The mythical Mustang Station Wagon—it has persisted since the earliest days of the Mustang, and even Ford had proposals on the drawing board. However, it appears that the first Mustang Station Wagon was not built by Ford, but rather as a secret project given to Italian coachbuilder Intermeccanica by Barney Clark, an executive at Ford’s advertising agency J. Walter Thompson and renowned designer Bob Cumberford. Constructed in 1965, the car may or may not still exist, but photos and magazine articles from the period have inspired a few talented craftsmen to try their hands at creating their own Mustang Wagons. This striking 1965 Mustang Station Wagon was built by Joe Kamp and uses as many factory components as possible to create one of the most unique and eye-catching Mustangs you’ll ever see.

Designed to be driven, rather than just a show piece, this Mustang has been extensively reengineered for its role as a high-performance wagon. Using 100% steel to create the wagon body meant finding a clean original Mustang Hardtop to use as a foundation. The original roof was cut, lengthened, slightly widened, and installed with sections of the original C-pillars out back. The tailgate and rear window were made from the original hardtop pieces and deck lid. Side windows were fabricated and trimmed with factory period chrome molding. Proportions are excellent, with a sporty rake to the roofline that fits the Mustang’s performance image. Rear quarter windows were retained as well. The integration into the original quarter panels is seamless, and the factory deck lid was extensively modified to finish the rear of the car with a factory look. Brilliant red paint covers the beautiful wagon’s shape, and shows off the unique metalwork and expert fabrication in fine fashion. Gold Shelby-style stripes were added, as well as a fiberglass hood with an integrated scoop, making this an interesting study in “what ifs.” Finish work is as good as any restoration, and combines the finest qualities of a hand-made one-off and a factory-built car.

To keep the Mustang looking like a Mustang, all the original chrome was retained, including the slender front and rear bumpers as well as the trademark Mustang 3-element tail lights. Up front there’s a Shelby-style grille with offset pony emblem, and all the original stainless trim was polished. Shelby stripes were used on the rockers, and Mr. Kamp decided to advertise the engine under the hood: Ford’s venerable 5.0L V8. The mighty 5.0 is second only to the small block Chevy in terms of adaptability, longevity, and the size of its aftermarket parts industry. Externally the same size as the 289, it’s an easy fit in the early Mustang’s engine bay, and looks quite OEM sitting there between those vintage wheel wells. Beautifully detailed, but with an eye towards making it look like the factory built it, it is finished without excessive chrome or aftermarket pieces. And instead of taking the easy way out and planting a carburetor atop the engine, the entire Ford EEC-IV engine management system, including mass-air induction system, was retained. As a result, the Mustang Station Wagon runs and drives like a late-model Mustang, with a very recognizable exhaust note and a smooth flow of torque that’s a 5.0 specialty. Note how nicely the stock 5.0 airbox was integrated into the early Mustang’s inner fenders, the way the A/C was adapted to work inside the vintage body, and the chassis-stiffening braces that clear the V8’s intake manifold and distributor as if they were designed to work together. The modern radiator keeps it cool, and is assisted by a massive electric fan. The workmanship is impressive, and once you drive this car, you’ll be amazed by how polished the entire package really is.

Building on the late-model drivetrain, the transmission is a T5 5-speed manual, topped by a Hurst shifter and fitted with a new heavy-duty clutch. The rear is a Ford 8-inch sporting 3.00 gears, which make this wagon an exceptional highway cruiser. Stock style suspensions front and rear are consistent with the overall Mustang originality, and Mr. Kamp carefully reinforced the chassis to handle the wagon’s extra power. Custom control arms were fabricated for the rear axle to help control the added torque, and new shocks and suspension pieces were installed throughout. Power disc brakes deliver modern stopping performance to match the engine’s output, and a very factory-looking and sounding dual exhaust system was installed. A set of original Mustang alloy wheels has been fitted, and they wear 215/70/15 BFGoodrich T/A radials.

The interior is just as unusual as the body, with a bench style front seat that seems perfectly matched to a wagon. A custom center console was installed and a filler between the seats gives the illusion of a bench with the comfort of buckets. It has been covered in brown vinyl that looks right at home in this ‘60s icon, and the tan used on the dash and kick panels is elegant and upscale. White door panels and headliner make it bright and airy inside, an effect enhanced by the large rear side windows. The back seat is as big as the one in a standard Mustang coupe, so you shouldn’t be afraid to grab a few friends when you take this beautiful car out for a cruise. The A/C has been neatly integrated into the dash with a few discreet vents, and the original AM radio remains in the center of the dashboard, with a powerful AM/FM/CD stereo built into the console below it. Brown carpets both in the passenger compartment and the cargo area tie the entire interior together in a very OEM fashion.

Documentation includes the October 1966 issue of Car & Driver magazine, which featured the original Mustang Station Wagon as the cover story, as well as recent receipts for maintenance.

The fate of the original Mustang Station Wagon remains a mystery. Some say it is rotting in a field somewhere, while others claim it was crushed by Ford. The Mustang Station Wagon built by Joe Kamp is likely the finest example of this long-lost idea still in existence. Thoroughly engineered with a powerful, updated drivetrain, it rides and handles like a factory-built car, with a structure that is impressively tight and strong. Few cars have the star power of this little Mustang wagon, and you’ll probably find that no matter where you go, there’s an enthusiastic crowd that gathers, and they’ll have plenty of questions. A fun, practical, stylish, and very attention-getting car, this 1965 Mustang Station Wagon is about as unique an automotive experience as you can have. Call today!