 
 
 Here’s the latest gift for the car enthusiast on your Christmas list -– a brand-new body shell for a 1967 Ford Mustang convertible. This means that classic Mustang fans can now build or restore the ’65 convertible, ’67 and ‘69 fastbacks and the ’67 convertible versions of the iconic muscle car with the safe knowledge that their vehicles have a body that’s literally good as new. Even better, this car body will match or improve on the fit, finish and quality of the original, said Dennis Mondrach, Ford Restoration Parts licensing manager. Made by Dynacorn International, the body panels are stamped from modern automotive-grade steel that is slightly thicker than the original, according to Jim Christina, Dynacorn’s general manager. More than 90% of the parts needed to restore a 1967 Mustang convertible are available new as Ford-licensed reproduction components, allowing enthusiasts to basically build from scratch a new Mustang of that era. Ford’s big-block engines from that era, including the 390, 427 and 428-cubic-inch motors, bolt right in with no modifications necessary. And while this may seem steep for what is essentially an empty shell, the chances of finding a rust-free ’67 Mustang that’s never been wrecked will be next to impossible. “As the value of classic Mustangs has increased over the years, garages, barns and scrap yards have been picked clean.” 
 
 The automaker said the body can be built into a functioning car using one of the six engines the original vehicle was offered with or with a modern powertrain.
– The 1967 Ford Mustang is no longer an endangered species. Just in time for classic car buffs' Christmas, Ford has added a brand-new shell for the '67 Mustang convertible to its Ford Restoration Parts line, giving enthusiasts a chance to build their own from scratch, the Los Angeles Times reports. The $16,000 auto part is built with modern techniques that make it stronger than the original, Motor Authority notes. "These days, the chances are fairly slim of finding a restorable, rust-free ’67 Mustang that has never been wrecked,” a Ford exec says. “As the value of classic Mustangs has increased over the years, garages, barns, and scrap yards have been picked clean.”