Several months ago, my daughter sent me a picture of a Playboy Pink 66 coupe, saying she thought it looked beautiful and she would drive a mustang if it looked like that. Now, I have had my coupe since before she was born, and while it didn’t always run (it mostly didn’t run), it’s always been around, taking up space somewhere, but she was never really interested in it. When her younger brother started high school, he said it would be cool if he could drive it to prom if we got it fixed up, and I was on it. Even through all that, she was never really interested. She did appreciate how it was looking nice as I was putting it together, but not really into it. So when she sent that picture, I saw my opening.

I told her I would build her one, but it should be a 67 convertible for a few reasons. First, 67 is just the best year. I looks more aggressive than the 65/66 and I know them really well by now. Also, I may be wrong, but I think the Playboy Pink paint was a 67 year thing. Even if I’m wrong, I’m going with that story since I want to build a 67. So I set off to find a good project starting point. I had a few false starts that I didn’t land, but finally ended up with the new project I am calling Princess. To be fair, its starting out more of a frog that wants to be a princess some day.

From a good distance, it doesn’t look too bad. As you get closer, it starts showing its warts. That said, the Marti report shows it started out with some decent options as an A code, 4 speed, 3.00 rear end, a power top with a glass window, Exterior Decor Group, and a Console. It was also Nightmist Blue, which looks like it still had the original paint on much of it.

By the time it made its way to me, the interior had been redone. And by that, I mean someone did some things to it, but I cant say it was restored. The driver seat was upholstered, but in Aqua, and done poorly. The carpet looks newish, and there are a lot of little parts missing. Oh, and none of the gauges or lights work. It looks like it was barely slapped back together so it could be sold. But to me, that’s fine; its exactly what I’m looking for: a project.

Of all the little parts not attached, there are several boxes of stuff in the trunk that didn’t get put back together. I assume most of it is trash and I will be spending some quality time with NPD in the future. I expect to also spend some quality time with the blast cabinet, which I’m looking forward to.

Doing a walk around, its immediately clear most exterior sheet metal is going to need to be replaced. It did come with 2 additional original fenders which at first glance look like they can be used. Both original fenders are rusted out between the wheel and door, as well as dented up more than I would want to try to hammer out. If I had to guess, I would say this car spent most of it’s time out of the snow, but then had a few years where it was driven in salt conditions, but it only seems to have affected the exterior sheet metal, plus the trunk drop offs.

The rocker panels look solid, but the B pillar on the driver side has some rot where the quarter panel connects. I expect I will have to replace it when I do the quarter. And looking at it, its going to be the full quarter.

The trunk itself looks surprisingly good. I think I will be able to use it, but I wont know for sure till I can blast it and see if anything is hidden. When I took it off, I found the interior appeared to be original maybe replacement part, with a part number over what might be red primer.

You can still see the part number in yellow paint on the right side support ridge.

The panel between the deck lid and the top has a couple of serious creases in it. I expect I will probably replace it since I will have both quarters off. With the dents going into the trim contour, I have to think welding a new one in is going to provide better results, but time will tell. Otherwise, its solid at least.

There is evidence of damage and bondo. As if the rust wasn’t enough to earn a new quarter panel. There is probably a good story on why each quarter has a 45 degree chunk smashed in on the top ridge, but behind the quarter extension. There is some bow in the bumper too, and some damage in the trunk support I will show later. That’s the more concerning part so far. I haven’t been able to get a real good look at the rear left frame rail yet.

Note the complete lack of metal behind the tire and at the bottom of the quarter panel. And this side is the better of the two for that area.

More of the same on the passenger side. I thought the door might be saved with just a small square patch on the bottom front, but as I looked it over, it became clear I would be getting new doors.

It looks like someone was making holes to have door speakers. And from the various screw holes, I am assuming they were trying to finish it with a deluxe door panel across the bottom. Too bad. With the texture finish on the metal of the interior, there is no way to patch that and have it look good again. That saves hour of patching at least.

I think the hood is salvageable, but you can see these fenders have really gotten a beating. Since this car originally had the Exterior Decor Group, I’m thinking the directional hood is original. There was some trim on the trunk and quarter extensions too, as part of that option. I think it also included the wheel opening trim, but that’s gone at this point.

In the engine bay, it has the standard 2 holes per apron where the metal overlaps. Though this is bad enough that you can see clean through it. I want to save the original aprons if I can, so that’s going to be a project to patch. The driver side isn’t all the way through, but they need patching as well.

The front shows more evidence of being slapped back together. The grill isn’t attached in the center, and the pony with the fins is just gone. I think the radiator support is slightly pushed in, but otherwise solid. I will mostly likely try to hammer it back into place if I can get good results without welding.

I pulled it inside and started taking it apart to see the bones. The front end is surprisingly solid. Not what I would expect from seeing the quarter panels.

The radiator support it solid, just a bit banged up.

Other than the 2 spots on the apron, the front looks solid. Even the cowl is not showing any signs of rot. I hope my luck holds out when I get under the carpet and under the cowl as well.

Kick panel looks good. Driver side has some pin holes on the bottom. I will have to keep an eye on that after it gets sand blasted.

Passenger B pillar looks a little concerning, but I am hoping its just the quarter skin and not all the way into the pillar itself. More to look into once its been blasted.

Here is my main area of concern. There is a lot of goop all over the trunk pan, but the left side has a pretty clear indication of rear end damage. You can see the one pan drain is pretty heavily ovaled out. I don’t know that the waviness is anything but whatever the buildup is, but I have to scrape it off and get a closer look. I’m going to have to take a real good look at the frame rails when I get it up on the body cart too.

Well, there it is. A new project is under way. I still have a lot to do with the fastback, but I need to strike while the iron is hot. I hope to make something my daughter will love and remember me by.