Beyond Help? 1966 Ford Mustang Fastback

Disclosure: This site may receive compensation from some link clicks and purchases.

I have always been a “glass half full” type of person who tries to see the best in any classic car project. However, when I look at a vehicle like this 1966 Mustang Fastback, even I have to shake my head. Any car that has deteriorated to the point where it is physically possible to locate major structural components in two separate states is one that is in a world of trouble. That is the situation here, and I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for locating this Mustang for us. Located in Manahawkin, New Jersey, you will find the Fastback listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set the BIN at $4,000.

The Mustang listing is confusing because while the owner has focused on the Blue vehicle (which was originally Vintage Burgundy), I get the impression that the Green one in the background might be part of the deal. Almost all of the photos are of the Blue car, but there is one of the Green one’s underside. That’s a bit of a head-scratcher. Regardless of whether we are talking about one car or both, the buyer will have their work cut out for them. The Blue car’s floors have dissolved, as have the rear frame rails and the trunk pan. Everything forward of the firewall is now detached, and almost all of the hanging panels are gone. There is evidence of prior accident damage, but given the mountain that the buyer would be climbing with this project, that’s insignificant. All of the glass is gone, as has all of the trim.

On the off-chance that the Green Mustang is part of this deal, I have included this photo. It is the only one of that vehicle and shows the floors, torque box, and front frame rails. The news is much better with this car because it appears that only the floors will require replacement. The remaining steel that is visible in this shot has surface corrosion, but not much in the way of penetrating rust. For all of that, it is impossible to gauge the condition of the rest of the vehicle. If this is included in the sale, the lack of supplied photos would represent a major blunder by the seller.

The interior trim on the Blue car is limited to a gauge cluster, a dash pad, and a glove compartment lid. There is nothing else to speak of, and the story is the same when we look at the drivetrain. It started life equipped with a C-Code 289ci V8 and automatic transmission, but both of these components are long gone. The rear end is still present, as are some of the front suspension components. Even if you consider this purely as a parts car, it doesn’t have much to offer beyond a clean title.

As I write this, 21 people are watching the listing. That begs the question; Are they watching because they are seriously interested, or is it out of some form of morbid curiosity? If the Blue Mustang is considered in isolation, then I believe that it is beyond help. I don’t even think that it is fit for the crusher because if it was crushed, all that would be left is a bunch of powder. There isn’t enough healthy steel left to form a cube of any description. The Green one is an unknown quantity, and the lack of supplied photos makes it impossible to determine whether it is a viable project car. So, what do you think? Does this 1966 Mustang Fastback need a dedicated person willing to spend the considerable amount of time and money required to return it to its former glory? Or is this a classic that is beyond help and needs somebody to administer the Last Rites?

Auctions Ending Soon

Comments

  1. bobhess bobhessMember

    Don’t know about the cars but the seller is certainly beyond help.

    Like 100
    • Steve R

      Look at his other eBay listings, both current and recently completed. He sold several other rough, but nicer, 65-66 Mustang Fastbacks for a little less money. Like it or not, he’s pushing the market to see what someone is willing to pay. For all the crap sellers get, buyers play a part in this too, they control the market, when they show discipline, cars like this won’t sell and prices will start coming down.

      Steve R

      Like 33
      • Frank Sumatra

        If buyers showed discipline the entire economic system would collapse overnight.

        Like 20
      • stu

        With this piece of s**t, who decides to purchase, needs to be
        medically examined…the price is $5000 too much!

        Like 1
    • Jim

      I think what’s happening here is that someone is selling a clean VIN and a title. Whoever buys this is likely transplanting it onto a stolen car. Hopefully all the watchers on eBay are cops.

      Like 39
      • Steve S

        Or transferring the VIN to a new Dynacorn body.

        Like 35
      • stu

        The vin was my first thought but there is always someone with no knowledge that will by on impulse…This is taking advantage!

        Like 0
  2. FordGuy1972 FordGuy1972

    I don’t know why this pile of scrap would be even considered for restoration. Crap like this with an asking price of $4,000 is just ridiculous. The amount of money required to turn this pile of rust into a Mustang would far exceed just buying one that’s in mint condition. I can’t see anybody in their right mind taking this on even if it was free.

    Like 56
    • ColeB

      $4k for the VIN/Title … $17500 for a NEW Dynacorn body … another $20k for paint and parts and you are @ $43k into a vehicle worth $45-55k. not a bad investment.

