Readers' Rides: Henri's Restored '65 Mustang

We recently featured a V6 Mustang on Readers' Rides, but now it's the turn of an old-school V8.

Dutch petrolhead Henri has been a big muscle car guy since he was a kid, watching his cousin driving around in Blazers and Impalas. He knew that as soon as he could drive at 18, he had to own something American. Over to Henri to tell his story...

From a young age I started collecting car models, waiting for the day I turned 18 so I could own a real one. I've always gone to car shows with my dad and he was always a fan of '65 Mustangs - every time we saw one we had to check it out.

When I was 17, my dad took me to a Mustang specialist in the Netherlands and when I stepped in the showroom it was love at first sight - a Poppy Red 289 V8 '65 model. Shortly after seeing it, I was the proud owner and at that time the happiest guy in the world. I drove it for a few years to school and to see my girlfriend (now my wife), but as the years went by and the colour faded, it was in need of a restoration.

My dad and I spent years building our dream car. Over the last 12 years the car was stripped to bare metal and completely restored. It has been painted pearlescent yellow with grey Le Mans stripes. The engine is a 331 stroker with Trickflow twisted wedge heads, Paxton supercharger, MSD ignition, Edelbrock Victor Jr. intake with a QFT Holley carburetor on top.

Power goes to a T5Z gearbox, which was rebuilt with reinforced straight cut gears. Most parts we built ourselves and everything in the car is new.

I've owned it for almost 13 years now and as long as I can afford it, the car will never be sold. It's a part of me. At this moment I've been forced to start my second dream, opening my own shop after losing my job. The Mustang and the Simca Rallye we're building for my dad will be an example of what we can build in my shop.

You can see cars are my hobby and my life, and I wouldn't be where I am today if my parents hadn't stood by me and helped me fulfil my dreams.

If you want your car featured on Readers' Rides, email darren.cassey@carthrottle.com with a pic and a few words explaining why you love it so much. If we like it, we'll feature it!