So true!!! I really enjoy helping people. Cannot wait to see your car one day, that’ll be awesome. Thanks for the awesome encouragement. We all need that.

LOL. Just got to do your own thing! For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism.

That's awesome, love to see your progress.

Truth

It is a very doable project. It seems really intimidating but in the end there is a lot of info out there to help guide you.

Thank you my friend.

Thank you Ryan, I think some people are threatened by the conversion. For those of us doing it on the regular I don't see the down side. The only thing that worries me is if the body parts companies get this in their head they are going to mark up the parts more and make this less cost effective but until that happens it is by far the best way to have a fastback.

Thank you!!! It's fun.

Thank you!!! So true.

Thank you Rob! I really appreciate it.

Heck yeah. Getting to run around in one of these is such a blast!!!

I’m so sorry, I hardly have time to build one or two. There are some shops out there but in all honestly if you pay someone it’s almost not worth it…

Absolutely. That's the great part of the artistic opportunity car building and modifying gives us. There are not real right answers just the answer you want to create.

Yes! When the car is running you are much more motivated to do more.

Thank you!!!

It’s doable!

That’s the best attitude, just get it going.

I love cars with a story, I would not change your dad's car! That's an awesome thing to have. Thanks for the comment.

I'm sure he got the coupe because that's what he could afford. If he could have gotten the fastback option, he probably would have. So go ahead and get that sawzall out.

@@Goinbig I would rather build another and keep this as it is, he built it how he wanted and its still a bad ass car. He had the opportunity to buy a couple of fastbacks but they were auto cars. He wanted a manual. It's a 2 owner (3 if you include me) car that has been in the family since 1970. Built 289, 4 spd, 4.11 rear end. Lime gold with parchment interior with some custom touches that we put on the car when he redid it this last time.

Do it!

Awesome!

Hey Jesus; I have not done the 1969 or 1970 conversion, but the process is almost identical to the 1967-68. The parts for this conversion are a bit more expensive. If I’m you I’d look really hard for a Fastback in this year. 1970 model Fastbacks haven’t gone up as much as other years. There are some good ones out there for probably less than the conversion of your coupe. I passed in one about 6 months ago for $18k really a nice car. I will have a guide book for these years soon…

Sounds like a fun car! You just don’t see them on the road anymore at all.

Thank you my friend!

Absolutely true.

Thank you!

That will be a fun build. I'm finding that most "purist" are actually people who don't build cars they just like commenting in forums and posts. Build your car your way and post some pictures so we can see it!

Keep trying!!!! It’s the best way to get a good Fastback.

Search the web but few good deals are to be had. I have found unlisted cars that are just setting are better deals.

Such an awesome car. How long did you have it for?

@@ScottHarness1 I only had it about 6 months from my 16th birthday. It was cool. Thank you for asking?

That's awesome!

Thank you my friend.

Absolutely!

Still have to say I love your country! One of the most beautiful places on earth.

I would imagine that will apply to lots of cars. The coupes being converted are a fraction of those rotting in fields, and elsewhere because of the high cost of restoration.

Thank you, I think.!

Thank you my friend!

The 300 is such a great motor. Run forever.

I think you can radically improve drivability but probably won’t be like a new car… anything you add to make it more ridged is a help for sure. But it also adds weight…

Set your expectations before you start I think that really helps with the project. A daily driver with more modern running gear will serve you incredibly well. Remember many of the vintage engines never lived much past 60k miles and to get to that 60 was a constant work. There is zero doubt that the modern fuel injected, computer controlled, strict tolerance manufactured stuff lasts longer with much less wrench efforts. But sometimes we just want that vintage sound, feeling and such.

Thank you for the encouragement! You are so right taking your time is absolutely the best thing you can do. I did a measurements video, see if this is what your looking for. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/d82IeqWmpt3JlKs.html

@@ScottHarness1 I literally saw the measurements video right after I posted my last comment lol..you are a angel my friend! thank you soo much this really helps. Hope to see that video on the floor pan and more!

I learned a lot from watching Peterson's Restorations youtube channel. But I still would worry about doing the final welding part.

Sorry for the slow response...I bet, not that I know for sure but I bet it would work. Check the wheel base that would be the critical measurement. If so you would just need to build body mounting points but I bet it would work. It would be a very cool build. Share pictures of the project please!

