--- title: "Ford Built a Mustang With a Pickup Bed. Where Do I Send My Deposit?" date: "2026-10-09" modified: "2026-10-09" authors: - name: "Byron Hurd" job_title: "Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/byron-hurd.md" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/ford-built-a-mustang-with-a-pickup-bed-where-do-i-send-my-deposit" categories: - "Ford News" - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Trucks" tags: - "Coupe" - "Ford" - "Mustang" - "pickup" - "sports car" - "ute" --- # Ford Built a Mustang With a Pickup Bed. Where Do I Send My Deposit? ![Ford Mustang Ute]() *\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](). https://www.instagram.com/p/Dd1hN5XlD-X/?img_index=1 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]()... *Got a story tip? Let us know at tips@thedrive.com!* ## Author Byron is an editor at The Drive with a keen eye for infrastructure, sales and regulatory stories. He brings a light, punchy style to all of his content, believing that there's plenty out there to be laughed at—himself included. Born and raised in Maryland but now based just a stone's throw from Detroit, Byron is an auto enthusiast and generalist who enjoys building and tinkering with things of all kinds, from cars, computers and digital cityscapes, to the new garage that will soon house his fleet (a CT4-V Blackwing, a JK Wrangler and an NA Miata). Inspired by an early love of rollercoasters, Byron quickly caught the high-performance driving itch. He's been tracking and auto-crossing his cars since 2007. In his downtime, Byron enjoys reading, playing city builders, and studying the history of the Motor City. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()