Velocity Ford Mustang review: What does a restored 1967 pony car feel like in 2024? Reviews 2024

Holy retro pony, Batman!

That’s something, isn’t it? You see a classic 1967 Ford Mustang fastback coupe. There are certainly no such things today. But they do exist, because you also see a brand new Mustang, built by Velocity Restorations, restorers of classic American cars with a modern touch.

Explain how it is being modernized.

Velocity specializes in restoring vintage cars like the Ford Mustang, Bronco, and pickup trucks, but also other vehicles like classic Chevrolet Blazers and old Scouts, to name a few. In addition to the comprehensive restoration process, Velocity updates the drivetrain, electrical system, and air conditioning with modern hardware that is likely to work.

Plus, it has some modern amenities like a Bluetooth-enabled radio or an infotainment system with a backup camera in some trim levels. There’s also custom suspension hardware, a new braking system, and a full interior restoration.

Sounds like it’s actually a brand new car.

Essentially, it is indeed a special edition with the body of a 1967 Mustang, which some people who are keen on exact authenticity might object to, so anyone who is too concerned with provenance might be better off looking elsewhere. It’s very easy to pull a real Theseus trick on this whole thing and miss the fascinating build of a car that is often viewed through rose-tinted glasses.

This particular Mustang is an example of Velocity’s “Signature” series, a trim level that includes most of the Velocity offering, with the “Street” series adding a few more luxurious touches and a few additional modern gadgets.

Under the hood is Ford’s prolific third-generation 5.0-liter Coyote V8, squeezed into an engine bay that’s far too small for it, aided by custom hardware like new headers, a radiator, etc., with the battery moved to the rear of the car due to space constraints. This 460-horsepower engine is mated to Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission, but customers can also order their car with a six-speed manual if they so desire, which they definitely should do for reasons explained later.

The whole thing rests on a custom Roadster Shop Spec chassis with a 9-inch rear axle from Ford, Fox coilover springs for the suspension, disc brakes all around from Baer and a custom fuel tank. 17-inch aluminum wheels complete the package, as does a high-performance exhaust system.

What’s it like to drive this Frankenstein monster of a Mustang?

Let’s start with a big plus: this ’67 Mustang replica is absolutely stunning. Its black paint with contrasting 17-inch aluminum wheels is both beautiful and menacing. Completed with yellow fog lights, the Mustang had a classic rugged look. Plus, it’s equipped with an engine that’s more powerful than it ever should be to back up its presence. In short, it’s a replica of the classic Mustang as we imagine it in our heads, not as it actually ran back then.

However, the mix of new parts and vintage hardware takes some time to get used to, so climbing into Velocity’s monster Mustang for the first time is fraught with trepidation. The interior is well-restored but basic, and an off-the-shelf Bluetooth radio, modern rearview mirror, and digital gauges are the only parts that give away the “mod” part of the restomod.

The window handles are electric but look like the retro cranks, and everything else works like it used to, including the lights, wipers and side mirrors that refused to stay in one place. The centerpiece is a beautiful wooden steering wheel that adds an enhanced tactile element to proceedings and makes you nostalgic for an era you probably didn’t even live through.

Upon launch, the 5.0 gives the Mustang an exciting, huge shake that feels powerful but has a nasty habit of making any components that aren’t bolted down wiggle to keep them from moving or falling off. That may sound like a quip, but most of these are charming quirks of driving a vintage car. In fact, we spent much of our time with the Velocity Mustang appreciating many of the modern car features we take for granted, while also enjoying time in a wonderfully analog vehicle that feels like a living, breathing being.

What difficulties did you encounter?

Some difficulties arose from driving a vehicle that just doesn’t handle today’s roads properly, while most of the difficulties were simply due to the learning curve of adapting to a car that is essentially a unique series of parts that don’t normally fit together. Nothing can be taken for granted. How big is the gas tank? Does that gauge even work or is it just for decoration? If so, is it calibrated correctly? The same goes for the speedometer. What brakes do I have and do they even work? This is why you sit behind the wheel and keep a close eye on everything, because you can’t take anything for granted.

Anyone who has ever driven in a classic car knows that this is normal, and fortunately the Velocity Mustang proves that it recreates the classic car experience without having to replicate it. The a part of it.

If there’s one non-quirky, old-fashioned criticism of this car, it’s the use of Ford’s 10-speed transmission, which spoils brand-new Mustangs, let alone this one. A new Mustang with that transmission is duller, behaves too frantically for sporty driving, and can’t even be used properly in manual mode. Here, it’s even worse. The transmission is hesitant, slow, and very, very clunky during routine gearshifts. The indicator shows it can be switched to manual, but it only goes into a more aggressive “Sport” mode that makes you look like someone learning to drive a rare and expensive manual transmission sports car.

Worst of all, it takes away a little of the fun of the 5.0-litre engine up front. The many gears mean it’s a pain to floor the accelerator and rev it hard because the gearbox never quite lets you go. All in all, it makes the car unnecessarily complicated to drive and is an almost unforgivable criticism of an otherwise spectacular car. All of the problems mentioned would be the fault of the driver, not the design.

What else is it like driving?

It’s a good thing the Velocity Mustang is just so damn charming. If you ignore the abysmal transmission, you have a car that just puts a smile on your face. The car’s quirks become part of its character and as you get used to them, you form a sort of bond with it. Transmission aside, the engine is still loud and sends plenty of power to the rear with frightening ease, and you quickly learn to respect the fact that all the digital safety precautions we’re used to aren’t there to bail you out.

A modern braking system and sports suspension serve more to bring such an old car up to conventional standards than to make it particularly dynamic. It manages to take a corner, but carefully, and is really fun on long stretches of country road if you roll down the windows and sing along to your favourite tunes.

In a more urban environment, driving the Mustang is a little nerve-wracking at first due to the limited visibility and lightning-fast reflexes on city streets, but we’ve found that most people are extremely respectful of the Mustang’s space. Drive it around New York, a place where everyone has seen everything, and you’ll be accosted at red lights by people who just want to talk about the car. Other drivers are happy to make room, although concessions are usually not warranted, just to take one more look at the car or shout a compliment.

There’s something special about a car that not only brings joy to you, but also to everyone else. That alone makes this Mustang worthwhile.