If you aren’t from or around California, you may not be aware of how “black plate” early cars are coveted by some collectors. They have even inspired two runs of Barn Finds T-shirts! (maybe it’s time for another one?) This black plate 1966 Ford Mustang GT convertible is listed for sale here on eBay and reflects the largely solid body you will find on some California cars. The buy it now is $15,999 but lower offers are welcomed, and of course, the car is located in San Diego, California!
Although the odometer is only showing 57,811 miles, the ad states 92,000 and I suspect it may even be more than that. Although this car does have all the GT features, there’s enough trim missing and bodywork needed that you can tell it hasn’t been babied.
This is especially true near the front of the car, where some panels have obviously been painted a different shade of yellow. The seller tells us it has been sitting until recently since 1982 in an insulated garage and that “the car is solid and does not need major body repair or replacement.” I would really like to see some under car shots or have it inspected before bidding, though.
The interior is very tired, but apart from the shift surround and some trim panels looks complete. The dash pad even looks pretty good. I wish we knew more about the mechanical condition of the car. Okay, let me rephrase that. I wish we knew something about the mechanical condition of the car! We are told it has a 289 V-8, but if no one has touched the car since 1982 there’s a lot of work ahead to make it driveable and safe.
Hmmm. Where’s the data plate? Again, some questions to be answered before bidding. On the other hand, we are talking about a very popular marque in a great color scheme with some great options — and a trip to warm San Diego! Considering the current weather in most of the USA, a trip to investigate this pony car might sound pretty good to most of our American readers! Or can you even think about a convertible at the moment?
Is it my fading old eyes, or does it really look like the dataplate was recently removed?
This car has had a bit of a rough life in its 53 years of existence, but does appear to be a genuine GT. The license plate is correct for being issued in 1966.
As always, caveat emptor…
I’ve seen early Mustangs before where the door has been replaced ( no GT stripes ? ) and the data plate doesn’t match the rest of the car. This one may have had the door replaced and the original data plate is long gone.
While this is in my backyard, it doesn’t look like a car original to SoCal, although I suppose it could have been stored by the ocean in a very damp area. The whole car looks like it has been moldy and stored somewhere with a lot of humidity.
The doors appear to have come from another car and on and on. If someone is really…and I mean really interested in this , if they arrange it with the seller, I can go and look at it.
Gone….
Cheers
GPC
Unfortunately, since California introduced “Black Plates” as YOM (year of manufacture) plates the term is pretty much meaningless. In otherwords if you have a, say 1958 Porsche 356 that was sold new in Minnesota, and you’re the 4th owner, you can simply buy a “Black Plate”. Where as original Black Plate cars were quite a treasure as they represented a car originally bought new in California and this was the original owner. Just an FYI for those who still use the term “Black Plate” as something special. And I’ll tell you there are a lot of original owner Californians plenty PO’d about it!!
You can tell by the title if it came from another state pretty easily.
Also, in order to transfer a YOM plate to the car, the plate has to be showing the sticker for that year.
An original black plate car will only have the current sticker displayed.
it is easy to tell one from the other if you know what to look for.
Year of manufacture for a 1958 vehicle would be the yellow plate w/black letters/numbers. yellow/black was used 56 to 62. In 63 all plates got changed out for black/yellow. From what I understand the “new” black plates >DO NOT< have 63 stamped in the metal in the right side sticker well.
Hi Belinda. I’m no longer an LA resident and don’t follow a lot of car details anymore. I just picked 58 to make a point. I didn’t really know specifically when they were yellow or black. And (to another contributor) I’m fully aware that you can identify where it was purchased or been registered. Here’s my 2 points:
1. As an airbrush artist I can make a black plate (including the 63) look 70 years old in an hour.
2. The real point I was trying to make was when you used to see a black plate you would snap your neck. Or wait in a grocery store parking lot an hour lot for the owner to come out to hear the story. Or be a dreamer and ask if the car was for sale.
Sadly, those days are long gone!
Hi Belinda. I’m no longer an LA resident and don’t follow a lot of car details anymore. I just picked 58 to make a point. I didn’t really know specifically when they were yellow or black. And (to another contributor) I’m fully aware that you can identify where it was purchased or been registered. Here’s my 2 points:
1. As an airbrush artist I can make a black plate (including the 63) look 70 years old in an hour.
2. The real point I was trying to make was when you used to see a black plate you would snap your neck. Or wait in a grocery store parking an hour lot for the owner to come out to hear the story. Or be a dreamer and ask if the car was for sale.
Sadly, those days are long gone!
Looks like it is sitting at JBA (Jay Bittle) – who is a man who knows how to take care of a stang. Give him a wad of cash and let his team turn the tide on this yellow beauty.
This is true and registration keeps going up. I got tired of paying $350 every year for renewing those black plates so I got Historical Vehicle plates on my 65 Stang and pay a lot less.
Tim, why were you paying $350.00 per year on an old Mustang?
They allowed you to put hersterical plates on a 1965 Mustang?
Aren’t those for much older cars?
Looked like a factory door without a re-paint soooo kinda wonder about the door tag.
When my 2+2 was stolen for the second time…they popped the door tag as well….thankfully they didn’t mess with the left fender apron #’s….or the right side either for a back up.
All registrations in CA went up about $150 last year. Legislators raised it without our permission. And it will continue to go up because the voters agreed to it later!!! Historical plates are available to vehicles older than 25 years. But must be only on the road for parades or club activities.