And now, time for something new from the, “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should” department. But creativity, and go your own way, has always been at the root of hot-rodding going back to at least the late ’40s. But a pony car into a station wagon? Well, that’s a different twist. Want to take a closer look? Here you go, a 1966 Ford Mustang station wagon, located in San Diego, California and available here on craigslist for $8,900. Thanks to Taylor W. for sending in this most unusual find!
Ford’s Mustang has been through some twists and turns over its storied history but it has mostly stayed true to its pony car origins. As of late, Ford is pushing further into the future with their planned Mustang Mach-E; two more doors, and a whole new power source under the hood. Logical move? We’ll see. Even if it is, it shouldn’t dilute the demand, and passion, for the traditional performance-oriented pony.
Our 1966 example car didn’t add additional doors but has undergone a transformation that seems more in keeping with the lines of a Kammback, the profile reminds me, momentarily, of the Chevrolet Vega wagon, momentarily. The images aren’t very comprehensive so it’s hard to get a good look at the bodywork and the seller gives no description as to how it was done. Based on what’s visible, I can’t tell if a notchback or a fastback was the donor, not that it really matters. The customization looks OK but if I were interested in this creation, I would really want to eyeball it closely. The seller suggests that this Muswagon needs paint, all the more reason to closely examine the bodywork. If it’s not done well, new paint will tell the story.
Exterior modifications of this nature require a similar effort inside. From what can be seen, it is finished off and looks reasonable, but again, I’m searching for more details. The seller mentions that a roll bar has been installed and it is visible through the rear hatch.
The passenger compartment is straight-up Mustang and mostly original in appearance. The driver’s seat needs to be reupholstered and the kick panel is missing, but beyond that, it looks OK. The seller mentions that the steering wheel is a Shelby piece but the rim is looking shaky. Is that an original Mustang radio? Can’t tell for sure.
No “E” power under the hood of this custom, it’s Ford Windsor all the way. But which Ford Windsor? The seller claims, “High Performance small block-runs good – headers, dual exhaust all the way out the back, Edelbrock, 4 bbl,…” Research tells us that Ford offered a 200, 225, and 271 HP, 289 CI V8 engine in ’66 but this one may not be original. Whatever the case, it’s connected to a three-speed, automatic transmission.
There is an image of a “flamed” hood included in the listing but it doesn’t appear to be the one that is currently installed, again hard to tell as the images aren’t that revealing. It would seem that this Ford will have limited appeal, made more so by the price. It’s interesting, sort of; creativity and customization skills are always a welcomed automotive trait. What do you think, did this customization effort nail it, or would fighting the creative urge and keeping this ’66 Mustang, as Ford intended, made more sense?
Always hard to see what’s under that primer, if it wasn’t done correctly you’re just buying some parts. Better pic out in the light would be helpful too. Have to say rear hatch seems thought out although no struts in place.
$3500 would be a great place to start with
I will send the link to my son. US Navy returning to San Diego this Thurs 11/5/20 from a 9 month covid filled deployment in Guam. He’s a Mustang guy all the way, sure he’d at least look at it for entertainment purposes ! Don’t think it looks bad. At least has potential depending on condition…
I’m wondering. I live east of Alpine California and theres a Mustang wagon in a yard I walk by often. I wonder if this is the same one or theres two within 25 miles of each other. That would be really weird.
I like the idea of a Mustang shooting brake, but wouldn’t it be easier to just put a Mustang front end on this Falcon and call it done?
With this generation Falcon/Fairlane (same wagon bodyshell, compromise wheelbase) you’d at least need to do a full reskin or modify the front fenders since the shutlines don’t match up, losing the Mustang side sculpting/simulated scoop ahead of the rear wheels in the process.
It’s been done multiple times on Foxbodies though. And I saw at least one MII/Pinto wagon that had been clip swapped and reskinned. That’s definitely someone who bleeds blue-oval blue since the Chevy Monza wagon was the exact same idea straight from the factory.
