1965 Ford Mustang Fastback Supercharged

Bryan and Kelly Battaglini of Concord, California, are the contented owners of this '65 Mustang 2+2. The modifications they accomplished on their finely finished fastback took 21/2 years to complete. A protracted search that included much of California finally led to this car in Hercules, California, on the shores of San Francisco bay. After much deliberation a deal was concluded and as purchased the car was nice enough to drive and enjoy, and that was what the couple originally intended to do. After all, the car had been restored to original status and had nice paint and even factory air conditioning. However, as time went on they began to realize the potential for even more performance and fun. They began to study all of the alternatives available to '65 Mustang owners and a grand plan began to emerge in their minds.

To hear Bryan tell it, the love affair that began with the buying of the car escalated into a full-blown restomod project with every department addressed in a thorough and thoughtful manner. Bryan began with small improvements and began to add little extras like chrome underhood and extensive cleaning and detailing. Once the little things had been addressed he was soon shopping for wheels and tires, settling on a set of elegant Bonspeed hoops with Kumho tires. Next in line was performance exhaust, where JBA headers and turbo-style mufflers were the choices. Then, Bryan turned his attention to the fastback's interior, where a Rally-Pac and Auto Meter pillar gauges keep track of vital signs.

Bryan wanted a car that would stop on a dime and even though this Mustang had factory front-disc brakes, they were looking pretty puny behind those 17-inch wheels, so the factory binders were tossed in favor of a four-wheel disc setup from Baer Racing. With all of these categories carefully squared away Bryan then added the finishing touch in the form of a Paxton Novi 1500 supercharger. With plenty of power now on tap, and with the tires, suspension, and brakes to back it up, they now have a classic Mustang with a more modern performance envelope. It's no surprise to hear that the Battaglinis really enjoy their modified Mustang to the maximum. Bryan and Kelly say that they use the car often to attend San Francisco bay area car shows, Saturday night cruising, and for touring the beautiful foothills of California's Sierra Nevada mountains.

The Details

Bryan and Kelly Battaglini's '65 Mustang 2+2

Engine289ci small-block V-8

4.00-inch bore

2.87-inch stroke

Stock cast crankshaft

Ford cast-aluminum pistons

AFR aluminum cylinder heads

2.02-inch intake, 1.94-inch exhaust valves

Comp Cams double valvesprings

Comp Cams hydraulic roller camshaft, 0.525-inch lift

Ford Racing 1.6:1 roller rocker arms

Edelbrock Performer 289 intake manifold

Barry Grant blow-through 650-cfm four-barrel carburetor

Paxton Novi 1500 supercharger

MSD distributor

MSD 6AL BTM ignition box

TransmissionC4 three-speed automatic

B&M Racing Hole Shot 11-inch 2,900-rpm stall converter

B&M Racing shift improvement kit

Rearend9-inch axle housing

Traction-Lok differential

Pro Gear 3.50 gears

31-spline axles

ExhaustJBA headers, 1 5/8-inch primary diameter

2 1/2-inch dual exhaust

Turbo mufflers

SuspensionFront:Stock control arms, KYB gas shocks, 1-inch diameter front antisway bar

Rear:Five-leaf rear springs, 1-inch lowering blocks, KYB gas shocks

BrakesFront:Baer Racing disc, 12.5-inch drilled and slotted rotor, two-piston polished PBR caliper

Rear:Baer Racing disc, 12-inch drilled and slotted rotor, single-piston polished caliper

WheelsFront:Bonspeed Delta polished, 17x8

Rear:Bonspeed Delta polished, 17x8.5

TiresFront:Kumho Ecsta ASX, P205/50R17

Rear:Kumho Ecsta ASX, P235/45R17

InteriorOwner-restored black vinyl interior, Billet Specialties steering wheel, Auto Meter A-pillar pod and gauges, OE Rally-Pac, factory underdash A/C, JVC audio, 6 1/2-inch kick panel speakers

ExteriorPPG Dark Metallic Blue basecoat/clearcoat paint, GT foglight bar, GT rear valance and exhaust

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