289 4-Speed Project: 1966 Ford Mustang Fastback 2+2

This 1966 Ford Mustang Fastback is a 2+2 model that the seller says is a real-deal barn find. Discovered in relatively complete condition with a 289 V8 paired to a four-speed manual transmission, this Mustang also sports a full Pony interior in black with a factory center console. I don’t believe that striking yellow paint job is original, as the only color offered in 1966 that’s close to it is Springtime Yellow, which is a far lighter shade. Interestingly, this looks very close to the yellow offered on the Colorado-only Ski Country Special. Regardless, the paint is nicely patina’d and the equipment list is pretty desirable. Find the Mustang here on eBay with bidding at $14,667 and the reserve unmet.

The body looks reasonably sound, and while it is likely that this paint job is an ancient respray, I wouldn’t be imposed to running it given I’m not offended by some genuine patina. The fastback body seems to have a devout following, as these cars typically go for a good price when they do come up for sale. With certain models, the 2+2 arrangement would be detrimental to the car’s value, but it doesn’t seem to be a problem here. The Mustang retails its original hubcaps, and the chrome bumpers look reasonably straight. There’s a chance this may have originally been a Springtime Yellow car based on the next photo.

Looking inside the engine bay, we see the remnants of a paint job that could very well be an original Springtime Yellow finish that is still somewhat resilient due to lack of sun exposure. It’s entirely plausible that, when the car was far cheaper and just a used-up cruiser, a local body shop did a quicky respray in a color resembling yellow but by no means the original shade. The engine looks very complete and there’s evidence of some recent maintenance work, what with the new plug wires and an air cleaner assembly that has likely been repainted. The seller maintains that the VIN numbers match across the board, from the title to the driver’s fender to the door tag.

The Pony interior is in good order and presents well. A Springtime Yellow over black car would have been quite a looker when new, and the 289 paired to a 4-speed manual is about as tasty of a combo as it gets for a middle-of-the-line Mustang. The car retains its original steering wheel and door panels and all of it appears to be surviving well despite the rough exterior. The seller is located in Mesquite, Texas but doesn’t mention whether there’s any rust lurking underneath; hopefully, with a car this original, it can be put back to road-going use without having to cut out rotten sections underneath. What do you think about the color – is the underhood paint the original color scheme?