This 1966 Ford Mustang Coupe is a mystery machine. The seller is the car’s second owner, and it is a tidy survivor. The mystery comes when discussing its engine because the owner refers to it as a “high-performance” 289ci V8. If this is a genuine K-Code, it should offer its next owner some pretty impressive performance levels. If you want to park this solid survivor in your driveway, you will find it located in Elk Grove, California, and listed for sale here on Craigslist. The owner has set a sale price of $17,999 for the Mustang, and I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder rex m for spotting this gem for us.
There’s a lot to like about this two-owner Wimbledon White Mustang. It isn’t clear whether it has ever received any restoration work, but its overall condition is very acceptable for a survivor-grade car. The paint holds a decent shine, and flaws are limited to a few minor chips and marks. There are no glaring issues, and I see no reason why the car couldn’t be used untouched. The panels are straight, but a life spent in the drier climate of California will prove beneficial to the buyer. There is no visible rust, and the owner mentions no issues on the underside in his listing. If the Mustang is rust-free, that is a real bonus for potential buyers. The glass shows no evidence of chips or scratches, the trim is in good condition, and this Mustang retains its original hubcaps that are in excellent condition. Overall, first impressions of this Mustang are highly positive.
We’re at the point where the mystery deepens with this Mustang. The owner uses the phrase “numbers matching high-performance 289 engine” in his listing. It isn’t clear whether he means that this is a K-Code motor or whether he is merely separating this car from one with a six under the hood. If this is the Hi-Po engine, it should be producing 271hp. The original owner also chose to equip this classic with a three-speed C4 automatic transmission and power steering. While the motor type is unclear, we know that this car runs and drives well and is referred to in the listing as an excellent daily driver. The owner doesn’t make outlandish low mileage claims with this classic, indicating that while the odometer shows 81,000 miles, it has rolled over. It seems that for potential buyers, this is a turnkey classic that is ready to be enjoyed.
If we consider this Mustang purely as a tidy daily driver, its interior presents well. It features Pony trim, which looks stunning in a combination of blue and white. There are no visible rips or tears and no appreciable wear on any upholstered surfaces. A couple of items raise questions, including the cover over the dash pad. It isn’t clear whether this is camouflaging a problem or merely there to protect the pad from potential damage. It’s also slightly odd that the blue on the door trims and armrests doesn’t match the seats. It could be a trick of the light, but if it isn’t, purists would probably want to change either the trims or seat covers. The carpet looks good, and the buyer could drive this car with their head held high. For a vehicle located in California, the inclusion of air conditioning is a wise one. It also appears that the factory radio has made way for an aftermarket CD player, but that is acceptable for any owner who isn’t fixed on spotless originality.
Now that you’ve had an opportunity to examine this Mustang closely, what do you think? Is that 289 hiding under the hood a genuine K-Code, or is it a lesser version of the sweet little V8? If it is the real deal, its overall condition and rust-free status make it an exceptional buy at the sale price. Even if it is an A-Code or C-Code motor, it still looks like decent value for money. The car has only been on the market a short time, and I suspect that somebody will snap this one up pretty quickly.
Wasn’t that engine a solid lifter motor? Yank a valve cover, that will end all speculation if it is or isn’t.
Or, take a look at the VIN (which is much easier to do, of course).
The VIN is the easy way to determine if this is a genuine Hi-Po. There are visual clues, but these photos don’t reveal much. I can’t really tell if it has the distinctive Hi-Po exhaust manifolds. Likewise, there appears to be a knob under the dash to the left of the steering column, but I can’t tell if it’s a control for a manual choke. Air conditioning wasn’t available, but this appears to be an aftermarket unit. The “289” emblem on the front fenders should be stacked on top of a “High Performance” emblem, and that does not appear to be the case here.
If I had to make a bet on this, I’d bet “breathed-on A- or C-code 289.”
Knob to the left of the column is foer the cowl (“coffee can”) air vent.
Stamping in the Motor of the VIN. Or course I bet that can be done also….Drop the pan and look at the caps.
Look for the “K” in the VIN and an oversized Harmonic Balancer that would verify if it is a Hipo.
I like it but not enough to drop $18k on it.
Were not all legit 289 “K” codes 4-speeds? I thought I had read that in the past.
True of the ’65s, which could be had only with the Toploader 4-speed. But on the ’66s (and ’67s) you could get the automatic.
Real “K” code 289’s only came w/4 speeds.
All 1965 models were 4-speeds but in 1966 Ford offered the 289 hi-po with the C-4 Transmission.The fender emblems on this one are for a C or A code 289.
K code 289 is only offered with a 4 speed manual transmission. Beautiful car. Also at a decent price for a turn-key air conditioned daily drivable show car.
The “289” fender emblems are for a non-Hi-Po 289. C or A code. If it’s a “numbers matching” K-code car, shouldn’t it have the correct emblems?
The 289 HiPo engine had solid lifters, a different low resistance exhaust manifold, and higher compression. If you bought the HiPo engine, you had to get the 4-speed transmission.
And, the 289 HiPo’s distributor had no vacuum advance. It had centrifugal advance and that was it.
I thought all 289s with after market parts, were K codes….just like when you add a 4bbl carb to a 302, it becomes a BOSS… Pull a valve cover.
The 289 hipo also had recessed valve spring seats but again a valve cover has to come off to see it.
On another note, it actually takes a bit more than a 4 barrel carb to make a 302 into a Boss 302. It is actually a 302 Windsor block with 351 Cleveland heads and a hybrid intake manifold.
Not by a long shot!
At first glance, looks like a 302. That would, in some circles, make it “high performance” vs. the stock 289. But it does not make it a K code car. I think you are looking at an old Mustang that has been taken care of and gradually “upgraded” and “improved” over the years. Be fun for whoever gets it. And it will never fall in value if you take care of it. You could even bring the car back to full stock. But it is unlikely that it is’ a high-value collector quality Hi-Po K-code hiding in plain sight. Just a fun old Mustang worth puttering around with on Friday nights.
I contacted the owner, the car is a C code Mustang 289
Wow. Even easier to do than looking at the VIN. Now why didn’t I think of that? 🤣🤣🤣