As a model car builder I’m putting the front clip/doors of a Mustang II onto a 79 Pinto Cruising Wagon kit
That flamed hood is on the car, it’s just hard to see the flames from the side view. Neat concept but the etched flowers on the back glass don’t really evoke the sporty feel of a Mustang. Again, as is the case most of the time “less is more.”
Whenever I see one of these I immediately think of the Jaguar hearse in Harold and Maude.
Me too. Great movie.
With no side windows, it’s more of a sedan delivery than station wagon. Putting the Mustang front on a Falcon wagon would give you a 4 door, which doesn’t go along with the Mustang image. Has potential to be quite a conversation piece and is not anywhere near the worst thing I’ve seen.
I was thinking Touring Sedan.
If you can get it at the right price and the body work was not done by my Sicilian Grandmother save it and drive something unique, great for shopping and parts chasing, paint it and you’ll have a sexy runner. No bright colors.
Was this a coupe or a convertible originally? Also is the top fiberglass or cut from something else? I think what we do have here is an absolute mess.
Donor car appears to have been a notchback from the door windows, fastbacks have curved window tops.
Tail lights? TAIL LIGHTS?! We don’t need no stinkin’ tail lights.
Looks like that eggcrate trim panel below the hatch is translucent plastic, so the tail lights are probably behind that.
Actually, there really should be a “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should” department.
Think of all the listings like this one you could group together. Plus, there seems to be an inexhaustible supply of these mutants.
Nothing says “Mini-Hearse” as much as etched flowers in the rear glass. RIP small person…
The door glass is from a coupe. You can tell because the rear upper corner is square. A fastback has a rounded corner.
Ahhhhh it is burning my eyes!
It’s done into a sedan delivery. I’ve seen one Mustang wagon, a 65, in my life and was a pretty cool job. As a wagon nut, I’d say this is cool regardless of what the popular opinion is. But then again, I never admitted to normalcy.
Ford did build wagon design concepts based on the 67.
Looks like 1 of the factory “things we could do with a Mustang” experiments. That rear plastic strip over the taillight area looks just like a pic I’ve seen in God only knows what publication (prolly Hot Rod) of Ford factory experiments. Ford did some CRAZY stuff in the 60’s. My buddy’s 4cam is proof of that.
This car is just an embarrassment…. If you want to cut and butcher something, do it to a BMW or a Subaru or something. M
I seem to recall an article on this site about a year or so ago with 4 factory Mustang wagons having been made. One was up for sale in Europe, hence the post and the history behind it. Don’t think this one is one of the factory jobs though.
I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the roof extension (it looks like the roof from the door forward is stock Mustang) is a fibreglass piece based on the finish around the hatch. The builder might have pulled a mold from a van or wagon (next to impossible to free hand that outside a factory). Where did they get the window though? It looks like a factory piece. Anyway, some nice engineering there. To bad they could’nt follow through to the finish.
The Italian coachbuilder Intermeccannica was asked by the J. Walter Johnson advertising co. to produce at least one 1965 Mustang wagon when it was new, in the hopes of gaining Ford’s favor. It is rumored that up to 4 were produced for European consumption, but the first one did come to America. A period photo attributed to this car can be seen at: http://www.thepetrolstop.com/2015/09/ford-mustang-station-wagon.html
I get what your saying but it’s a mustang….I guess it’s going to be ok when it becomes a 4 door like a charger…. Shameful!
Mark,
I hate to break the news for you, but the latest Ford show/concept car is the 4-door Electric Mustang, The E-Mustang.
There’s video out there of more than one 67/68 Mustang wagons. One, I remember was a red 67 in a mechanic shop. I thought they did a great job on it. This one would need closer inspection…
More photos from 1966 showing details of the original Intermeccannica Mustang wagon. One is an interesting photo of the back cargo area, the photo having been taken thru the windshield, thru the spokes of the steering wheel. The photo also shows the stitching of the leather covered steering wheel and spokes!
Forgot to include the link to the other photos:
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2009/03/30/intermeccanica-mustang-station-wagon-spotted-in-the-new-jersey-suburbs
Bill your bringing me down….I did previously read about that 4 door mustang… I hate 4 doors, I will not buy one including in trucks…. Even my Cadillac is a 2 door
At least it has disc brakes!