Yaro Shcherbanyuk, who runs Calimotive Auto Recycling in Rancho Cordova, spent roughly $40,000 and two years turning a 1966 Ford Mustang into a Tesla‑powered EV. He grafted the 2024 Model 3’s dual‑motor drivetrain, 15‑inch touchscreen, and battery pack into the classic shell, preserving the original dimensions and retains its iconic silhouette. The conversion delivers about 400 hp, 471 lb‑ft of torque and 0‑60 mph in 3.5 seconds.

Beyond hardware, Shcherbanyuk retrofitted Tesla’s camera suite, enabling Autopilot, Sentry Mode and Full Self-Driving (supervised) on the vintage chassis. The Mustang now streams firmware OTA, uses the Model 3’s 15‑inch screen for all controls, and even sports a Cybertruck‑style yoke. Test drives showed 258 Wh/mi efficiency and roughly 194 miles of range at 80 % battery, matching a stock Model 3 while preserving driver feel.

The project proves Tesla’s hardware and vision stack can operate on non‑standard vehicle geometry, a point Musk has cited when discussing FSD licensing. At half the price of commercial conversion kits, the build underscores a growing DIY EV‑retro market valued at $5.9 billion in 2024. Shcherbanyuk’s Mustang demonstrates that a classic car can run modern autonomous software without OEM support for enthusiasts and engineers alike.