The ‘60s Ford Mustang is an icon of American motoring thanks in part to a beautiful design and ample power. However, they weren’t luxury vehicles, so while nice, the interior wasn’t exactly opulent. For a new project, Carlex Design Europe has risen to the challenge of keeping the ‘Stang’s classic exterior but making the inside thoroughly modern.

The firm’s work on this 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback keeps the best parts like the original gauge layout and three-spoke steering wheel, but major updates abound elsewhere. Carlex uses carbon fiber for most of the trim, including large pieces of the lightweight material across the dashboard and down the center tunnel. Black nubuck leather replaces the original upholstery and headliner, and its slightly distressed finish gives the sense of age to the classic Ford. To keep the interior from being too dark, the company installs a combination of silver and chrome fittings.

Carlex’s work looks fantastic, but there’s one element that lets their updates down. The extra gauges on the A-pillar just don’t fit with the Mustang’s classic look. The rest of the firm’s design perfectly mixes classic and modern touches, but these instruments remind us too much of tuner cars from the ‘90s. They just don’t match with the rest of this coupe’s high-end style.

Source: Carlex Design Europe

Gallery: 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback by Carlex Design Europe

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A new interpretation of 1967 Ford Mustang - Fastback

by Carlex Design

Ford Mustang - the most exciting model for all the fans of the brand. Its outstanding performance and timeless design won the hearts of Americans from the very beginning, and it went down in history almost as cultural heritage. This car is legendary- it never ages, and what is more, the older it gets, the more desirable it becomes.

Designers at Carlex Design cherish working with such classics, as creating such an interpretation of the interior that will stand out as ingenious, but at the same time will allow to retain the original character of the vehicle presents quite a challenge. The body of 1967 Mustang Fastback remained virtually unchanged. It would have been a crime to improve a design that is already excellent, and specialists from Carlex Design are all well aware of it. The only change was a slight modification of the suspension for a more modern one, and the one adapted to European roads.

While Mustang is a masterpiece of the American automotive industry in terms of both performance, and the entire external body, the interior leaves much to be desired. Back in the days of the car’s glory, a strong technological paradigm prevailed in the US automotive market. It focused mainly on innovation and performance, leaving behind aesthetic issues. Unique interiors are Carlex Design’s area of expertise thus the project was even more interesting to them.

The entire interior is kept in dark colors and its climate can be described as modern Rock`n`Roll. Upholstery is a combination of black nubuck and leather, which gives the design strict and masculine elegance. The project has used carbon fiber due to which the car gets an aggresive sporty look.

Intriguingly emossed cut pattern and additional thick thread stitching on the seats of the original Mustang are the perfect compromise between the modern and the original designs of the car. The patterns are also an allusion to the handmade silver screw caps, which are the merit of Carlex Design Jeweller’s Atelier . Moreover, the chrome elements of the clock and speedometer bezels perfectly break the strict asceticism of the whole interior.

The floor was entirely lined with smooth black leather and then fitted with custom made mats. Brave, yet extremely interesting solution was to use carbon fiber on the entire hub of the three- spoke steering wheel of Mustang, which in combination with silver looks really posh.

Handmade carbon elements can also be found on the central console, door boards, as well as the dashboard. The project created by Carlex Design is a proof that innovative design does not have to be flashy and overdone to look spectacular.