1972 Mustang Gets Coyote Power
This beautiful blue '72 Mustang with a Coyote heart was a project that was decades in the making.
A Passion for Performance
As fans of classic cars know, the desire to restore a vehicle is never a goal undertaken on a whim, but a culmination of a lifelong passion and dedication to performance, technology, and art. For Phil Keithley, his deep impact blue 1972 Mustang restoration was, once complete, a coronation of years of dedication to both the car and his family. Keithley purchased the car in 1980 when he was in search of a new project after he parted ways with a 1965 Mustang coupe that he’d restored.
Images courtesy of Hot Rod Network
A Vision in Blue
When Keithley originally purchased the vehicle, it was a Bright Lime SportsRoof edition. In 1972, just 12 percent of the 125K Mustangs produced were SportsRoof models, making the vehicle relatively rare today. The car also came stock with a 302 V8 and FMX transmission. Nevertheless, Keithley was eager to transform the vehicle into his own vision, a task he undertook with his two sons —at the time aged four and six. Garnering parts from local flea markets, the Keithley boys rebuilt the car’s drivetrain and repainted the lime green paint scheme to blue.
Like Father Like Son
The car languished as a lost project for almost a decade, while the Keithley boys grew up and began to work on cars of their own —with the help of their father, of course. Following his retirement in 2007, Keithley relocated to North Carolina —and his favorite pony car made the trip. He drove the car regularly and kept it well maintained, though stopped short of any major additions or changes, until a phone call from his oldest son Mike came in 2012.
Back in Blue
Mike Keithley wanted to thank his father for the years of automotive restoration help and knowledge bestowed on him and thought there was no better way to do so than to bring the 1972 Mustang back to fully restored form. The project started with a correction of the SportsRoof’s stance, which involved scrapping the existing suspension in favor of spindles that sat two-inches lower. New engine mounts and tubular A-arms followed, as well as the installation of a new shock-and-spring combination.
Wild Horses
Particular attention was paid to a proper restoration of the Mustang’s engine bay, which had suffered from significant neglect. Both the shock towers and inner fenders were removed in anticipation of the car’s most significant new feature: a 2014 all-aluminum 5.0-liter Coyote engine —a modern reincarnation of the car’s original 5.0L that offers a robust 500-horsepower with an 11.0:1 compression ratio. The drivetrain was completed with a Tremec TKO-600 five-speed that utilizes a McLeod 11-inch clutch and bellhousing.
Body by Keithley
Interior and exterior body work were also major focuses of the Keithleys' Mustang restoration. Long hours of labor put in by both Mike and his father, along with contributions from G.A. Beyer of York, Pennsylvania. New front and rear bumpers were added, in addition to new roll pans, while the car’s interior was upgraded with TMI Pro Series bucket seats that make this Mustang as comfortable as it is powerful.
Heirloom on Wheels
The car’s sterling blue paint job came thanks to Kustom Paint & Body’s Chris Waller. The color —Permacron Ford Deep Impact Blue —looks great with newly applied graphics. Inside, digital gauges compliment new matching door panels and ACC carpeting to complete the Mustang’s race-savvy but comforting interior. All in all, the Keithleys' 1972 Mustang is the result of a tremendous bond between father and son that’s illustrated in a passion for performance and American automotive tradition.
And, for information on maintenance and repairs for your Mustang, head on over to our How-Tos at MustangForums.com!