Sacramento auto recycler spent $40K and two years grafting a 2024 Model 3 dual-motor drivetrain and working FSD (Supervised) into a 1966 Mustang shell.
Key Takeaways
Build uses three grafted sections of a 2024 Model 3 floor, shortened battery case, and dual-motor setup producing ~400 hp and 0-60 in 3.5 seconds.
Tesla camera array was retrofitted to the Mustang body, enabling Autopilot, Sentry Mode, FSD, Summon, and OTA firmware updates via the 15-inch touchscreen.
Efficiency hits 258 Wh/mi, matching a stock Model 3 despite the Mustang’s worse aerodynamics.
FSD functioning despite non-standard camera angles and mount geometry suggests Tesla’s vision-based neural net tolerates significant positional variance.
Total cost ~$40K compares favorably to commercial EV conversion shops like Arc Motor Company starting at $75K for similar Tesla-battery builds.
Hacker News Comment Review
Commenters note Tesla EV conversions are not new; the FSD activation is the novel element, but only two comments exist and discussion is thin.
One commenter directly challenges the article’s claim that this proves Tesla’s stack is “more portable” – passion project retrofits share little with OEM manufacturing integration.
