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Ford Mustang VIN number 6F87CT85151 lived a rather average life. Born in early 1966, it toured the roads in style and power for years before it fell by the wayside after a minor accident. Left to sit in a field for far too long, what started as an easily repairable issue became unsalvageable as rust and decay set in. With a production run of over 600,000 in 1966 alone, it’s by no means a unique story. Still, when talking about such an icon, it’s always sad to see one fall through the cracks and become lost forever. Luckily for 6F87CT85151 and for the rest of us, the story didn’t end there. Dead as it was, the Mustang still had more to give, and thanks to its owner’s generous donation, VIN number 6F87CT85151 sacrificed its body to bring us this- the REC P-51.
The P-51, named for the Ford Mustang’s famous warbird namesake, is the fourth effort for Danish brand REC and the fullest extension of their unique mission- to create evocative, attractive timepieces out of reclaimed automotive materials. Mustang DNA is plentiful here, and as a design exercise there’s no denying it’s a striking achievement, full of clever elements and callbacks to the ’66 in three separate colorways. The P-51 is also REC’s first mechanical offering, and offers a hi-beat Miyota movement with a sapphire crystal, stainless steel and PVD case, and a rare-for-a-microbrand power reserve indicator at a reasonable $896.00 for early Kickstarter supporters ($1495 retail). But what is the P-51 like to live with?
