mustangs without headrests, install a set of bucket seats with headrests. You can also pick up a set of '69 Mustang bucket seats, which are identical to '68 seats, but with the headrests.
Underneath, your Mustang needs front-disc brakes and a dual-braking system. It also should have stiffer springs and gas shocks for better handling. If possible, opt for wider wheels and tires to help handling. If you want to keep an original appearance, Specialty Wheels offers a variety of wider and taller Styled Steel and Magnum 500s. You want a daily driver that handles well so you can steer safely out of trouble. Being able to stop on a dime is critical too.