I’m a huge fan of the first-generation Ford Mustang. The design is iconic, and who doesn’t love the sound of a 289 cubic-inch V8 starting up on a cold spring morning? Whether I’m the person behind the wheel, riding shotgun, or just seeing one drive down the block, it’s impossible not to smile in the presence of an original ‘Stang.
That being said, those early Mustangs are now over 60 years old. They are fun to drive, but a six-decade-old suspension geometry that includes a truck-like live axle with leafspring suspension means it takes money, time, aftermarket parts, and dialing in to get it to drive anything like a modern-ish sports car. Even then, you’re dealing with a vehicle that, structurally, isn’t anything near as rigid as something built this century.
But what if you could have the best of both worlds? Something that combines the classic looks of the first-gen Mustang with a modern vehicle that’s universally loved by people who list corner-carving as their second major in college? Perhaps, say, a Mazda MX-5 Miata? Weirdly, because the original Mustang and the first two generations of Miata are pretty close in size, this fantasyland dreamworld car actually exists. And honestly, I’d take it over a real ’65 Mustang.
Oh, So You’re Crazy?
Ok, hear me out. As I said before, the O.G. Mustang is a fantastic vehicle. It’s timeless and pretty much universally loved. But for my use cases, it’s not the car for me. When it comes to enjoying cars, I like to take them down back roads, autocross events, track days, and ice racing. While an old Mustang could certainly do all of those things, any Mustang I could afford would need lots of maintenance, rust repairs, and modifications to make it usable in those situations beyond chill cruising speeds.
I much prefer to have something more modern and agile right out of the box, with a dependable, modern powertrain setup I could daily drive, complete with air-conditioning, a solid stereo, and cruise control. More importantly, I want something with a crash structure that, in the event of a crash, won’t immediately turn my face into sloppy joe between two buns (the two buns being the steering wheel and the seat).
On the flip side, I absolutely love how the first-gen Mustang looks. Barring the flawless 1968 Dodge Charger, it’s my favorite muscle car design, period. The second-gen Miata might be the best Miata, but I can admit it’s a bit forgettable in the looks department. Thanks to the existence of the M1stang, I don’t have to compromise one way or the other.
The M1stang is a kit car that first hit the scene back in 2007, just two years after the NB Miata went out of production. According to MotorTrend, it was designed by Bill Carnes, a “career bodyman” who spent time repairing original AC Cobras that were damaged during their trans-Atlantic journeys from England. In discovering that the original Mustang and the Miata had some similar dimensions, he seized the opportunity. From MotorTrend:
Several aftermarket companies reproduce vintage Ford sheetmetal, so the exterior rebuild was possible. Combining the classic tin with a modern Mazda Miata chassis was the real stroke of genius. Amazingly, the scale of both cars is close. After the Miata sheetmetal was removed, Carnes trimmed the Mustang fenders and doors on the edges where the changes wouldn’t be noticed. The steel trunk is full-size, and the hood is fiberglass. There are no alterations to the chassis, and the conversion process is so vehicle-friendly that no fluids need to be drained from the car or sensors disconnected. Only the battery is removed for safety.
The finished conversion has all the style of the original ’65 with all the agility, reliability, and creature comforts of a modern Miata, such as air-conditioning, airbags, four-wheel disc brakes, and a fully independent suspension. The transformation is so nicely crafted that after reviewing the package, Carnes was awarded user status from Ford, with full authorization to build the cars. With a perfected vehicle and Ford’s blessings, all he needed was money to proceed.
Carnes got his funding from John Schoeller, a former computer graphics technician who had a passion for car restoration. The business of building Miatas into Mustangs was launched, with buyers able to purchase cars built by either Carnes, who was located in St. Augustine, Florida, or by Schoeller, who was located in Englishtown, New Jersey. They’d do the conversion for $12,999, plus the cost of a repaint.
According to MotorTrend, the two partners were, at one time, building a combined one M1stang every four weeks, though it’s not clear if the company still exists or how many were built in total, as the firm doesn’t currently have an online presence. Still, M1stangs get pretty good coverage in the media whenever one comes up for sale, because they’re just so damn interesting.
This Is The Mustang For Me
Going by that coverage, M1stangs seem pretty rare. From what I can tell, there are only a couple for sale in the U.S. right now. The first is this highly modified example with a Ford V8 under the hood that was listed on Facebook Marketplace a year ago in St. Augustine by what looks to be a relative of Carnes. The second, and the one I’m more interested in, is this all-red model that looks, from a distance, like it could actually be a real Mustang convertible.
This M1stang, which started life as a 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata, is currently up for auction on the Hagerty Marketplace. It’s the cleanest, most well-kept version I’ve seen pop up online, sporting a beautiful red paint job and some classic Mustang side stripes. I think what sells it most are the wheels, which are five-spoke 15-inchers from Fittipaldi with Mustang-badged center caps. A lot of these M1stangs I’ve seen previously either used oversized chrome wheels or modern Miata wheels, neither of which belong on a Mustang, real or fake.
From what I’ve seen, these M1stangs usually don’t go for too much more than a normal Miata in the same condition, with the same mileage. This car is particularly low-mile for a Miata, with the odometer showing just over 54,000 miles since new. I’m sure that’s a big reason this car looks so pristine. Either way, it’ll probably still end up cheaper than a real ’65 Mustang that’s as sorted and reliable as a Miata.
That doesn’t mean it’s perfect, obviously. Its biggest flaw is the four-speed auto between the seats, but I don’t think it would take much work to swap out for a proper five- or six-speed manual. I’d probably also swap out some stock seats in place of the bright red leather chairs and remove the 289 badges on the fenders (because that is going one step too far). I don’t really like the chrome roll bar, either, but it’s probably best to keep it around, in the rare case I end up upside down.
Considering how few of these cars are around, who knows – maybe one day, M1stangs will become true collector cars in the eyes of the Miata-obsessed (or the Mustang-obsessed?). For now, though, they remain a beautiful, affordable compromise for weirdos like me.
Top graphic images: Hagerty Marketplace; Mazda
The post A Mazda Miata Wearing The Body Of An Old Ford Mustang Is More Exciting To Me Than A Real Mustang appeared first on The Autopian.
