Phillip Tarlton’s 1965 Mustang Fastback 

The term “Pro Street” has been used for decades, often referring to any car with a 6-71 roots blower poking through the hood, spring-loaded wheelie bars, and oversized drag radials tucked under the rear fenders. In its true essence, though, the modern Pro Street movement pays homage to the ’80s drag racing scene with its exuberant excess of wild aesthetics and high-horsepower power plants. 

Now, there is a growing trend of owners converting their former drag race cars into streetable machines. These retired racers still pack serious power under the hood and retain the traditional look, but the quality of craftsmanship has skyrocketed, with special attention to body, paint, and drivability. Phillip Tarlton’s 1965 Mustang has reset the standard for what a proper Pro Street should be and the photos alone don’t do the car justice. 

An Early Start

Phillip was always a fan of drag racing, and growing up in South Carolina, it could sometimes be a way of life. Although his brother had numerous hot rods, it was his Mustang that captivated the teenage Phillip. Even old photos show the teenage Phillip standing proudly by the door of his brother’s creation.

The Mustang didn’t originally belong to the Tarlton family. It was initially owned by a lady who used it as a daily driver for six years before the eldest brother picked it up and decided to make it his bracket car. The Mustang quickly became a staple at the local drag strip, but more importantly, it taught the younger brother the ins and outs of drag racing.

A young Phillip Tarlton stands next to his brother’s bracket car.

“We carried two slicks in the back, and once we arrived at the track, I’d crawl under the front and remove the mufflers while my brother was jacking up the rear and installing the drag tires,” says Phillip. “The car was rough, very rough, but that’s what bracket cars were at the time.”

The racing combination was simple: a 289 cubic-inch small-block with 351 Windsor heads mounted atop and a top-loader four-speed transmission. The older brother raced the car for the better part of 21 years until he finally offered it to the younger Tarlton. Although the timing was terrible, as Phillip was building a house, he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to own the car he’d waited two decades for. He made it happen by selling a few vehicles to get the old fastback into his hands.

Eyes On The 28.5

The car had lived a rough life on the drag…