A 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback that had been sitting untouched since the early 1980s has finally been brought back to life. The long-dormant car, nicknamed “Stevie,” became the latest rescue project for Constance Nunes and the team at CARS by Constance.
According to the previous owners, the Mustang was parked after life simply moved on around it. There was no dramatic mechanical failure or crash, just decades of inactivity while the car slowly deteriorated in place.
That made the car a perfect test of the old “ran when parked” claim. Nunes and her crew wanted to find out whether the V8 would still crank, fire, and possibly move under its own power after roughly 40 years of silence.
The goal was not a full restoration in one day. Instead, the team planned to perform the minimum work needed to wake the car up, assess its condition, and see whether Stevie still had enough life left for one short trip around the parking lot.
A Mustang Frozen In Time
The Fastback had once been a clean and attractive car, although it already wore flared wheel arches before it was parked. Old photos showed how dramatically the Mustang had declined after spending decades exposed and unused.
Despite the rough appearance, several signs gave the crew hope. The rear axle was not seized, the transmission could be placed in neutral, and the engine bay looked cleaner than expected once they began inspecting it.
The team avoided using the original fuel tank and lines because anything inside them would have been badly degraded. Fresh fuel was supplied separately, while a fire extinguisher was kept nearby in case the dormant engine produced sparks, leaks, or something worse.
New Parts Get The V8 Turning
The first obstacle was an old aftermarket security system that interfered with the electrical system. Once that was bypassed, the Mustang received a new battery, starter solenoid, starter, and ignition components.
With those basics handled, the engine cranked without much protest. A small amount of fuel was added, and the long-silent V8 fired far more easily than anyone in the shop expected.
The engine initially needed help staying alive, but it soon began running smoothly enough to idle without constant throttle input. After four decades at rest, the Mustang sounded surprisingly healthy and did not produce the heavy mechanical clatter the crew had feared.
The Revival Nearly Ends In Flames
Decades of debris inside and around the exhaust system quickly created a new problem. Dust, nesting material, old paper, and other flammable remains began heating up as the exhaust came back to life.
Smoke soon turned into a small fire underneath the car. The crew rushed to put it out, eventually using bottled water while joking that their makeshift fire department had not exactly performed at a professional level.
The flames were extinguished before they caused serious visible damage. Once the area had cooled and the debris had burned away, the team decided to try starting the Mustang again rather than ending the experiment.
Stevie Moves Under Her Own Power
Getting the engine running was only part of the challenge. The transmission shifter was vague, the linkage was questionable, and the car appeared to have no functional brakes whatsoever.
After some trial and error, the automatic transmission finally engaged. The Mustang rolled across the parking lot under its own power, while Nunes carefully managed the throttle and used the transmission to control the car when it was time to stop.
The lack of brakes meant every movement had to be planned carefully. Even so, Stevie managed to drive, reverse, idle, and respond to the accelerator after spending nearly half a century as a stationary project.
A Much Easier Revival Than Expected
Nunes admitted she had expected a much harder fight. The team installed only a handful of basic parts before the engine cranked, started, idled, and moved the car without requiring a major mechanical teardown.
That does not mean the Mustang is ready for regular driving. The brakes need a complete overhaul, the fuel system remains disconnected, and the shifter and transmission linkage require attention before the car can safely return to the road.
Still, the first test was an impressive success. A 1968 Mustang that had not been driven since the early 1980s proved it could still run and move, giving the CARS by Constance crew a solid foundation for whatever comes next.
What do you think should happen to Stevie now? Would you restore the Mustang to factory condition, preserve its weathered appearance, or turn it into a custom restomod while keeping as much of its history as possible?