When it comes to restoring a classic car, there are two schools of thought. Some owners prefer to take the car to a restoration shop and let the pros do most of the work. There's nothing wrong with that plan, but for owners who have a tighter budget and more spare time, it often makes sense to take a "do it yourself" approach. That's exactly what Omar Guevara, the owner of this '71 Mustang Fastback, did after buying this car from his father. The result is a cool streetable classic Mustang that didn't break the bank.
Second Time's the Charm
When Omar talked to AutotopiaLA, who featured this car in a recent episode on their YouTube channel, he explained that he actually bought this car twice. First, he bought it as a gift for his dad, who had it repainted and started the restoration process. But then his dad was forced to sell it, so he bought it for the second time from him. Paying for the same car twice tells us how much Omar loves this Mustang!
Since this was a DIY garage build, Omar kept it relatively simple while restoring and upgrading everything he could. He rebuilt the stock 302ci V8 into a 331 stroker, adding an Edelbrock intake, MSD ignition, and a custom 3-inch Flowmaster exhaust fabricated by a friend. This engine is paired with a TKO 600 manual transmission and 8.8 inch rear end with 3.73 gears.
The suspension was upgraded with coilovers, control arms, and beefed-up swaybars while retaining the factory front subframe. The rear has CalTracs traction bars and adjustable shocks.
For a more modern look, Omar went with gunmetal gray Rueda Forged wheels — 18x9.5 up front and 19x12 in the rear — wrapped in grippy Nitto tires. Wilwood big brakes with drilled and slotted rotors were also installed.
As for the interior, Omar kept the stock look with original-style door panels and new black vinyl seat upholstery. A set of Dakota Digital gauges and a Cobra style wood-grip steering wheel are the only noticeable modifications.
Check out the AutotopiaLA video below to see and hear this '71 Mustang in action and learn more about its backstory:
Looking for Mustang Parts?
If you're working on a DIY Mustang restoration project, Classic Industries can help. We offer a huge selection of parts for 1964-2004 Mustang models, including body panels, interior upholstery, suspension components, and much more. Click here to browse our Mustang parts or click the button below to get a free full-color Mustang restoration parts catalog:
