1966 Mustang Coupe Restoration: Sébastien’s Vintage Burgundy Journey

Every Mustang has a story. Some are about speed, others about style. This one is a 1966 Mustang Coupe Restoration, tracing its journey from the workshop to the open road, and the owner who gave it a soul.

A Change of Passion

Sometimes life leads us in a new direction. For Sébastien, it started with motorcycles. After a period of reflection, he launched a project around a 2010 Triumph Street Triple. But slowly, his passion shifted toward classic cars. Before long, he sold the Triumph and bought a 1966 Ford Mustang coupe, finished in Vintage Burgundy—an American icon that would change everything.

Nine Months to Find the Right One

Sébastien knew exactly what he wanted: a clean 1966 Mustang coupe, already located in France. After nine months of searching, he finally found a rare Vintage Burgundy example just south of Paris.

On November 28, 2014, he picked up the car. The first drive was intimidating—stiff gears, heavy clutch, no power steering. But the fear didn’t last long. Back home in La Rochelle, he quickly learned the car’s personality with help from the previous owner.

A Mustang With History

Built in 1966 in Dearborn, Michigan, this 289ci V8 Mustang sat unsold for four years before finding its first owner in 1970. A fun detail remains from that time: a 1970 US coin hidden in the left windshield pillar, placed there by the original owner, who used the car to drive his grandchildren to school.

In 2008, the Mustang crossed the Atlantic to Belgium, then passed through a few hands before landing with Sébastien.

He named her Kelly, inspired by the Vintage Burgundy paint and Kelly Bundy (Christina Applegate in Married… with Children).

Upgrades Turn Into a Full Build

Like many enthusiasts, Sébastien couldn’t leave things stock. It started with basic maintenance—fluids, polishing, lighting, interior refresh—then quickly escalated: rebuilt steering wheel, electronic ignition, new accessories.

Overheating issues followed, leading to a new radiator, water pump, and alternator. When a head gasket failed, the car was sent to Brothers Custom (Chinon, France). That’s when a simple project turned into a full restoration.

Engine, Chassis, and Interior Reimagined

The 289 V8 was rebuilt with forged pistons, a performance camshaft, Hooker headers, a Flowmaster exhaust, and a Mishimoto aluminum radiator.

The chassis was modernized with Koni Street shocks, polyurethane bushings, chassis braces, and 17-inch Torq Thrust II wheels on Toyo tires.

Inside, Kelly gained a GT wood steering wheel, Shelby Racing seat belts, Pony door panels, white gauges, and mechanical dials—modern performance with classic Mustang character.

Moving Forward

After years of work, road trips, and unforgettable moments, Sébastien had fully restored his 1966 Burgundy Mustang.

But priorities change. With new family projects ahead, he made the tough decision to sell Kelly:

“She’ll always be my first Mustang—but definitely not my last.”

The Story Continues

In 2017, Kelly found a new owner: Sophie, another classic car enthusiast. To be continued…