Ford executive Lee Iacocca was the Mustang’s biggest proponent, but probably not even Lee expected the ‘Stang to sell 1.3 million copies. And that was just during the car’s first 2 ½ years. In 1966, Ford assembled more than 56,000 “standard” convertibles, including this one which was sold out of a garage sale. It runs but needs some cosmetic attention from its current post in Denver, Colorado. It’s available here on craigslist for $10,995 OBO with trades being a consideration. Thanks to “Zappenduster” for another vintage tip.
We’re told this Ford is a two-owner car that the seller purchased from an estate sale without a title. Hopefully, the paperwork from that transaction will hopefully satisfy the buyer’s DMV. The seller rates the condition of the drop-top as “excellent,” but he/she is probably thinking in terms of its restoration possibilities. When the Ford was assembled in ’66. It had a C-code (200 hp) 289 cubic inch V8, but for reasons unknown a 302 from 1971 resides under the hood now (yet the whole car only has 48,000 miles).
The Sahara Beige paint has seen better days and the same can be said for the standard Parchment interior. But the car has not escaped the rust bug and the driver’s side front fender may be an older replacement as the 289 V8 insignia looks as though it was ever there. The substitute motor runs well as does the 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic transmission. The electric doodads on the car work as they should, including the power top.
Since the car is already a driver, you could run around over the Summer months and then put it in mothballs in the Winter for the restoration that it deserves. The seller hopes to net $11k but would consider a partial trade though we don’t know what would be of interest to him or her. How important is numbers matching (or the lack thereof) with this project?
The Craigslist ad does have more photos than we may be used to, including some from the underside. Some rot is apparent, but many would be worse I think, and not real bad. Looks like some dents too of course. But the not title issue should be resolved in Colorado, I think, before the sale. What do others think? I would be wary.
lot of money for this beat down horse and throw in a NO TITLE. sounds like a lot trouble to me
Dents, dings, chips, rust-rot – and it sooner than later needs floor pans. Interior is pretty beat. The wrong engine and it looks like the fuel sender is leaking. The convertible top needs to be replaced, and there is no title.
Condition excellent? Not even close, but does the seller mean for the price? Even at that, the title issue makes this a tall ask. It can be complicated to get a title when the owner has died, this is confirmed by Colorado’s requirements. The title issue should be rectified prior to sale.
No Title, No Deal! Case Closed! This pony needs to see the vet! The interior is toast, although replacement seat covers and carpets are available for not too much money. The 302 swap doesn’t bother me too much, as a 302 is just a 289 with a stroker crank in it. The 302 can become a 347 very easily. No word on why the original 289 went away or on what the present internal health of the replacement 302 is, so a compression check or cylinder leak down test is high on the list of tasks to be performed.
The rust is the biggest money pit, as the extent of the damage is unknown until the paint has been stripped off and that strongly suggests that a rotisserie restoration of the body is in order and that will not be cheap. At $11k, the seller is dreaming, given the condition. Somewhere between $5k and $6k seems more reasonable, provided the seller can find or get a title for the car. The lack of photos of the dashboard VIN tag is telling! Without a title, run, do not walk to the nearest exit!
There is no dashboard VIN tag on this car. Ford did not start putting a VIN tag on the dash until the 1968 model year. The seller could have have provided a photo of the door data plate though.
There is no way you could find a running and driving 66’ convertible for $5k-$6k. Title is the biggest issue with this deal, but I’d say it’s still worth around $8k if someone is willing to deal with the title issue
Just FYI, a Dynacorn replacement body will set you back $17.5k, without a hood or front fenders, in bare steel, ready for primer and paint (see link below).
https://dynacornclassicbodies.com/1966-ford-mustang-convertible/
Given the condition of this bad boy, it might actually be cheaper to source a brand-new replacement body than to repair this rust bucket! Granted, I’ve seen Mustangs with more rust on them, but restoration labor is expensive!
Add $595 for crating and shipping charges are extra. So the bare body shell is over $18k before paint.
It wouldn’t pay to pay someone else do the body or rust repair AFTER the title is resolved. I think the current owner should do the title work, but they are trying to avoid that. Yesterday I emailed them on Craigslist to let them know the Mustang made it here. No reply yet. I am interested to see what happens to this car. If the title ever gets fixed a new owner could take their time working on this Mustang. Of course, how is it mechanically?
An update. I have been in touch with the seller, who needs to leave Colorado to go back to his home state Massachusetts soon due to family matters. He does not want to take the Mustang if he can help it. He is willing to take offers. The title is still a big issue, but this may be a deal if someone, especially in Colorado, can buy it and take care of the title, then slowly work on this Mustang as a driver. I think we have been tough on him with the car condition. There is relatively little rot, especially compared to cars from other states. I would like to see what happens.
Being from Massachusetts myself, I’d be more willing to buy it if he dragged it back to MA, but I can certainly understand why he doesn’t want to do that! The lack of a title is a major sticking point for me, though, so if he wants it to sell faster, he needs to have a valid title in hand, it’s as simple as that!