When the first Mustangs hit the market in 1964, many buyers were happy to pay over sticker to be the first ones on the block with one of these sporty coupes. As time wore on, first generation Mustangs became some of the most desirable cars for car lovers to restore. Lately, interest in these still good looking pony cars has begun to wane a bit. This 1965 Ford Mustang coupe, currently for sale on eBay with the latest bid at $4,050, may be one to give a second glance to. The seller tells us that this Mustang, currently sitting in Springfield, Tennessee, has just 61,103 miles on it. However, is that the true mileage on this rode hard and put away wet filly?
The ad tells us that this was a one owner car. If that wasn’t enough, the car is claimed to have 61,103 miles on it. Under the hood is the standard Mustang straight six cylinder engine backed up by a four speed manual transmission. The seller tells us that this car has factory air conditioning and that the glass and chrome window trim are in good condition. We are also told that there has been no attempt to start the car, and that it has the normal amount of rust for a car of this age.
The condition of the car at first glance is a bit shocking. That first owner must have been Mr. Magoo, as it is hard to find a panel on this car that doesn’t have a dent or a wrinkle in it. Surprisingly, the rust we see is more surface rust than anything else. There is some rust bubbling at the bottom of the passenger side door and on the panel below the rear bumper. We have certainly seen worse on Mustangs of this era. When inspecting any early Mustang, always put it on a lift, bring a magnet, bring a Mustang expert, etc…
Using the data plate decoder from mustangdecoder.com reveals that this is a fairly standard car. It was built in Dearborn, Michigan and was shipped to the Louisville, Kentucky sales district. The body is a two door hard top with standard black crinkle vinyl interior. Phoenician Yellow was the exterior color, and it had a 3.20: 1 rear axle ratio. The official build date was January 20, 1965.
The interior is rough, but amazingly complete. Even the AM radio has survived into the digital age. The dash itself will probably clean up OK, but the dash pad will need to be replaced. The same goes for the upholstery and carpet.
As for the factory air, I don’t think this was a Ford factory installed unit. Allstate was the automotive brand sold by Sears stores. At one time, one of the things Sears was known for was its automotive service centers. They even sold a re-badged Henry J at one time using the Allstate name. This was most likely an aftermarket unit that was added when the brutal reality of summer set in. While not factory, it is an interesting relic of the time. If I purchased the car, I’d consider selling it and putting a modern Vintage Air kit in. The Allstate unit, especially if you could get it to work, would look great on a vintage street rod.
Being that this is a Mustang produced after August of 1964, we should be looking at a 200 cubic inch inline six cylinder engine. Producing 120 horsepower, these were some of the most reliable engines Ford ever built. The huge air conditioner compressor takes up a lot of engine space here, but the overall untouched look of the whole compartment tends to back up the 61K original mileage claim. Even the master cylinder, which is certainly a wear item on any car, looks to be original. I just wonder how much of a drag on the engine that AC compressor was when switched on.
The fact that this car has been bid up to $4,050 when other similar cars have been bringing less makes me wonder if it is really a better car than it looks to be in pictures. Low mileage isn’t going to make any difference when it comes time to get this Mustang back on the road. There are a lot of parts to replace here, and the body shop bill isn’t going to be cheap. The good news is that it looks to be a solid car in a pleasant color that would make a nice driver. Just check it carefully for rust, as you would any Mustang.
Too bad there’s no picture of the brake pedal. Might give a better inkling to true mileage.
Wow. Haven’t heard or thought about that in years. When I was a teen looking for my 1st car everyone told me to be sure and check the brake pedal. Thanks for the memory!
Remember the old cars only went to 99,999 then 0 Ithink this has at least 160,000 or more on the clock remember it’s a 53 year old car good luck to the buyer it still looks like it could be a nice car once fixed up.
I wish the owner would just come out and say, “I’m claiming 61,000 original miles, without any evidence so people will bid more”. As you said, it’s 53 years old. A picture of a speedometer isn’t proof and shouldn’t be accepted as such. I also like the that the seller informs that there is “normal rust for a car of its age”, whatever that means. It would have been nice if he had taken a couple of pictures of the undercarriage while the car was still on the trailer, if it’s in good shape that would only increase the cars value.
The car looks like it has potential, but really, how desirable is a 6 cylinder first generation Mustang.
Steve R
I usually say something along these lines:
“The odometer says 81k miles. I was told these are the original miles, but have no way to verify, draw your own conclusions”
That 6 cyl and 4 speed combo is cool, peppy little combo, That a/c would slow it down considerably. Hope the tranny is good, its a Dagenham made in England and they have glass gears. Don’t think anyone is making parts for them. a later 6 cyl bellhousing would allow you to use a beefy toploader.As one of the guys said, I’ve seen worse but the underside and plenum area need.close scrutiny!!
Good luck to the new owner.
With no pics of the underside and looking at what can be seen in the rocker panel area, I’m guessing that this is a very, very rusty car, underneath. Caveat emptor.
Love the Sears A/C unit (well, it was made in a factory!)
Parts for the Dagenham four-speed may be able to be sourced ex-UK, although Gaspumpchas’ suggestion of using a later bellhousing and heftier trans would, in fact, probably be cheaper.
If it were a fastback or convertible it would be worth pursuing; but a yellow six cylinder notch back in scruffy shape makes me want to look elsewhere. The four speed is the only redeeming attribute here… they made a million of these literally.
Vintage Air???? Why not use Classic Auto Air, one of the biggest early Mustang A/C dealers in the USA.
Can we start to see some variety in the listings please?
We don’t need to see every Mustang, Monza or Aerocoupe that gets listed anywhere.
Mileage is irrelevant on a 53 yr old nor is it likely or provable. This base unit in a undesirable color appears to suffer from extensive corrosion and doesn’t have enough info and pics.