Street Cruisin' Man

Jonathan Danaskos’s street-driven mustang toughie blends classic style with a show-winning finish and 10-second timeslips

- Iain Kelly

Some punters reckon early examples of the Ford Mustang are a bit limp, but Jonathan Danaskos’s wicked-tough ’65 ’Stang headbutts that opinion into a low orbit with its fat stance and 620hp small-block Ford. A regular cruiser on Sydney streets, it’s also run a 10 at the track – and is still neat enough to take out the Slam Champion award, the top gong at Summernats Slam!

“The car was pretty much built by my dad and me – actually, mostly my dad, Sam,” laughs Jono. “We call ourselves Danaskos Garage. Dad has had a ’66 Mustang since I was a kid, so I was always getting a Mustang! Back when I got my licence, everyone was into the turbo Jap stuff – I had a pretty quick Toyota Starlet GT – but V8s were always where my heart was.

“When I decided to sell my TC Cortina Super Street drag car, I kept the motor and ’box, as I was on the hunt for a Mustang roller. A red coupe popped up on eBay on the Gold Coast, and the flights were booked that night! The Cortina was good fun and ran mid-nines, but it was time for a tough streeter to enjoy with the family and the boys.”

The Mustang was bought as a rolling shell and in factory trim. Jono and Sam cracked on and had it on the road by May 2015, in time for Jono’s son Levi to arrive. It was a regular sight at cruises around Sydney, but the work didn’t stop.