There are two distinct build paths a project can take — an extensive ground up restoration or taking over someone’s cast-off project car.

In going ground-up, the builder/owner has total control of the process from teardown to fire-up, and oversees everything that ends up on his mind boggling dream machine.

Taking over a project mid-build gets you farther down the road to completion but you give away the oversight of the already-completed parts of the project — while also deferring some of the costs. Often times it the last 10 percent of the build that sets the car off… gives it your personality, some of your flavor.. so you still get that first rate, show-stopping hot rod floating in your mind, without all the hassle of starting from scratch.

The classic car marketplace always seems to have an abundance of unfinished project cars, as well as underwhelming builds that are in desperate need of some upgrades. So, when building the Mustang that he always wanted in his life, enthusiast.

Mike Cornette of Locust, New Jersey was open minded as he searched for the “Mustang that he always wanted in his life.” Now, Mike is no stranger to the Ford pony car, as he had owned several examples over the years. “My first car was a ’68 Mustang coupe. It had a 302-cubic-inch V8 and was painted a color called Sunburst, which was on a Mustang that won its class at the big Nassau Coliseum car show in ’68. I paid $500 for the car as it needed a ton of work, including body work. I got my fellow underclassman football players to help me scrape the old paint off the car by offering to drive them to football practice. Then I got my uncle to paint it that Sunburst for me,” states Mike.

New Beginnings

Mike found his needy Mustang on a web-based marketplace site and quickly realized that this ’69 was the right car at the right price. The sporty Ford had several things going for it, including a healthy 302-inch small block under the hood, a decent body, and it was a running and driving vehicle. The Mustang was fine for the meantime, but Mike knew he wanted this one to be much better — he wanted was a showstopper. The pony car would be a top-notch driveline built with modern amendments, and a classic look that reminded him of those killer rides on the street when he grew up.

So Mike buckled down and found a shop that would make his vision a reality. He didn’t look far, tapping his local mechanic, Kris Ott, who worked on his other vehicles.

The first thing that Kris and Mike tackled was the body and paint, as they did find some small issues. Tony D’s Auto Body in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey did the metal and body work and prepped the Blue Oval for paint. Local paint guru Matthew Cardile sprayed the Mustang with a base/clear in Ford Indian Fire Red, an original color for ‘69. Once the paint was set, the car was ready for the next phase of Mike’s restoration playbook. So, the Ford went back to Kris’ home shop and was prepped for some mechanical intervention.

Shop Holley’s entire lineup of 1964 to 1973 Ford Mustang parts here.

Mike knew all along that he wanted all the dependability that electronic fuel injection offered, so he went to the Holley Performance website and ordered everything he would need to get this small-block Ford running at its highest level. There he put together a rodder’s recipe of fuel system products, starting with the Holley 1969 to 1970 OE style EFI fuel tank and 255 LPH EFI fuel tank module. Next, he ordered up a Sniper HyperSpark EFI ignition, along with the corresponding HyperSpark coil. A Hall EFI distributor was added to the order, along with the miscellaneous hoses and connectors. Last but not least, Mike ordered up the Sniper 2 carb-to-EFI conversion kit in the polished finish, to feed this pumped-up-pony the fuel it would need.

From Pony To Stallion

Kris started the build on the fuel system. He installed the Holley EFI tank and pump out back and added the corresponding ignition parts and pieces. The icing on this cake was the new Holley Sniper 2 unit which sat prominently on the four-barrel intake. Once dialed in the Mustang came to life, and Mike couldn’t have been happier with the results. “It was life changing for me. No more vapor lock, and no more seasonal carb adjustments. It was a home run.”

Dialing in the fuel system was a major milestone in transforming this '69 Mustang, but Mike knew there was still more work to do. Next on the list was swapping the factory automatic for something a little more engaging. Wanting to row through the gears like he did back in the day, he installed a Tremec T-5z five-speed transmission, paired with a Hurst shifter that fits perfectly between the bucket seats.

To help the small-block breathe, the factory cast-iron exhaust manifolds were replaced with a set of Hedman headers. From there, a complete Flowmaster exhaust system gives the Mustang the unmistakable rumble every classic muscle car deserves.

Comfort received an upgrade as well, with the addition of air conditioning—a welcome improvement over simply rolling down the windows on a hot summer day. Inside, Mike kept the interior largely original, adding only a few discreet gauges to monitor the engine's vital signs. The classic Cragar wheels remained in place, perfectly complementing the Mustang's timeless look. To light the way on late-night cruises, Kris finished things off with a set of Holley RetroBright LED headlights that deliver modern visibility while preserving the car's vintage appearance.

When the project was complete, Mike couldn't have been happier with the results. “Once I installed the Holley Sniper 2 set up, along with the modern Tremec T-5z transmission, the car woke up, and became a fast and reliable daily driver. It’s just a blast to drive now.” Keep track of this Mustang’s journey on IG at @69fastbacknette.

Shop Holley’s entire lineup of 1964 to 1973 Ford Mustang parts here.