There are some awesome rides getting unveiled at Rockynats this year, but the 1965 Mustang dubbed SIXTY5 and built by Anton Duval and the crew at Muscle Car Restorations on the Gold Coast
has had a wilder journey than most.
Anton himself is no stranger to Rockynats, being the main man behind Jamie and Allison Cramp’s XDUB Falcon panel van that debuted at Rockynats 2024. He also built Jim McClaren’s ENVIE HQ Monaro that is the current Red CentreNATS Grand Champion. So safe to say, the bloke knows a thing or two about building a nice car.
When Anton and his crew first received the SIXTY5 Mustang a few years back, it didn’t take long to discover all was not well under the red duco.
“It was freshly imported and the owner didn’t like the colour. So we had a good look at it and found a few other things the owner wasn’t going to like.” Anton laughs.
From when inspections began, warning signs began to pop up in the build.
“For starters, we thought the seatbelts looked a bit off and we soon discovered they had been attached to the roof skin with silicone! So that was a sign that while the car looked nice on the outside, that it may not have been a quality restoration under the skin.”
Once the team started digging deeper, the true condition of the Mustang became clear.
“It was very rough. The body was full of bog, someone had stuffed food wrappers into the sills and glassed over them. The floors were rotted out.”
At that point, there was only one real solution – a full nut and bolt rebuild.
Anton explained, “I like to use the original panels where I can, but in this case, we used aftermarket rear quarters and floors.”
With the body finally sorted, attention turned to the driveline. The Mustang arrived with a Windsor V8 already in place, but the owner decided to upgrade it while the build was underway.
“The owner opted to upgrade a few other things while we were there. The car came with a nice Windsor in, so we freshened it up as a 347 stroker, with a CVF serpentine pulley kit. Wanting something low-maintenance, we put a Sniper 2 EFI set up on it instead of a carby. We ended up with around 370rwhp. That’s heaps in a light car like this!”
Supporting hardware was upgraded to match, with a C4 and 9in combo, an RRS power steering rack conversion, Wilwood disc brakes and Koni adjustable shocks all round, while 18-inch Foose billets finish off the stance.
Inside, the focus was to deliver refinement, making the car feel as solid and comfortable as possible whilst keeping its’ classic charm intact.
“A big part of that is using high quality sound insulation materials and fitting them correctly, as well as looking at foam densities and carpet underlays. In the old days, we used to just slap in some insulation and hope for the best, but I’ve learned a lot about sound resonance in cars from some very smart people and now I know what is necessary to make a really noticeable difference.”
Those lessons paid off once the car finally hit the road. “These ‘65 Mustangs are particularly open and tinny, so I was really looking forward to that first drive to see the difference! And yep, it is nice and quiet like a new car.”
The finished car is now completely restored and ready for its Rockynats debut. “Everything in the car is new, right down to new glass and window regulators – all the little details that make a big difference if you want the car to feel brand new.”
The build also benefits from Vintage Air, power steering and a modern stereo, along with new glass, window regulators and fresh trim with subtle retro striping.
The deep BMW Tanzanite Blue paint provides the final visual hit — a colour choice that ended up having a personal connection for the owner.
“The paint is BMW Tanzanite Blue and in fact, the owner bought his wife an M3 in the same colour. He drove the Mustang to the dealer to show them and they couldn’t believe how punchy the paint was
compared to the factory job.”
“This Mustang really took on a life of its own,” Anton laughs, “but the owner loves it and it puts a big smile on his face.”
If you want to be amongst the first to see SIXTY5 in the metal, make sure to head to Meguiar’s Elite Pavilion at Rockynats on Friday 17th April.
About Rockynats 06
17-19 April 2026
Set along the iconic Quay, East and Bolsover Streets in the CBD, combined with our Northside Burnouts and Showgrounds Precincts, the city of Rockhampton will take centre stage for a revving-good me at Rare Spares Rockynats!
Rockynats 06 is proudly brought to you by Rockhampton Regional Council in association with Summernats, naming partners Rare Spares and Repco, and is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland. The event wouldn’t be possible without our event partners Buddy’s Fire, Tuned by Chop, OzWheels, FMX Kaos, Insane Performance, SWL Racing, Meguiars, Aeroflow, Ingenia Holiday Parks, Pedders Rockhampton, Bravus, Frenchville Sports Club, Dobinsons Spring and Suspension and JRT Civil Pty Ltd.
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