Any enthusiast will tell you that restoring a classic car from the ground up is a gargantuan task. Resto-modding one, meaning installing modern components while retaining a period-correct vintage look, is even more difficult, but that’s exactly what a Florida-based company called Revology has done with the first-gen Mustang.
The transformation begins either with an original Mustang body that has been fully restored or with a brand new body built by Dynacorn. Visually, Revology’s Mustang looks mostly stock but it gains LED lights on both ends and reverse lights neatly integrated into the rear fascia. Buyers can pick whether they want a fastback or a convertible, and they can choose to have it painted in any color offered by the Blue Oval over the last 50 years.
The story is different under the skin, where Revology has largely re-engineered the original pony car. A McPherson suspension system up front and a three-link setup out back improve handling, while power steering helps make the ‘Stang easy to maneuver into even the tightest spaces.
The cockpit has been spruced up with a long list of 21st century bells and whistles including Bluetooth connectivity, LED map lights and a set of retro-inspired gauges with LED lighting. A power-adjustable driver’s seat and remote keyless entry both come standard, and buyers can order the Mustang with a USB port at an extra cost. The port is, of course, located out of sight to preserve the period-correct look.
Power comes from a 302-cubic inch Windsor V8 engine sourced from the Ford parts bin. Fitted with electronic fuel injection, the eight-cylinder mill sends 265 horsepower and 300 foot-pounds of torque to the rear wheels via either a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic unit. Power-assisted disc brakes on all four corners bring the action to a stop.
To put the aforementioned figures into perspective, the Mustang’s base engine at launch was a 170-cubic inch straight-six unit fed with a single-barrel carburetor that churned out 106 horsepower and 156 foot-pounds of torque.
Revology has not published performance figures, but it promises that its Mustang is capable of returning 18 mpg while burning premium unleaded.
Driving an resto-modded early Mustang hand-built by professionals doesn’t come cheap. Road & Track reports that Revology’s Mustang fastback retails for $119,500, while the topless model costs $122,000. To sweeten the deal, the car comes with a 100,000-mile powertrain warranty that covers the engine, the transmission and the differential.
