Summary

The retractable hardtop was an option that Ford designer Ben Smith attempted to build for the 1967 mustang, reputedly costing over $250,000 the project was scrapped. Later Smith and a group of investors formed a company to build and market his creation.

Details

The retractable hardtop was an option that ford scheduled to be available for the 1967 mustang. In 1966 Ford Motor Company assigned designer and engineer Ben J. Smith, well known for designing the 1957, 58, and 59 Skyliner retractables, the task of making a retractable hardtop for the mustang. Reputedly to have cost over $250,000 and thousands of man hours. However, when Smith reported that it would not be feasible to motorize the top, as the Skyliner was, ford cancelled the project and the prototype disappeared. Supposedly the car was destroyed and scrapped. After Smith retired from Ford he decided to continue his dream and build a retractable mustang for himself. Later Smith and a group of investors formed a company to build and market his creation. Hundreds of man hours are involved in building each car, the car must be completely dismantled and reinforced then carefully restored to accommodate the new design. This nicely restored 1965 Mustang features a 289 V8 engine, C4 automatic transmission, power steering, Twilight Turquoise metallic paint, and black crinkle vinyl pony interior. In august of 1965 this Mustang started its life as a 2 door hardtop built in Metuchen, NJ. It runs and drives like great. Go from coupe to convertible in less than 30 seconds, this car is sure to turn heads everywhere it goes.