My interest in Mustangs began in the fall of 1985 while I was still a Junior in high school.  I remember walking into my auto shop class one morning and sitting there was this Red car.  Even with not knowing for sure what kind of car it actually was, I did know that in fact, I liked the look of the car. 
As I walked around trying to take it all in, I saw the Mach 1 Mustang letters on the fender and thought, “Wow! This is a Mustang?”  From that day forward the 71 Mach 1 has been and always will be my ideal car.  In August of 1987, three months after graduation, I was able to purchase my first Mach 1. 

Shortly there after my brother-in-law asked me if I had seen the James Bond movie “Diamonds Are Forever” as it featured a Red ‘71 Mach 1 as the “Bond Car”.  
So of course I went down to the nearest video store and rented a copy.  After watching the movie numerous times and doing a bit of research I found out ironically, that the movie cars were actually prepped at a Ford dealership located in Chandler, AZ  before being sent on to Las Vegas for filming.

In 2003, I received a “Diamonds Are Forever” DVD for my birthday and after seeing the Mach 1 drive the streets of Las Vegas my desire to due a “Bond” clone car was born.  I sold my ’72 Mach 1 because it was already restored and not a candidate for a clone. The search began for a ’71.  Luckily it only took a few weeks for me to find a car that I thought would be a perfect candidate for my “007 Clone”.

Upon getting the car home I immediately started working on it since I knew it was going to need a full restoration.  The further into the car I got I began noticing more than a few similarities to the car I remembered from high school auto shop class.  Feeling a bit nostalgic, I started to think could this be the same car?  It’s been 18 years, and what are the chances that it would still be around. 

 As I began taking apart the dash a piece of yellowed paper fell from behind the glove compartment; it was the insurance card with the guys name and address who had owned the car back in high school.  So here was proof, it was the very same car!  Which made me all the more excited to start my clone project.

Between the “Bond” car website, the movie, and a magazine article from Mustang Monthly that featured the 429-movie car; I’ve been able to piece together how the car was equipped.  The only differences between my car and the movie car will be that mine has a 4-speed transmission and no A/C.  Everything else will match the movie car, including the undercarriage.  I decided not to change the transmission because I find that a 4-speed is far more desirable and fun to drive when it comes to a muscle car.  I elected not to install A/C because the car is a factory non-A/C car and I did not want to cut the firewall.

Mechanically the engine and transmission have been redone to stock specifications. The carburetor is a Motorcraft 4300D spread bore 4-barrel with a new reproduction Ram Air setup.  The valve covers are the finned aluminum style.

 The main body was in good shape and needed little prep work.  The roof, the rear quarter panels, and the rocker panels only required minor sanding.  However the trunk lid and hood were replaced with brand new panels and the front fenders and doors were removed so they could be media blasted.  All of the drip rails and window trim pieces were polished and the rear bumper was rechromed.

The interior was completely redone to match the Vermillion Mach 1 interior of the movie car.  The floor inside the car was sanded down and repainted to the body color.  I stripped and painted all of the seat frames before installing new seat foam and the Vermilion seat covers. 
The metal frame of the dash was media blasted before installing a new wire harness that will allow for the use of a factory tachometer. The dash trim panels (bezels) were rechromed and painted black and are awaiting installation.  All of the interior panels will be painted red as well.

I was able to obtain a two spoke deluxe steering wheel and a set of the deluxe seat belts along with an original AM/FM Stereo radio.

Well the project is well underway. Since my car was an original 351Cleveland car with a 4 speed transmission I decided not to change it to a 429. However there was a 351 car used in the making of the movie so this is not an incorrect replica. 

Everything else on the car will be done like the car in the movie. Interior color, body side moldings, wheels and tires etc.  

I even had an exact replica of the Nevada licence plate made with the same plate number as the one on the car in the movie.

The finishing touch will be a set of reproduction Wide Oval pinstripe whitewall tires on standard wheels with hubcaps and trim rings along with a reproduction 1971 Nevada license plate with the same number (CA52H6) as the “Bond Car”.

Remember, this car is still a work in progress.  If everything progresses well I hope to have it completed by early 2008, ok. lets correct 2009 :).

More progress 2008
I am making progress. The suspension is done and the car is back on the ground. I have the engine and transmission installed as well. The headliner is in as well as the drip rail moldings on both sides. The dash and gauges are done and will be going back in the car soon as well.

I have the firewall insulation pad and the emergency brake assembly installed. 

One of the next things was to install the rear window and the clutch and brake pedal assemblies. 

..and 2008
Next the heater assembly will go in and then the dash assembly. The back window is also ready to go in as the steering column and the suspension items.

II have the undercarriage done incl. the gas tanke xcept for the driveshaft which I am still working on now. 

Power Steering components before and after restoration

March 2009:
I should have the correct date coded windshield in a week or two.  I still am trying to find a correct original radiator.  Once I have that I will be able to get the car running.  That is about the only thing remaining mechanically.  

The taillight panel blackout photo shows the correct paint applied so that the body color does not show on the ends of the honeycomb panel and around the gas cap.  The sealer has also been applied to the taillight panel as shown in the factory assembly manual.  

The front end of the car is complete and now even has a replica of the Nevada license plate like the car in the Diamonds are forever movie.  

The outside of the car is complete except for reproduction tires.  I may have sent some of the photos to you before so sorry if there are duplicates.

The next photos I send will probably be of the completed car. I am finally seeing the light at the end of the long tunnel! 

Headlight assembly installed

Rear underlayment put in place

When it comes to the decals you can see the light at the end of the tunnel like Dennis did.

 The car will appear finally in 2010 on the show circuits as one of the best replicas around.