Even though the 1966 Mustang could be ordered in a tasteful palette of 18 paint colors, from Emberglo to Tahoe Turquoise, the original owners of this well-preserved hardtop opted for this very attractive Rose Metallic, one of 25 color options available on the 1966 Thunderbird. I can’t recall ever seeing a ’66 ‘Bird in this color, but I Googled it and, sure enough, Thunderbird’s Code O is Rose Metallic. The second owner of this low mileage (85,427) special order California coupe lives in Rio Rico, Arizona (45 minutes south of Tucson) and has it listed for sale here on craigslist for $27,500 but is open to “serious” cash offers..
As you readers know, 1966 was a historic year for the wildly-popular Mustang with 607,568 built, and over 80% being hardtops. The factory original window sticker is included showing that it was built in San Jose, California and delivered to Huntington Motors in Arcadia, California. With a base price of $2,416, options added included Exhaust Emission Control, Cruse-O-Matic transmission, white sidewall tires, wire wheel covers, an AM radio, and a tinted windshield. With delivery charges added in, the window sticker price totaled $2,947.
The seller claims this Mustang has spent its entire life (obviously garaged) in California and it shows no signs of rust. Words like “original” and in a “pristine and untouched state” are used to describe it, so I’m assuming it’s wearing the original special-order Rose Metallic paint. If so, it is very good condition. Overall, I can’t find any major faults with this Mustang’s straight, solid exterior as the chrome, trim, glass, lenses, and wire wheel covers all look impressive.
There aren’t many photos of the interior, but it appears to be in good condition except for the original black carpet which has faded. Ford described the Mustang’s all-vinyl interior to be “as rugged as it is handsome,” and the shiny black bucket and rear seats along with the dash and steering wheel are well preserved. No photos of the headliner are included and the floor-mounted T-bar selector shows this Mustang was ordered with the optional Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission.
When I listed the factory options, the $105 optional 289-cubic-inch V8 wasn’t on there. Like about 40% of all ’66 Mustangs, this one left the San Jose factory with the base 200-cubic-inch, 120-horsepower Inline-Six engine which Ford described as both frisky and thrifty. It has 85,427 original miles on the clock and the engine looks as neat and tidy as the rest of this Mustang. The seller claims that “everything works as it should,” and based on the photos, I’d believe it. I’m not sure how many special-color Mustangs were ordered in 1966, but this pampered one claims to be the only one of 499,751 hardtops that left the factory in Thunderbird’s Rose Metallic. Making this a true horse of a different color.
What a different and gorgeous early Mustang! The colour, in my view, is the perfect compliment for the equipment ordered (auto, 6). I wouldn’t change a thing (perhaps a period set of aftermarket wheels as I’ve never been a fan of wire spoke hubcaps). One of one doesn’t always make it valuable, and doesn’t do it in this case.
Price is STEEP, seller seems a bit snotty too (“time is precious”, won’t help with shipping, etc). Seems like a $20k car max to me. He can say all day that it is dry and rot free underneath, but is asking a lot of cash for a car with no underbody pics….
cheers,
BT
I guess it is just my interpretation, but I didn’t detect any snottiness or unhelpfulness in the ad from the seller. Having sold several cars on Craigslist myself I have also gotten all those lowball and scam texts and e-mails too. It seemed like at least 90% were a complete waste of time(probably a majority are the “Is it still available” e-mails computer-generated e-mails sent by the scammers to all who post ads regardless of what the “IT” is; why the poster used a combo of numbers and words to provide his phone number). It is VERY tiring, so I think the seller is just trying to wave off those folks from the start, not that it will likely do any good. The shipping part I think was not about not being cooperative with a buyer’s shipping arrangements, but rather a reference to the scams where they “buyer” claims to be happy to pay your full asking price(sometimes even more!) but it involves some shipping deal that is really just a scam to steal the car.
SteVen,
This: “why the poster used a combo of numbers and words to provide his phone number”. I didn’t know that! Still learning, I guess :)
cheers,
bt
Ron, it is a Craig list ad not an EBay ad.
If I was to shell out big bucks for a 66 Mustang it would have to have a 289 V8 (preferably a K code). Since one of the first cars I drove was a 66 auto, having a slush box would be okay with me. I would also prefer Silver Blue paint to match the car I drove.
D’Oh! Thanks. I’ve changed it to craigslist…
Mary Kay Cosmetics should have used this color on the cars presented to their top sellers.
I like this one because its a 6cyl. And its a different color from what you normally see. If I hadn’t just dropped $11k on my new daily I would gave this some serious thought to be my daily driver.
Very nice car. I love the color and would consider it if I ever decided to do a color change to my Vintage Burgundy ’66 hardtop(35K miles, bought new by my grandmother) BTW Ford actually called this color “Silver Rose.”
I am not sure how the seller knows it is 1-of-1 though. I didn’t think production records were available for 1966 cars. It is certainly not the only 1966 Mustang in that color, as a quick search brought up this car that sold at Mecum: https://www.mecum.com/lots/IA0709-82070/1966-ford-mustang-coupe/ Maybe the only 6 cyl. in that color? GLWS.
I know someone is thinking, Coyote Swap.
This one needs to be kept as is.
Sweet little car. If it were a 289 I would have to have it
The good old days when you had choices ordering your car. Now, it’s so boring and just about making the most bucks for the manufacture.
Yes great color, posted 26 days ago.
Well it’s not the only 6 cyl in that colour,some Sprint Specials came in it and they were all equipped with a fancied up 6cyl.A known Sprint Special convertible in that colour went through Mecum or one of the biggie auction boys.The colour was available after Jan 66′ only though so the numbers are extremely low.
It’s too bad the days of true custom-ordering left us long ago. I remember when people with clout could order which day of the week their car would be built. One of my college friends’ dad owned a Buick/ Cadillac dealership in the early 70’s. He ordered a special Cadillac color on a new boattail Riviera for his son and also had additional vinyl roof attached just under the back window once it got to the dealership. One-of-a-kind.