As I write this article, I am aware that there will be people who will question the incredibly low mileage claim being made about this Mustang, but the owner says that it’s verified and documented. If I told you that the mileage was accrued a ¼ mile at a time, you may now have some idea of the life that this car has led. After a life of competition and a significant amount of time sitting idle, the Mustang is now for sale. Located in Nokesville, Virginia, it is listed for sale here on eBay.
If you are looking for a solid Mustang project car, this is one with some pretty serious potential. The front fenders and hood aren’t original, but every other piece of steel in the body and frame is. The car led a competitive life from June 1965 until 1967. When that life ended, the car was parked in a warehouse, and that’s where it has sat ever since. Being a competition drag car, it has seen very little moisture during its life, and this has been extremely beneficial to this Mustang. All of the usual rust prone areas such as the floors, torque boxes, radiator support, and the shock towers are all claimed to be completely rust-free. What isn’t clear is what sort of toll the repeated hard launches that are a part of drag racing has been inflicted, so the area around the rear spring hangers is an area that would have to be checked for stress or fatigue.
Apart from the dirty great tachometer on the dash and the missing radio, the interior looks to be complete. I won’t say that it is unmodified because there is a roll bar in there, which is just a little bit obvious. The good news that the roll bar has been bolted into the car, not welded, so it should be able to be removed. The rest of the interior and trim looks to be in good condition, and I think that the vast majority would come back to life with a good clean.
Mechanically, it all appears to be good news for the Mustang. The car started life as a K-Code Mustang, and technically, I guess that it still is. The engine and transmission are both numbers-matching items. The engine isn’t fitted to the car, but it is present and has recently been given a birthday. After a rebuild, it has been given a pretty light run on the dyno and was only taken up to 4,500rpm. The engine is fitted with an Edelbrock cross-ram intake, and it would be stating the obvious to say that this is not a standard setup for the Mustang.
The owner goes to some trouble to emphasize the fact that the mileage claims made about this Mustang are both accurate, and are documented. If this is true, then this would be one of the lowest-mileage ’65 Mustangs in existence today. Whether its racing history would have any impact, either positive or negative, is a bit of an unknown. Getting your hands on a numbers-matching, original, and rust-free ’65 Mustang is not that easy, but this one seems to fulfill all of those criteria. It obviously appeals to a few people, because bidding has already reached $31,400, and the reserve hasn’t been met. Okay Barn Finders, how high do you think that bidding will go on this one?
I’m not aware of any numbers on a small block Ford engine of that era that can be matched to the car VIN
VIN number typically stamped on a HIPO 289 on the right side front of the block just above the oil pan mounting rail.
I stand corrected as to K code motors; Ford did not begin stamping VINs onto engines (otherwise) until 1968
Remove the roll bar? no way, I’d restore this baby back to the glory days of it’s drag racing past.
That would be the best way. The restored car & photographic records would make it a fantastic package !
I’d like to know why the front clip was replaced. Did this Mustang hit the wall on one of it’s passes down the strip? Was it in a road accident? It couldn’t be from rust if the seller’s low mileage claim is true. Be good to know.
It’s pretty obviously a ‘glas front end.
Could be a lightweight front end ie fiberglass; common in drag cars and gassers; that hood is not metal
This is survivor car! I’m with Jack,restore to the original track days!
I don’t think that car has under 4,000 miles on it. Even if only raced 1/4 mile at a time the interior would look cleaner than that. The exterior paint is extremely faded and there is no evidence of sponsor logos at all. That would be hard to remove and leave no trace if only 4,000 miles.
Question. Was it common to do sponsor logos in water based paint in late 1960s? That’s the only way I can see this happening.
A comment was made as to the possible launching twisting the car. That most likely wouldn’t happen with a car like this with a roll bar with and the low hp it would have made back then. I have a 63 fairlane with a lot more power than this one ever had and the doors open and close like its still new. Think low 10’s at 130 on the trans brake.
Correct me if I am wrong (I probably am) but doesn’t a Fairlane have a frame as opposed to the Mustang’s unitbody?
Nope it does have a unibody. I did tie the front and back parts of the body together with a 3 by 1 inch steel tube that I welded in. And the roll bars are welded to this area also. It seems very rigid.
had a friend of mine with a 63-
4 door red and white mamma’s sedan that would blow the doors off almost any car on the road in the quarter. when the 63 1/2 427 fords came out, we caught a beautiful black 427 cruising with his girl, we pulled up next to him and revved it, he looked at us like we were stupid. to impress his girl friend, he stopped at the next light, when it turned green he hammered it. we just left him in our dust, he slammed on the brakes and made a u turn. great days.
This reminds me of the fake Vega “race car” that was featured here a while ago.
I’ve owned an old gas class Vette since 1973. It’s a 62, that was campaigned from new. The frame is a bit tweeked on both sides from coming down a little too hard from wheel stands. It aligns OK, so I have left it like that. as part of its heritage
This was mine….Had a lot of fun with it!
Great photo C5! Gotta love that TREAD MILL sponsor, great name. Whats up with the chain hanging from the bumper? Take care, Mike.
The chain was part of my tow bar clamp. It must have come untied and was hanging down. I still have the tow bar after some 47 years! I wish I still had the Mustang, but I console myself with my Corvette!
I am sure your C5 is consuming the pain! I own a 72. Post a pic if you have time. Great rigs.
Now this car, unlike the 69 Z/28, is a real survivor car with drag racing history.
Funny a guy at work bought a new 5.0 in about 1995 and actually got the radio/heater delete after much talking with the dealer as it was going to be race only. His wife wasn’t much of a fan but anyhow the 2nd season the rivets were starting to give from it’s twitching….he had a delima on trying to sale it due to the racing of it….and with those two delete’s……
So, presuming its miles were done 1/4 mile at a time, that equals 1988 trips down the track and back. I don’t know if I buy that story.
One 1/4 mile trip down the track is followed by at least a 1/4 mile trip back which cuts the number of trips to 994. Driving the car to the start line from the pit could be long as well, so allowing another 1/4 mile for travel to the start line and back would equal the same and reduce the total number of trips to 500 approximately. Does that seem more feasible?
Car would have to be a late 65 because it has a 66 dash or….was the instrument panel swapped out sometime? I had a 65 k code 4 speed back in 1971 gave $850 for it. Had 456 gears was a red light to red light car. I broke the factory shifter in a drag race with a 340 Swinger. Was with him till shifter broke going for 3rd.
That dash is correct for 65 GT, and only for 65 GT.
actually you could get the 5 gauge cluster with pony interior as well.
Yes you are correct, I guess I just didn’t see any real GTs
I had just always assumed that dash was a 66. Even the 65 Shelby’s had the plain dash! Except for the Tach!
My Dad had a 65 Mustang 289 4 barrel 4 speed with rally pack black paint white interior had spinner hub caps
How much did this red k code dragster sell for ?