Classic car enthusiasts will sometimes be torn when they start to consider the prospect of a custom build. Many will not want to risk molesting an original survivor, but that is not a decision they will need to make with this 1965 Mustang. It appears to have led part of its life as a competition vehicle, and with no engine or transmission to consider, this truly is a blank canvas for its next owner. Located in Beaverton, Oregon, you will find the Mustang listed for sale here on eBay. It seems that people like what they see because the Mustang has already attracted 34 bids. This has pushed the bidding past the reserve to $3,050, which means that a new home isn’t far away for this classic. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for spotting the Mustang for us.
Once the owner washed away the dust that had accumulated on the Ivy Green Mustang, things took a turn for the better. The vehicle has had a racing history, and it was fitted with a second-rate fiberglass hood when the owner purchased it. He has binned the fiberglass, but the buyer will need to locate a replacement hood. The rear wheel arches have been flared, so these will need some work. The front lips have also been rolled to accommodate wider tires. Otherwise, the body appears to be as it was the day that it rolled off the production line. There are a few minor dings, but none of these are particularly bad. Some of the trim is showing its age, but the glass appears to be quite presentable. One thing that you will probably notice is the lack of visible rust. This is always good news with a 1st Generation Mustang, but the exterior photos only tell part of the story.
This photo probably tells the full story of this Mustang. The owner removed the interior trim specifically to secure this shot. You can see some penetrating rust in the passenger side front floor, but that appears to be the worst of it. The rest of the floors, frame rails, trunk pan, and the torque box region are all structurally sound. There is surface corrosion present, but that is easy to address. Apart from reversing a few previous panel modifications, the buyer won’t need to spend buckets of money replacing steel in this classic.
With all of the trim reinstalled, the interior appears to be complete and unmolested. That is slightly deceptive because a previous owner did perform some changes. It would have looked stunning in its original White and Ivy Gold combination, but that prior owner fitted a new set of Black covers to the front seats. He then went through the process of dying the remaining upholstered surfaces to match. That isn’t the end of the world, because the car will require a retrim to present at its magnificent best. How this is tackled will be determined by the buyer’s vision for the Mustang. If they plan something close to a faithful refurbishment, interior trim kits are readily available and pretty affordable. If the project aim is more extreme, then custom upholstery might be the go Hmm, leather, anyone? If I were tackling this build, I would be sorely tempted to opt for a Pony Interior trim kit. These cost under $1,600 and contain everything required to make this interior pop. My finishing touch would be to install a high-quality reproduction Rally Pac gauge set. At $650, they aren’t cheap, but I don’t think that you can beat them in the appearance stakes.
The Mustang rolled off the production line fitted with an A-Code 289ci V8 and a manual transmission. Both items are now consigned to the pages of history, although the correct rear end is in place. As part of its life in competition, the previous owner cut the inner fenders to accommodate custom headers. Usually, I would be worried about this, but the owner includes a set of NOS replacements to rectify this problem. The shock towers are solid, and apart from some surface corrosion, the area around the battery tray looks okay. This is what makes this Mustang a blank canvas. With no engine or transmission to consider, the world will be their oyster for the next owner. They may consider following the restomod path, or they could look at many alternatives. I admit that I would be sorely tempted to search for a K-Code 289 to slot into this empty space. I would also consider a more modern 5-speed manual transmission to provide overdrive and a correspondingly more relaxed open-road cruising experience. Power steering and some decent cross-drilled and ventilated disc brakes would round out my dream car. Of course, that’s my vision. Yours could be completely different, and it is these differences that make the classic scene so enjoyable.
It’s easy to see why the bidding on this 1965 Mustang has been so spirited. It allows the buyer to create the classic of their dreams, and they can do so by working from a structurally sound and virtually rust-free foundation. I’ve put forward my ideas on this, and I suspect that every reader will have their own take on this classic. One thing is certain: the bidding is sure to go considerably higher before this auction ends. Cars like this will almost always find their way into the five-digit territory, and I can see no reason why this one should be an exception to that rule. So, if a Mustang is on your wish list, this is an auction that is worth watching.
Odds are strong the cowl vent is rusty. The only paint on the inner surfaces of the cowl vent is the little bit that gets through the intake slots. The bare metal starts to rust immediately, and before long, water begins to trickle down behind the kick panels to the front floor, which leads to penetrating rust.
This could be fun. Finally, a project that doesn’t involve replacing a ton of rust. Restomod to your heart’s and wallet’s content with a clear conscience. Modern steering/suspension/brakes and perhaps a 5.0 from the Foxbody days and you have a clean car that you can drive every day, if you want.
The car looks solid. For the price, worth the money. Fixing unibody rust is a nightmare.
mint!