      Like 5
      • Al

        Yup, and all your labor is worth nothing.

        So just where is the investment? That’s a lousy return.

        Like 25
      • Steveo

        Well, if you look at labor as therapy, then the profit is inestimable.

        Like 13
      • stu

        Therapy? Are you serious?

        Like 0
  3. J_PaulMember

    I’ve seen a lot of shocking things on Barn Finds over the years, but this one belongs in the Hall of Fame. Or is that the Hall of Infamy?

    Trying to make this into a car again is kind of like trying to reconstruct last night’s dinner from what was left in the toilet this morning.

    Like 94
  4. Will Fox

    $4K for a pile of basically scrap. Who’s selling this….PT Barnum?!

    Like 22
    • Tom

      Agreed. A pile of scrap that probably isn’t worth $400!
      Looks like the “value” is in the title and VIN tag.
      Just when you think you’ve seen everything…

      Like 0
  5. Fahrvergnugen FahrvergnugenMember

    Gadzooks. Is it April already?

    Like 24
    • stu

      Apparently the calendar is ahead of schedule!

      Like 0
  6. rustyvet

    4K seems a little steep for a trailer that I will have to drive to the recycle yard to empty…

    Like 31
  7. Jim

    As far as eBay scams go, think I’d rather spend $800 on a picture of a PS5.

    Like 12
  8. Radman01

    Even if someone was crazy enough to buy this, there’s not enough there to even begin a legitimate restoration project. I’m surprised something like this is even offered for sale. No, this pile of crap is ready for the Last Rites.

    Like 8
  9. piston poney

    if they are both included and the green one is half way decent, then yeah 4 grand isnt bad but if its just the blue one, then no just no that is not worth 4 grand

    Like 3
  10. Eric B

    You guys don’t realize what fastbacks are selling for these days!! It just needs “much love and care”! Ok, I’ll stop…..this is hilarious, but not. This has to be a joke. If the roof were on it and in decent shape, then yes, someone would do a fastback conversion to a coupe. This was a roll over and the roof may be gone thanks to the jaws of life. The other mustang is not included and this is literally scrap metal and probably was dragged out of a scrap yard. Good gawd, I hope the driver was ok.

    Like 7
    • AMXBrian

      These are cheap starters for some people. There’s a guy on Youtube that I watch that fixes cars like these, but only fastbacks. He strips them down to their inner structure, removing the rotted panels and replacing them with new panels. He has hundreds of measurements to straighten out any mustang 65-70 and does great work.

      Like 3
      • Eric B

        Did you look at all the photos? There is no structure.

        Like 4
    • stu

      Open your wallet and make the purchase! This would be hilarious!

      Like 0
  11. Vin_in_NJ

    I’ve seen NJ salt from winter roads and shore air deteriorate a car, but nothing like this!

    Like 3
    • DON

      I figure its been sitting in the back woods of some old time junkyard for 45 or so years; it was picked clean early on, and was left to the elements until this flipper came along and bought it.

      Like 3
  12. MoragaPulsar

    Why even post this parts only (at best) on BarnFinds?

    A few I guess could be entertaining, but it seems a now to be a steady stream on BarnFinds. There are I’m sure a handful of very skilled readers that could salvage anything, but I suspect most would be interested in reading and possibly pursuing more reasonably restorable cars than complete basket/casket cases.

    Like 4
  13. Fred

    Maybe just use it for parts? The left rear quarter panel and trunk look reasonable. Or send it to some TV show hot rod show that’ll flip it for a profit since it’s the rare “Decimated” model.

    Like 5
    • Steve Clinton

      And they’d have it restored in 3 days.

      Like 5
  14. That Guy

    This looks far worse than the famous VW van and one or two other recent cars that have been dragged out of lakes for restoration. It’s an entertaining post though.

    Like 8
  15. Arby

    This is no longer a car.

    Like 13
  16. Frank Sumatra

    Come on guys. Remember Barn Finds is a business. The business model is based on proving your site can deliver customers to advertisers through clicks. Hence the term “clickbait” This is textbook clickbait and BF is just doing what every other site does to survive. They are also selling reams of data that we generate for them. Who cares? Your data and mine have been sold more times than we can imagine. It is the price of entry. The membership and ad fees are gravy on the big ‘ol biscuit.

    Like 18
  17. BlondeUXBMember

    Fastback.
    Slow front, top and bottom.

