Dave Silveira knew what he wanted. He and his brother-in-law had restored Mustangs for 15 years. A wide variety of ’Stangs cruised through, from the vaunted ’65 Fastback to the ’69 Mach 1, and even a ’70 Boss 302. Through it all, it was a Candyapple Red ’68 Fastback that drew Dave’s attention. It was one car he wasn’t in a hurry to see go through the door to a happy owner.
“I knew if I ever did one of these thoroughbreds to keep for myself, it was going to be a ’68 Fastback,” says Dave.
But where do you find the ’68 Fastback? Well, the nice thing about this hobby—you just never know what’s waiting for you around the next corner. “A friend of a friend of a friend told me about a Mustang he had seen behind a house about 10 miles from where I live,” says the Ocala, Florida, resident.
“All my friends know I love Mustangs, so I hear that all the time. This time, it paid off.”
What Dave found was a ’68 GT Fastback, which had been rolled over on a weekend night. The owner was in need of quick cash, so Dave had the car on a trailer the next day.
Any restoration veteran will tell you rollover cars can present their own set of challenges. For starters, the windshield opening had been reduced by about a foot, so the task was clearly formidable.
Dave set out to make the car the type of ’68 Fastback he’d been dreaming about. Engine work centered on a different 302 for underhood. An Edelbrock Performer hydraulic cam was mated with matching lifters and Edelbrock roller rockers. Stainless valve seats, a Milodon stainless water pump, and a Melling high-volume oil pump handle their respective responsibilities. Edelbrock’s Performer intake manifold provides the base for a polished-aluminum Holley 650-cfm carb. Nickel-plated Tri-Y headers run exhaust to a set of Flowmaster two-chamber mufflers.
Just before we saw this car at the Silver Springs show in January, Dave had changed rear gears from a 4.11 (“wasn’t very driveable”) to a 3.70 with a Traction-Lok diff. A Lincoln Versailles 9-inch rear is in place. The Top Loader tranny, Centerforce clutch and pressure plate, and Hurst shifter put it all in motion.
Power disc brakes stop all four corners, allowing a look at the Cragar Five Star wheels. The entire frontend was rebuilt with the Magna Master rebuild kit, and heavy-duty Magna leaf springs hold up the rear.
Dave entrusted Rom Caprotti to put down the DuPont Chroma Base Medium Green Pearl Metallic. Additional modifications to the car include “fully functional” rear brake scoops, subframe connectors, and Traction-Master traction bars. Inside, Dave restored the seats to stock appearance, doing all upholstery himself. New foam and hardware were needed to make the job complete. When you’re sitting in the driver seat, you’ll see that all of the gauges, except the speedometer, have been replaced with Auto Meter Sport Comp models. A fire extinguisher rides along, and Dave plans to add a five-point safety harness to replace the existing belts.
This resurrection was no walk in the park. It took 19 months to trim the parts and labor list down to nothing. Drawing on that past experience, Dave also called upon Dave and Ron Carder for knowledge and labor. Dennis Thompson at Manatee Mustang Supply and all the guys at National Parts Depot stepped up with their contributions as well.
Now that he has a car of great esteem, Dave likes taking it out on Saturdays and occasionally during the week. It will, no doubt, be a frequent visitor to car shows in Florida and the area. He scored nine trophies in his eight car shows. “There’s nothing like praise received from fellow Mustang owners who have cars that I believe to be some of the nicest examples of Pony power I have ever seen. And, believe me, I’ve seen plenty,” Dave relates.
And now his car stands among the award winners. If that doesn’t justify the amount of time and work put into a car, nothing will.