DIY Network

1965 Mustang Restoration: Salvage Parts for Collector Cars At the salvage yard, one man's junk can truly be another man's treasure. From "Classic Car Restoration" episode DCR-505

Continuing with the restoration of our 1965 Mustang Fastback, Steve Magnante visits the Memory Lane Collector Car Dismantlers salvage yard in southern California to see what kinds of parts are available for classic car restorations. There Steve finds Mustang parts as well as other Ford — and even Lincoln — parts that can also be used on Mustangs. Steve also offers some tips for seeking out those much needed original parts that are part of any full-fledged automotive restoration.

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Mustang Mania Revisited

In the mid-1960s, the original concept of the Mustang was not much more than a sporty version of Ford's popular Falcon. But the response to the car was so overwhelming that the Mustang became one of the most successful and enduring models in automotive history. Our 1965 Mustang fastback was not only a part of that history, but the fastback design itself gave Ford a new image and a way to introduce performance models into the Mustang lineup.

Introduced in September of 1965 as the "Fastback 2+2", referring to the 2 seats in the front and 2 in the rear, the fastback design was also used that year for the GT model and for Carroll Shelby's Shelby GT 350, one of today's most sought-after classics.

While Mustangs are commonly seen in salvage yards, finding an original fastback "parts car" will likely not be as easy, since that particular Mustang variation is so popular among restoration enthusiasts and hot-rodders. When seeking out original parts for your Mustang restoration, keep in mind that other Mustangs, as well as other cars from the Ford stable, may have parts that you can substitute.

	The lines of the new generation of Mustangs, redesigned around the turn of the millenium, represent something of a return to the classic '60s look.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

While it is true that almost every body part on a Mustang is available in reproduction, you can still get good deals in the salvage yard. And even if you don't find what you're looking for, a trip to the salvage yard can be a great automotive history lesson.

If you're doing a restoration on your car, you'll need parts. Memory Lane, has more than 1,000 pre-1974 rust-free cars and trucks ready to yield those kinds of parts. With a little research, you should be able to find a reputable salvage yard in your area that may become a sort of "gold mine" as you tackle your restoration project.

Memory Lane, unlike some self-service yards, don't really want you to bring tools in. They have staff members who will pull the parts for you. The reason is, in some cases, in their haste to get to a part, customers may damage one part while trying to remove another. The beauty of a full-service yard is that they'll extract the part or section that you need, so you don't have to buy a whole car just for a few parts. Most salvage yards these days will also take phone or internet orders, retrieve the part and ship it directly to you.

Salvage yards can be a great resource for locating vintage auto parts. Check salvage parts carefully before you buy, as most come with no warranty.

If you decide to conduct your own search in person, it's helpful to know that most salvage yards are divided into makes and even models to make it easier to search for cars and parts. This is particularly helpful since similar models often have parts that are interchangeable with one another.

In the Ford section at Memory Lane, we found a lot of Mustangs, but keep in mind that every '60s-era Ford Fairlane or Falcon potentially has parts that we can use on our car. For instance, engines, transmissions, rear axles, leaf springs, coil springs, in some cases even windshields. So even though the Mustang that you need may not be here, the Fairlane or the Falcon could be a source of parts.

The same holds true for the bigger Fords, even Lincolns, in some cases, have parts that hot rodders can use in their Mustang hot rods.

When you do find something, it's important to check the part thoroughly. Used parts are typically sold "as is" and do not come with warranties. Pass on anything that will take too much time and money to restore.

RESOURCES :

Special resources for DIY's Classic Car Restoration 500 series: 1965 Mustang

Mustang Club of America
www.mustang.org

Mustang Central
vintage Mustang parts
www.mustangcentral.com

Motorbooks Publishing
www.motorbooks.com

Class-Tech-Cars
www.class-tech-cars.com

Holley Performance Products
www.holley.com

Flowmaster Exhaust Products
www.flowmastermufflers.com

Genuine Hot Rod Hardware
www.genuinehotrod.com

Revelation Racing Supply
www.rrs-online.com

National Parts Depot
www.npdlink.com

Classic Auto Air
www.classicautoair.com

Pertronix Performance Products
www.pertronix.com

Stainless Steel Brake Corp.
www.ssbrakes.com

Painless Performance Products
www.painlessperformance.com

Loctite Products
www.henkel.com

Paintucation
www.paintucation.com

Dupli-Color Paints
www.duplicolor.com

Norton Abrasives
www.nortonabrasives.com

Dremel Tools
www.dremel.com

Classic High Performance Audio
Product: audio equipment

Direct Source
www.the-direct-source.com
Product: stereo electronic equipment

Dakota Digital Instruments
www.dakotadigital.com
Product: digital dashboard

Mustang Project
www.mustangproject.com
Product: LED sequential taillight system

Memory Lane Collector Car Dismantlers
vintage and salvage auto parts
www.oldautoparts.com