Mustang Prototype - Mustang "Shorty"

Mustang Prototype - Mustang "Shorty"

The Ford Mustang has never strayed from its original formula as a sporty four-seat coupe or convertible, despite evolving through myriad designs over its 52-plus year lifespan so far. Occasional concepts for two-seaters, however, have provided a curious sidebar to the pony car鈥檚 history, starting 18 months before the production Mustang arrived. The little Mustang had no chance of production, but the public didn鈥檛 know that. Nor did the public know that Ford, the month before, had green-lighted development of a low-priced sporty four-seater based on the chassis of the Falcon econocar. Its final design had been locked down that summer, and Cougar and Torino were among names considered. By that November, it was called Mustang. Even as customers were lining up to buy the new Mustang in the spring of 1964, Ford鈥檚 design department was looking at future possibilities. A photo dated April 23, just six days after the Mustang was introduced at the World鈥檚 Fair in New York, shows a clay model for a Mustang-themed two-seater.

That model went no further, but the two-seat idea resurfaced that autumn as an oddly proportioned coupe in the Ford Custom Car Caravan, which toured American auto shows to generate publicity. A 鈥淢ustang III鈥?license plate linked the car to the earlier midengine roadster, which Ford had renamed Mustang I after introducing a lightly disguised preproduction model as the 1963 Mustang II concept car. Ford had no intentions of building such a car, though, as a company representative told a potential customer, Bill Snyder, when he tried ordering one. Snyder and the Mustang III, however, would eventually reconnect. Dearborn Steel Tubing, a fabricator of prototypes and special vehicles for Ford, built the Mustang III. As a foundation, Ford provided a Mustang convertible, the ninth of 15 preproduction prototypes made, but now with 16 inches snipped from its wheelbase, giving it the 鈥渟horty Mustang鈥?nickname. The car鈥檚 V-8 was a prototype 302-cid version of Ford鈥檚 young small-block V-8.

A designer at the prototype company, Vince Gardner, created new fiberglass bodywork from the A-pillars rearward, including a short fastback roof that mimicked the production model. Any resemblance to the period鈥檚 altered-wheelbase drag-race machines cars was most likely unintended. Gardner, who also helped build the car, became quite attached to his creation. When the Mustang III returned to its builder in the spring of 1965 with instructions that it be destroyed, he stole the car, stashing it in a warehouse and building a wall to hide it. Months later, when Gardner failed to pay rent, the landlord discovered the car and notified authorities. Aetna Insurance paid the theft claim and sold the Mustang III to one of its executives, who four years later advertised it for sale in Hemmings Motor News. The buyer was Snyder, who鈥檇 tried to buy it years before. 鈥淩ecords show it was 鈥榗ommissioned by Ford,鈥欌€?said Kroplick, president of the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society. 鈥淏ut I wouldn鈥檛 say it was a Ford prototype. Since the Mustang III was built from a pre-production prototype, many parts are stamped 鈥淴E鈥?for Experimental Engineering or 鈥淴F鈥?for Experimental Ford.

Built in December of 1969, this 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 was originally delivered in the Omaha ordering district. Finished in D code Competition Yellow with Black Clarion Knit/Corinthian Vinyl bucket seats, the car came equipped with the 351 4bbl Cleveland engine, FMX transmission, power steering, Mach 1 option package, rear spoiler, front spoiler, and black stripes. The car received a complete rotisserie restoration where the car was stripped down to bare metal and built nut and bolt from the ground up. After being taken down to the shell, the Ford received all new bodywork and a beautiful base coat/clear coat paint job in the correct factory color. All of the stainless trim is new as is the chrome. The motor is the powerful 351 Cleveland engine which has the factory compression of 10:1. This particular motor was rebuilt by a Ford engine specialist from top to bottom using factory correct components. It purrs like a kitten and makes awesome power when you get on the gas - as it should! The engine runs well on 91/93 octane gas. The engine compartment has been correctly restored using the correct lines, hoses, paint finishes decals.