Old Ford Mustangs never die; they are becoming the ultimate accessory for the motoring enthusiast – a handmade watch, crafted from components originally used in the classic car.
Ford of Britain says the watches, which cost $1,495 and up, are the brainchild of Christian Mygh and Jonathan Kamstrup.
They scour salvage yards around the world looking for scrapped Mustangs that can be transformed into hundreds of unique timepieces.
Mygh says most people just see a pile of metal, a ghost of a Mustang, in one of the scrapped models. “We see something completely different – the soul of a car and a story that needs to be told,” he says in a statement.
To ensure these stories are told, REC Watches, based in Denmark, traces the history of each vehicle, talks with previous owners, collecting stories and images from the car’s past lives, and incorporates them into a unique video.
Each watch incorporates the vehicle identification number, year of production and classic Mustang design cues. A power dial designed to look like a fuel gauge shows remaining battery life, and the hands, date and dial numbers all are influenced by the iconic car’s dashboard.
“I’m not cutting up Mustangs,” Mygh says. “I’m bringing Mustangs that are beyond repair back to life as a watch.”
For the true Mustang enthusiast, REC Watches will create an entirely new watch from parts donated by customers, including world-champion drifter Vaughn Gittin Jr., who wears a watch that includes carbon-fiber bodywork from his 700-hp World Drift Series Ford Mustang RTR.
On one trip to Sweden, the team struck gold with a rare ’66 Raven Black model that has become the basis for a limited edition P51-04 collection of 250 watches.
Named after a World War II fighter plane and launched in 1964, the Mustang’s radical styling and aggressive performance made it an instant classic. Its superstar status was cemented by a starring role in the 1968 action movie “Bullitt” with Steve McQueen, as well as songs and films focused on or incorporating the groundbreaking car.
The modern-day Ford Mustang keeps the excitement alive with its 460-hp 5.0L V-8 and 310-hp engine and 2.3L EcoBoost unit.
They have a way to go before they are ready for the watch makers of Denmark.
