8-SEAT MUSTANG UP FOR GRABS AT AUCTION

If you’ve got a big family, but want a classic ride that isn’t a station wagon, Grays may have your ideal car in their current Classic and Collectable Car Auction in the form of this stretch Mustang limousine.

Based on a 1965/6 coupe, the stretch conversion dates back to the late 1990s and was performed by Sydney-based car builder and drag racer, Sam Mikha.

The conversion saw the coupe turned into a four door, with an overall stretch of around 1 metre. Modified back doors incorporate a faux B-pillar to even out the side window appearance, while also swinging wide enough to allow elegant entry and exit to a rear passenger area fitted with seating for six. Arranged face-to-face, the seating configuration provides abundant leg room, with the seats themselves being standard Mustang rear bench seats, upholstered in classic red leather ‘Pony’ trim.

Up front, ahead of a divider separating the cabin from the passenger area, there are two bucket seats, also in red Pony trim. The dash is mostly authentic Mustang, but a classic GT-style steering wheel has been retrimmed in leather, while a custom centre console has been fitted to cater for the car’s additional and updated features.

Those features include a full air conditioning system for comfort, a modern CD sound system for entertainment and central locking for security and convenience.

Seat belts are provided for all eight occupants, with red carpets throughout and branded floormats to complement the seats and door cards.

Externally, black paint has been matched with a black vinyl roof, while the rest of the exterior is C1966 Mustang, including authentic grille, sill trim, bumpers, wheelarch mouldings and styled steel wheels with whitewall tyres. In fact, apart from the tribar running horse grille badges that have been added to the C-pillar, the exterior is almost entirely stock – apart from the stretch!

Under the bonnet is a stock 289 V8, matched to a three-speed automatic transmission. Power steering has been fitted, but details on the braking and suspension are unrecorded. Given the standard of the rest of the conversion, presumably some enhancement of both has been done to account for the added weight.

Engineer approved in NSW and Victoria, this Mustang was originally registered in NSW and approved for use as an 8-seater, where it was employed for weddings, formals, winery tours and corporate events.

Late last year, this one-off Mustang came to market, located in NSW and with an asking price of $99,000. Whether it sold then is unknown, but as consigned for Grays’ April Classic and Collectable Car Auction, the Mustang appears to have a reserve in the same $100K range.

As consigned for the auction, the Mustang is listed as running, with both the interior and exterior described as being in very good condition, while mileage is listed at 2,799 (miles), which is presumably what it’s covered since the conversion.