    Like 4
    • Frank Sumatra

      Always have been curious- Does “UXB” stand for “Unexploded Bomb”? There was a cool PBS TV show many years ago by the name (UXB) about post- WW II British demolition experts defusing bombs in London. And did you know UXB’s are still being found in London to this day? A good friend lives in London and a few times a year her commute is disrupted by the finding of a bomb. That is your Barn Finds history lesson for today, Thursday March 11th, 2021.

      Like 11
      • BlondeUXBMember

        Yes //;-)

        Like 3
  18. Jim

    Too bad he can’t get it on Bring a Trailer. It’d bring 20K and most of the comments would be ‘well bought!’

    Like 9
    • Eric B

      What?

      Like 0
      • Jim

        People massively overpay for garbage on BaT, then they all congratulate each other afterward. It’s like a ‘fools and their money’ cult website. I go there now primarily to laugh at the insanity. My original estimate was 20k but I bet they could get bidding on this pile of rust up to 25K if they said it originally had a manual transmission.

        Like 5
  19. Engident

    I see a rearend with some tetanus hanging off of it #bringavintag

    Like 7
  20. Steve Clinton

    Two questions…
    1. Why would anyone keep this POS?
    2. Why would Barnfinds post it?

    Like 4
    • J_PaulMember

      The answer to question #2:

      Because sometimes it’s cathartic for all of us to crowd around a barrel and shoot some fish

      Like 16
      • Bob S

        Exactly J_Paul!! B/F is not posting this cause the owner slipped them a c-note, it’s just part of being entertained by an awesome site! This falls under the “y’all ain’t gonna believe this” category.

        Like 15
    • stu

      This posting on here shows how mad people are and the insane cash people are asking…always buyer be ware!

      Like 0
  21. Melton

    Anybody think he’d take 3800?

    Like 7
    • DavidLMember

      Only if you misplaced a decimal in that. $38.00 would still be too much.

      Like 5
    • stu

      That price is a bit of a lowball!
      At least $3850….

      Like 0
  22. Melton

    Wonder if he’d take 3800?

    Like 4
    • Mr.BZ

      Careful, that might be considered a bid!

      Like 4
      • Ike Onick

        Sold!! To Melton for $3800 (Plus buyers fee of $200)

        Like 3
  23. Gina

    Just bought it on x boyfriends card and shipping to his address.

    He and his secret GF can restore it. This was a site he visited often.

    X Gina

    Like 15
    • grant

      Nobody cares.

      Like 1
      • Kman

        Now we know who the ex-boyfried is. Enjoy the Rustangs.

        Like 5
      • Kman

        Well Grant. Now we know who the Ex is. Enjoy your Mustangs.

        Like 4
  24. RMac

    A little rattle can work should spruce it right up

    Like 3
  25. Luke Fitzgerald

    Can’t believe they left the instruments in it – the speedo cable must be rusted to the back of the dial

    Like 6
  26. MH

    Crush them both and move on. Way to many out there as it is. However the trailer might be worth 4K.

    Like 4
  27. Mark

    Once again,
    An insult to the intelligence of the common man.

    Like 3
    • Robert White

      There’s a sucker born ever minute. Never give a sucker an even break.

      Bob

      Like 1
    • Frank Sumatra

      And 80+ comments from the uncommon folks on Barn Finds!!!!! We are all proudly swimming in the shallow end of the Gene Pool.

      Like 0
  28. Jamie

    Check out what Peterson’s Restorations does to just as bad, if not worse, mustangs. On YouTube

    Like 2
    • Pugsy

      Really? Hit me a link for one he’s done this bad.

      He may be good, but he’s not an idiot.

      Like 3
  29. Don

    Nothing that a couple of 55 gal drums of bondo wouldn’t fix. They have to be kidding! $4000.00 for a title & vin plate? I hope that it is a clear unbranded title.

    Like 0
  30. Arthur

    This wreck could serve as a donor vehicle for a Dynacorn build project involving a Predator engine from the current Shelby GT500.

    Like 2
  31. Jon

    LOL. OK, I’d prob. give him $1,000
    … For both cars shown….

    Like 1
  32. Doc

    Put it out of it’s misery. The world really doesn’t need another cockroach. Er I mean mustang.

    Like 1
  33. Fred W

    But are the shock towers OK?

    Like 2
  34. Tiberius1701

    ‘In Philadelphia, it’s worth 50 bucks.”

    Like 2
  35. Ward William

    Mustangs of this era are like bums, everybody has one so these two are just pure scrap. The seller has huge cajones to even ask for money for this crap.