Hey Sean, Super question. I believe the conversion process is more than novice level but I do think with just a few specific skills and the willingness to stick with it and take your time a very doable project. This is especially true if you’re not trying to make a show car as the end result. I have some skills but I’m not a professional by any means. The rub is hiring the work out. I believe if you do your research you may can find a body guy willing to do the work for less but most of the shops I am familiar with have gone up tremendously to do the conversion. $7500 to about $10k is the price I am seeing and this doesn’t include the parts or shipping. That in my mind puts the conversion in an unreasonable price category. So if I bought a decent coupe for $5k I bought the kit for $5k including shipping, and I pay a shop to convert it another $10k that puts my roller without glass at $20k. Keep in mind that doesn’t include any rust repairs, which can add crazy dollars to your project. My gut says that’s more than you’d want in a conversion. Now bare in mind that if VIN Fastbacks continue to skyrocket in price this will become reasonable, but for now you need to learn some skills, or have a body guy that will help you with the process…

@@ScottHarness1 Thank you! You guessed it right, I'm not trying to build anything showroom quality. I want to fix it up, keep it for the rest of my life, and drive it like any other car (just like you said about yours in the video). 10k just for labor is definitely a lot, so I think I'm going to give it a shot on my own, and definitely take your advice on taking it slowly.

So true.

I would absolutely love to do a conversion for you...I don't do this for a living and really have to do the work in small amounts of time that I have extra. So here is what I am going to do, let me pray about it. Possibly there are others on here that would like to be a part of a great story converting a car for you and maybe we all can pitch in and do it.

@@ScottHarness1 I wouldn’t need a fast job but want it done correctly. Thanks for praying on it. Thanks.

The great start honestly.

I sure can help with information! I am struggling to find time to work on my own...

Mark I’m struggling to identify shops that do the conversions. Trying to figure out how to locate shops that are reputable.

@@ScottHarness1 What do you know about the guys at Lost Socket Garage in Utah. Have you heard any feedback about their work from your followers?

@@MarkJohnson-ob4yd We’ve visited several times. Their work looks incredible. Seem like solid guys.

Mustang Country in Paramount, CA has a body shop next to them I’m almost certain they do these conversions just look em up and give them a call

I don’t really build to sell but I do have a 1965 coupe that will be a fastback at some point this year. $20k

I am currently working on a sourcing guide to the fastback interior, I have found that there are lots of options and multiple dealers that do better with one part and not so great with another. I hope to have this list and info soon.

@@ScottHarness1 thank you for all your effort and work.

The "you can drive it" was directed toward those who build fastbacks (which are much more expensive than a coupe) and don't drive them. Fastbacks are worth more because they are more sought after and they were the option laden performance option cars. The factory race options came almost exclusively on fastbacks, Shelby's were all fastbacks as well. It's a more valuable car and always will be. The coupe was the common man's car that couldn't afford the higher performance and expensive fastback option, that's not a dig against fastback just truth. The Maverick was another option that was offered for those who couldn't afford a mustang. I think mavericks are cool as well just not as sought after as a mustang. Keeping and driving your coupe is a great option. This post isn't about convincing coupe owners but giving the option to those who want something more than a coupe and can't see spending the money on a fastback. Coupes are plentiful and cheaply priced but for me I wanted a fastback, love the style, I couldn't see spending the money on an original so I converted by coupe.

@@ScottHarness1 Anything more sought after is more expensive. If they made more fastbacks than coupes I am pretty sure the coupe would be worth more. I think it is cool now days you can make your car like you want easier than I was a kid. I think everyone should do that. These cars are fairly easy to manipulate into exactly what you want and I love that. Just for me none of these reasons work and that is just for me. For someone who wants to flip the car and has the tools and the know how or resources. I just do not see any reason to do this unless you just like the fastback more and lots do or you wanna try to make some money. I would argue that this is still probably not going to be worth it after its all said and done.

@@TheNightstang I think that's fair enough. I always wanted a fastback, couldn't afford one back in the day and still can't. This made it possible. I could afford a coupe, in fact I could buy four or five coupes for the same price as a rusty fastback. So I went this way and found that there was so much misinformation about the process thought I might add some clarity to the conversation. I don't sell cars, flip cars, or do this for a living. Just a very happy fastback converter that wants to share.

@@ScottHarness1 Yeah that is what is great about these cars. I think for you it makes perfect sense for what you want.

To each his own, I think coupes are great. They are plentiful and less expensive. If you want a fastback that has perfect new metal converting a coupe is a great way.

