About Dorian Quispe
1967 Mustang Fastback owner · Los Angeles, CA
The Car That Started This
In 2022, I bought a 1967 Mustang Fastback — the same body style that Steve McQueen made famous in Bullitt. It needed everything: rust repair, a full engine rebuild, interior restoration, new suspension, and a respray. I had a budget in mind. The car had other ideas.
Getting real cost estimates in Los Angeles turned out to be harder than I expected. Shops quoted wildly different numbers. Online forums gave decade-old figures. Nobody was publishing honest, current, LA-specific cost breakdowns that actually helped you plan a budget.
So I started interviewing shops. I called every Mustang specialist I could find in the LA area — from Burbank to Long Beach, from Santa Monica to Pasadena. I documented their rates, their processes, and the variables that move the needle on price. Then I wrote it all down.
That's what this site is: the guide I wish existed when I started.
Research Methodology
Every cost guide on this site is based on:
- Direct shop interviews — In-person and phone interviews with LA-area Mustang restoration specialists, conducted 2024–2025.
- Real estimates — Quotes obtained for specific repair scopes on a 1967 Mustang Fastback and similar first-generation models (1965–1970).
- Parts vendor research — Pricing from major Mustang parts suppliers including NPD, CJ Pony Parts, and Mustangs Unlimited.
- Owner community data — Cross-referenced with cost reports from Mustang owners on forums and local clubs.
- Annual updates — Prices are reviewed and updated as labor rates and parts costs change.
All figures represent realistic ranges based on LA-area shop rates ($150–$175/hr for specialists). Your actual costs will vary depending on your car's condition, year, and the scope of work.
My Car
The 1967 Fastback is a numbers-matching car with the original 289 V8. Restoration is ongoing — which means I'm constantly encountering new problems, getting new estimates, and updating these guides with what I learn.
Classic car restoration is expensive, slow, and often humbling. It is also, categorically, worth it.
Contact
Questions, corrections, or want to share your own restoration experience? Reach out at [email protected]
Explore the guides: