1966 Mustang reborn as a Tesla with working Full Self-Driving

A Tesla auto parts shop owner in Sacramento, California, has completed a remarkable two-year project: transforming a classic 1966 Ford Mustang into a fully electric vehicle powered by Tesla's own drivetrain. The total investment came to approximately $40,000, a significant but arguably worthwhile price for a one-of-a-kind machine.

Under the hood — and throughout the cabin — the Mustang now runs a Model 3 dual-motor drivetrain paired with Tesla's 15-inch touchscreen interface. The result is a car that looks like a piece of American automotive history on the outside, but operates like a modern Tesla on the inside.

The most groundbreaking aspect of this build is the successful integration of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software. According to the builder, this is almost certainly the first non-Tesla vehicle ever to run FSD in a functional capacity — a feat that underscores both the technical depth of the project and the flexibility of Tesla's hardware ecosystem when pushed to its limits.

In terms of efficiency, the converted Mustang achieves 258 Wh/mile, closely matching the real-world consumption of a standard Model 3. While EV conversions are growing in popularity globally, regulatory approval for road use varies widely by country — in the EU, such vehicles typically require individual type approval before they can be legally driven on public roads.