Actually back in the day when a fastback was hit in the back it wasn’t unheard of to use a coupe back half to repair it. Parts weren’t as easy to find. So when you look at a coupe check the vin because it could be a fastback hidden in a coupe clothing.

@@ScottHarness1 My goal (at age 48 finally) is to get a 66-67 coupe and convert it to a fastback for super stock drag racing purposes. The build is going to be a plain jane white factory style looking drag car. All business. Minor details, total authenticity and show quality isn't very important to me. Is a 66 easier/harder than a 67 or are they basically the same amount of work and cost? Suppose the only difference is the trunk area maybe.

Thank you!!!

Converted coupes are sold every day for significantly more than unconverted. You don't mind non original wheels, motor, trans, interior, paint, and much more but don't modify the body. Seems silly.

@@ScottHarness1 I’m sure that they are but we’re not talking wheels Scott, everything you are describing is modifying a vehicle but at the end of the day if it was a coupe its still a coupe, convertible or fastback, etc. This is changing the vehicle type, night and day scenario seems silly to me that you don’t see that. What will the title say on a coupe converted fastback, fastback or coupe?

@@msk3905I think if you have a conviction of not modifying the body of your car don’t. There are plenty of people that believe numbers matching factory original restorations are the way. The way I see it is if you want fastback you can spend (just did a quick search of market place) $25k (rust bucket) to $100k decent car or you can convert a coupe for a fraction and have a drivable car of your dreams. The title will always say “Coupe”. No one has ever asked for my title though lol. When I drive a converted fastback everyone stops, looks and asks questions. They love it so do I. But to each his own.

@@ScottHarness1 My comment is to the poster saying that there is never a scenario where a coupe is worth more than a fastback, I’m giving him one scenario where it is. It’s your car you can do what you want with it, all I’m saying is I would never pay a premium for a fake fastback, it’s a coupe I’d pay coupe prices for one converted or not. I love factory five cobras, would happily own and drive one but they are heavily discounted from real cobra’s.

@@msk3905 Converted coupes go for double if not triple over coupes. “I wouldn’t pay” isn’t a market analysis but a preference. I sold three coupes last summer for next to nothing and could hardly get that. I could have presold a conversion for $19k this month. I have $400 in the car and $2k in parts. The car before the conversion is worth $400 after it's worth $20k. I sold a 1965 coupe roller last fall, all new metal, new floor pans, new suspension, perfect car all I could get was $5500 and it took 6 months to sell. A friend I helped do a conversion on a 1965, he sold it unfinished (body screwed on) unfinished roller for $13k in a single day. People are paying $10k to do the conversion and they won't pay $10k for a coupe roller.

Lol! Isn't that the truth. We all need a little kick to get going!

Pure facts!

LOL! That's great! Nothing like a father son project!

@@ScottHarness1 where y'all from in united kingdom

@@allendaigle6351 We're in Arkansas, US.

Hurray y'all from same planet where everyone goin nuts

Lol. Truth.

Barely, about 40lbs or so. Doubt that would make much difference.

@@ScottHarness1 ok, if you say so, but real diff, is a coup will only cost your a quarter what a fastback will.

Lol! Cracking me up!

Ford was brilliant in the unibody design not because it made a better car but they were the first to build a car completely from sheet metal. Ford innovated in manufacturing for many years this is one of them. On our end (the user) the unibody isn't the most rigid for high horsepower or impact. So we are left doing some work. The body design makes it worth it in value to put the effort in though.

@@ScottHarness1 Ford.. was not first to build uni-body cars in the USA, Nash 600 1941 to 1949 was . The Nash 600 w. They were arguably the first at building larger production numbers uni-body cars and models for the USA market versus the other . Properly constructed a uni-body is stronger than body on frame ...the Ford 1960 TO 1967 Thunderbirds are an example of that .That body platform could take the high torque of big blocks all day long and not twist like the more anemically built Mustangs. I owned two 64s one with 390 the other with an optional truck motor a 430 with greater torque specs which was sold under a special corporate order system if the prospective buyer intended to tow a large trailer even though that engine ( 430 ) was not longer offered through dealer options since 1960 or 62 as my memory recalls. Why tow a trailer with a Tbird remains a mystery to me to this day ...fortunately bing 3 owner mine came without a trailer hitch .. and no signs of one ever having been installed 🖖