Everyone wants an early Mustang, and altogether too many people want a Mustang Fastback (2+2 in Ford-speak), which is what makes it even possible that the Mustang seen here on ebay should be garnering interest at more than six grand with three days to go in the auction and four bids registered. The reserve, by the way, is not met at this price. If you’re inclined to throw down some of your hobby money, factor in getting the (ahem) carcass home from Inverness, Florida.

There’s more than one way to weld, apparently. You’ll need to know them all in order to bring this Mustang 2+2 back to life. Things don’t sound too bad in the front end, but as you reach the mid-point and go back from there, there’s a scary-long list of needs. At least the seller saves you from guessing, but hold onto the arms of your chair as you listen to him list the rusty needs of this once-solid pony car: “The front frame rails are in good condition. Will need a full floor pan and will need rear rail extensions, rear trunk floors, inner and outer wheelhouse and quarter panels.” In other words, right about where you sit is the last intact structural support. The rest is rot.

The car is desirably equipped with the 289-CID eight-cylinder, an altogether adequate power plant with the standard two-barrel carb and C-4 automatic transmission. Is it functional? Live in hope. It’s “locked up” but wasn’t the last time the seller uncovered it, though there’s no mention of when that might have been. So you’re on your own under the hood as much as you are with the underbody. Indicated mileage is just a tick below 100,000, but that’s just for what it’s worth.  Also mentioned is power steering, which is a nice addition on this (or any) model of car. Just think of how easy it will be to slide into a spot at the cruise-in near you.

So what if you decide to buy? You’ll want to complete extensive repairs including removing those dumb-looking Shelby tail lights. When you’re all done, you’re going to have one of the most attractive of the pony cars of the era, with the perfect body proportions of the first-gen ‘Stang complemented by the sloping roofline. Just how long, and how much money, it will take to get there is going to be governed by your need to have even the unseen areas brought up to a standard of perfection that’s undetectable, a trick that will be a reach even for an accomplished body technician.