If you walked into your local Ford dealership in 1965 with cash to splash, this Mustang GT was about as good as it got. The original owner ordered this classic with the legendary K-Code V8 under the hood, backed by a 4-speed manual transmission. That combination made the Mustang a fast vehicle, and the chance has presented itself for you to park it in your garage. Located in Brighton, Colorado, you will find the GT listed for sale here on Craigslist. The owner has set the sale price at $39,500 OBO.
Apparently, this Mustang has spent many years hidden away in a garage. However, it has now been returned to the light of day and is ready to be driven and enjoyed. It seems that someone has treated the GT to a repaint in its original shade of Wimbledon White. It isn’t clear when this happened, but it still shines brightly today and perfectly contrasts with a flawless Black vinyl top. The panels show no signs of dings or dents, and there is also no evidence of any rust problems. The owner doesn’t mention any issues in the listing, so we need to take that at face value. Reassuringly, there is a distinct lack of surface corrosion in other areas of the Mustang, so the indications look pretty promising. The original owner ordered the GT with tinted glass, and I can’t spot any problems with that. That trim and chrome are in excellent order, as are the original wheels.
Lifting the Mustang’s hood reveals more good news than you can shake a stick at. The car is numbers-matching and features the giant-killing K-Code 289ci V8, a 4-speed manual transmission, and front disc brakes. With 271hp on tap, that made the 2,914lb Mustang a jet in a straight line. Point it at a ¼ mile, and the journey would be over in 14.6 seconds. That number remains respectable today, and it looked mighty impressive in 1965. The owner says that the 289 has received a rebuild, which is never a bad thing. He says that it runs and drives well and goes as far as to use the word “fast” in his description. That doesn’t surprise me one bit. It seems that there will be nothing for the buyer to do but jump behind the wheel and savor that fantastic little V8.
Turning our attention to the Mustang’s interior, we find that the original owner ordered the car with Black Pony trim. This remains in excellent condition today, with no damage or signs of wear. The faux woodgrain trim is free from damage, as are the dash, pad, console, and carpet. There is a radio/8-track player mounted in the dash, with speakers fitted to the kick panels. There is also a column-mounted tach, but I can’t spot any other additions. The original owner chose to equip the interior with factory air conditioning. The system is complete, but there is no belt on the compressor. The owner has been told that the A/C works properly, which begs the question as to why he hasn’t installed a belt to confirm this. Still, that’s a job that will only take a few minutes and will give the buyer something to do beyond admiring their classic or slipping behind the wheel for a spot of cruising.
The humble V8 motor has managed to soldier on in the face of adversity. It survived The Malaise Era, more oil crises than I would care to remember, and calls by authorities and insurers for manufacturers to curb power outputs. Sadly, its days may well be numbered. Lotus has just lifted the covers on their new Emira and has revealed that it will be their last model powered purely by an internal combustion engine. Lamborghini has announced that the latest Aventador will be its final V12, and the entire industry is now shifting its focus to hybrid or full electric technology. Zero-emission vehicles are coming, and it appears that they are to be our future. That is what makes cars like this 1965 Mustang GT such important vehicles. These are vehicles that need to be cherished and preserved. That way, future generations can gain some insight into what they have lost as the internal combustion engine is consigned to the pages of history books. I hope that someone does preserve this Mustang, and I would love to think that the person will be one of our loyal and passionate Barn Finds readers. It seems like the best outcome for classics like this.
Would have to check the VIN but looks like a ’66 Mustang to me.
I’m not a Mustang expert, but pretty certain factory AC was not available with the K code engine. There are also the standard 289 emblems on the front fenders, not the High Performance 289 emblems. “Numbers matching” is another issue. The VIN is not stamped on the engine. The “told the AC works” is a flag for it not working. Nice appearing car, nice options, but makes you wonder what else is wrong.
True fact: K code engines came only with a mechanical advance distributor, and not with a vacuum advance as seen in the photo. Those are the wrong chrome valve covers, being flat topped. K code used regular stock style covers only chrome plated. I believe that all 1965 Fords used generators, alternators came out in 1966. Hey it still looks “pretty”.
I believe generators were only for the 64 1/2 early 65 models and alternators came out in 65. My 64 1/2 had a generator and my 65 had an alternator, both stock
I had a 65 with an alternator. 64 1/2’s had generators but I think they switched pretty soon. I’d be surprised if a K code had a generator.
After mid May 65 Ford switched from Generators to Alternators in 65 not 66. This is definitely not a K Coded Engine. Look at back of the BLOCK bottom and the Engine codes is located there in 65. Also you count the Bell Housing Mount Holes and in 65 the Reg. 289 it is 4 the A code and K codes had 5 or vice versa but you Cana tell it from there.
I don’t believe A/C was offered with the K-code engine. However, this appears to be a Ford accessory item, so it may have been dealer installed. K-code Mustangs had a manual choke, with a knob marked “C” under the dash to the right of the ignition switch. I don’t see that here, and, in fact, the stock location would conflict with the A/C unit.
Anyhow, if it were a K-code, I don’t think the seller would hesitate to show us the VIN and the pad on the engine that matches the last 6 digits of the VIN.
The K-code designation was inserted by the author of this feature. The seller calls it an H-O, not K-code, which never appears anywhere in the ad, nor does any mention of horsepower rating (271) which would lead you to believe that was the engine he was referring to.
As for the choke, it has an electric choke, as seen in the 4th picture of the craigslist ad.
Steve R
Agree. Looks like a nice car – but not a K. And it is not priced as a K.
The seller refers to HO – which may mean it has a nice decal on the air filter. Adam added the K code representation.
Looks like a 225 horse with a dress up kit
65 block is black not blue
Looks like a 66 based on the grille and fog lights. Also has 66 styled steel wheels which take the trim rings. 1965 used a chrome rim not using trim rings. Probably an A code car as well, not a K. Too many things incorrect to be an “original” 1965 car. Lose the strap on tach and get a repo period correct rally pac for the tach option. Low price suggests not a K code car either. Better do your homework before plunking down 40K for this car.
Missing too many features to be a “K-Code”. Should not have a vacuum advance on distributor as stated. Would like to see the Harmonic balancer.
I believe that air cleaner decal was on the Hi Po engine but not vacuum advance. Something very fishy going on here.
I think this is a nice A or C code Mustang with a HO decal on the air filter.
It’s not a K code and the listing does not represent that it’s a K code. Adam does.
LMAO! An uninteresting collection of parts – reminded of my neighbor’s ‘Heinz 57 Harley – pieced together from about a dozen bikes. The am/8 track wasn’t available until 1966 as I recall. Plus, the speakers were in the doors.
Yes Am/Fm 8 track came in 1966 and factory door speakers. A nice driver but would be tore apart in a show with correct judging. Next issue was rust.
The general consensus is that fewer than 7000 k codes were built in all of 65 and 66. With more than 1.1 million cars cranked out they are quite rare. Lots of people claim to have one but usually it’s just a garden variety 289.
Auto trans became an option on the ’66 K-codes also for the first time – I’m betting precious few were built….