    Like 3
    • JoeBob

      Maybe he saw the rough R code 64 Galaxie that sold for $12k and thought…if he can get that much, then I should be able to get…

      Like 2
  36. Steve Clinton

    What engine is this running?

    Like 0
  37. G Lo

    In this case, for this “car” I am a “who drank my water?” type of person.

    Like 1
  38. richard bradner

    Glass will never be half full; there’s a hole in the “floor”.of your glass…

    Like 3
  39. ple

    All this ad is missing is the, “Ran when Parked”

    Like 7
  40. Jon.in.Chico

    Don’t think I’ve ever seen such junk for sale … gotta have a big brass set to even think of posting this …

    Like 0
  41. David Frank David FrankMember

    Is that original paint? Can the paint be saved? After all, the rest is only patina, right? Seriously, folks, is he thinking like a Porsche seller?

    Like 3
  42. Jeff

    What is wrong with people? Everything about this is just wrong, period.

    Like 2
  43. Daniel Gavin

    Just another trip to the F’in TWILIGHT ZONE !!!!

    Like 0
  44. BIllyman

    Had to check the calendar to make sure it wasn’t April 1st

    Like 1
  45. roger

    hey Gina ! good going

    Like 1
  46. Darwin Mickleborough

    Id just change the oil,clean the windshield buckle up and drive.

    Like 3
  47. John

    But it’s a “K” code car…..LOL

    Like 2
  48. MDW66

    Beyond help?!? I wouldn’t help push this off the trailer.

    Like 1
  49. fran

    They said on the flee bay listing that it needs a total restoration, They are wrong, if you look close at the side of the cowel area, where the fender covers it up, you can clearly see about an inch square of red metal that does not need any work, thus it does not need a “total” restoration. I now becomes and “EZ” fix. I bet they both ran when parked also.
    No to be nasty, but some people who have a car are such “BLANKS”

    Like 2
  50. Little_Cars Little_Cars

    In 2021, it has come to this. Cars that would have years ago been forklifted to the back of the junkyard or dragged onto a crusher are appearing as “sellable” items just because a title exists for them. Tell ya what….save the title and VIN in your vital records drawer and do me a favor with that rusty chunk of Ford stell and take it to the landfill for me, will ya?

    Like 4
  51. Ron

    He needs to put it back in the river where he found it.

    Like 3
  52. Angel_Cadillac_Diva Angel_Cadillac_DivaMember

    Back in my day this was called junk

    Like 3
  53. Billy

    GEEEEEEEE is this what is known as a survivor???

    Like 1
  54. John

    Perhaps you could put Porsche badge on it and flip it for $10K.

    Like 1
  55. Peter Goudie

    All Barnfinds has to do is find a Fastfront to join to this Fastback and there you will have a Mustang.

    Like 1
  56. Mike

    Buy it now? Buy what now? Maybe the seller added one extra zero… $400 bucks for 2 trashed doors and a trunk lid…That’s all I see…

    Like 2
  57. Maverick

    I am going to the rock pile and pickup the remains of a Camaro and post it for big money. Lol 😀

    Like 2
  58. danny mather

    2 vins and a piles of crap 300 sounds right thanks dannys mustangs

    Like 1
  59. George Morrison

    Well I would like a big truck load of what the owner of that dilapidated old stang is smoking!!!!!!!

    Like 0
  60. JagManBill

    Hagerty shows a base V8 fastback at $32+k.
    Dynacorn body complete is $18k plus shipping.
    302 crate engine (289 not available) $3k
    crate C-4 $1500
    interior – $3,000
    paint – good one – $8,000…maybe
    wheels/tires – $1,000
    suspension/everything underneath – $2,000
    everything else I’ve missed – $5,000

    $44k – hopefully – but they have to give you the car at this figure…

    so…

    screw the offered car, just buy everything, and build yourself a 66 fastback and save not having to buy the original car.

    Like 2
  61. Gary Rhodes

    I know a guy from high school / vo-ed (1980) that rebuilt one just about as bad except it had a roof. The car turned out as straight as a arrow. You literally could not tell he did any sheet metal replacement, and he did replace almost everything. He built a front fender for a 60s jeep station wagon and you could not tell it from a original one and it fit like a glove. He was the best metal man I have ever seen

    Like 1

Leave A Comment

RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks.

Become a member to add images to your comments.

*

Barn Finds