Matt Korczyk Despite being a die-hard DIY type with more ongoing projects than a film studio, I’m not what you’d call a “truck guy.” I appreciate them for their capabilities, but I’ve never really felt compelled to carve out driveway space for one. I’m a bit too high on horsepower and handling chops to get excited about big, practical pickups. But a ute, like this one-off Ford Mustang with a factory-engineered bed? In the immortal words of the sultan of Hatay, I even like the color. In fact, this machine looks suspiciously similar to a Mustang GT350 R I drove several years ago. It could very well be; prototypes and press vehicles are often consigned to the crusher after their jobs are done. By comparison, giving one to some metal shop apprentices seems like a stay of execution. The project gave apprentices the opportunity to hone their skills on their own concept vehicle. In place of the Mustang’s rear seat and ample trunk, there’s a surprisingly large pickup bed (parts of which were lifted from a production Ranger, Ford says). The students even fashioned the rear panel of the trunk into a makeshift tailgate, which you can see open here. It’s no Ranchero, I’ll readily admit. The short bed gives Hyundai Santa Cruz vibes moreso than Ford Maverick, but the shape works oddly well from most angles. The front three-quarter view might be a bit too Baja-ish for my tastes, but that’s nothing a more substantial bed wouldn’t fix. The added ground clearance doesn’t do it any favors, either, but that’s fixable with either shorter springs or taller sidewalls. So, how ’bout it, Ford? Can you slap a Dakar-style suspension on this thing and turn us loose to terrorize some local rallycrosses? It would look awfully nice in the driveway next to one of those (cough) rumored sedans…
