I rented a 1965 convertible through DriveShare, the airbnb of classic cars, and am ecstatic the app’s just arrived in Canada, too
The Ford Mustang is the most popular enthusiast car of them all. And it starts right here with this first-generation 1965 model. When the Mustang debuted, many auto reviewers of the time derided it as merely a sporty restyle of the staid and boring Falcon sedan. They were right. And yet, they couldn’t have been more wrong.
A lot of these cars are used for weddings and photo shoots, but some, like Shaun’s Mustang, here, are built to drive. Shaun’s Mustang is a mild resto-mod. The 289-cubic-inch (4.7L) V8 engine has a performance intake manifold and carburetor. The front brakes are disc units, and the car has a Bluetooth-capable radio that still looks vintage. It’s nevertheless a decidedly vintage build, but all the important parts have been freshly rebuilt.
But comparing this 60-year-old car to a modern one is a fool’s errand. Rather than talk about all the modern car features it lacks, I found myself revelling in all the classic charm it has, which no new car can match.
The driving experience of the Mustang is a lot like piloting an inboard ski boat. You have the view down the long hood ahead of you, the calming burble of the small-block V8 behind you, and the somewhat nautical ride of the soft suspension and tall sidewall tires. The Mustang is really a “pony car,” and the driving experience is more delicate than the brawny muscle cars that came afterwards. There’s still plenty of oomph, but the driving experience isn’t dominated by the engine like it is in a big-block car.
I love driving classic cars, and the ability to rent one while away from home made my trip so much more enjoyable. If you find yourself browsing BringATrailer, absentmindedly looking at cars you’d like to drive one day, check out BookaClassic in Canada, or DriveShare in the U.S., and see if there’s one of those cars in your area.
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