Is this a good idea or a bad one? A company in Russia, KB Arkhipov is remaking the 1967 Ford Mustang fastback. The interior will be updated, the body will be carbon fiber, and the drivetrain will come from a Tesla. It’s called the “Aviar R67.” We first heard about this a while ago and dismissed it. Now, however, progress has clipped along and the company has just posted images of its carbon fiber fastback body. So, while America is trying to develop autonomous cars and flying taxis, Russia remakes a 1967 Ford Mustang fastback with a Tesla drivetrain.

The Russian Mustang will have an aluminum and carbon fiber chassis to save weight

What we know so far is that the R67 will have an aluminum/carbon fiber chassis underpinning a 1967 Mustang fastback. Keeping the chassis lightweight helps to offset the weight of the batteries. The drive system is scavenged from a Tesla Model S. 

The R67 utilizes both the front and rear Model S subframes so that everything remains compatible. Those 1967 Mustang carbon fiber bodies are then planted onto the Tesla components. Combined this makes for a very rigid car.

With the Tesla Model S drivetrain, there’s 840 hp for the Russian Mustang

The Tesla Model S electric motors and all-wheel drive powertrain means there’s 840 hp. Estimates for times speculate 0-62 mph in 2.2 seconds. The top speed is said to be 155 mph. The range is similar to the Model S at 315 miles. A stock Model S gets a 348-mile range. So, it’s hard to say why the range is shorter.

Inside more Tesla Model S components can be seen. The touchscreen and Tesla features like the keyless entry, auto-dim mirrors, WiFi, climate control, heated power seats, and heated steering wheel. Five airbags are also part of the package.

All of the electronic features means this also must use a standard Tesla ECU

All of this is somewhat expected because it makes it easier to adapt to the Tesla ECU. Since the ECU was originally meant to communicate with all of the electronic functions if they were all transferred to the Mustang then the computer doesn’t know it’s not a Tesla. Let’s face it, the Russians find it easier to copy than to innovate. That is unless you consider the Trabant innovative.

Comparing the digital rendering with the carbon fiber body it looks like there have been liberties taken with certain features of the R67. The obvious change is the rocker climbing as it goes back, the cove in the side being deeper and taller, the vents in the C-pillar, and the bone-line running into the rear quarters.

The styling deviations are probably a result of changes to avoid a Ford licensing agreement

Another deviation from an original 1967 Mustang is the rear bumper wings that are taller. Some of these changes may have something to do with international design patents. That, or they may just illustrate the whims of the sculptor. 

With certain facts about the R67 still a bit mysterious it is difficult to determine exactly what the whole plan is. It would also be interesting to know if this is licensed by Ford or just pirated. If the quality is there and the license exists there is a possibility of selling it globally. We’ll have to wait a bit more and see where this all goes.