Finding a cheap project candidate can be challenging, especially if the object of a buyer’s desire is a first-generation pony car. However, this 1965 Mustang could be such a vehicle. It recently emerged from a barn after years in storage, with the supplied photos suggesting its new owner faces a veritable mountain of work before it graces our roads again. The bidding action has been subdued, meaning it could be a very affordable project candidate if the action doesn’t intensify. The Mustang is listed here on eBay in DeKalb, Illinois. Bidding sits at a mere $530 in a No Reserve auction.
This Mustang is a sad and sorry sight, and it takes a fair amount of investigation to uncover the finer details. The existing Green paint is peeling away to expose the car’s original Silver Blue. The seller became its custodian when they originally bought this farm, believing it has been sitting in the barn for at least a decade. The car’s overall condition suggests it may have been considerably longer, and there is much for potential buyers to consider if they plan to return the Ford to its former glory. It will require dismantling to the last nut and bolt due to the deterioration, although that isn’t unusual for many project candidates from this era. The images reveal enormous surface corrosion and penetrating rust in areas like the lower front fenders and rear quarter panels. It is unclear how deeply the rust runs, but bracing to replace the floors, trunk pan, and other prone areas below the surface would be wise. The trim and glass are intact, but how much is suitable for reuse can only be determined once everything is clean. The worst-case scenario is that this Mustang will only be suitable as a parts car, an option some may consider.
Powering this Mustang is the company’s C-Code 289ci V8 that produced 200hp and 282 ft/lbs of torque in its glory days. It is backed by a manual transmission, although it is unclear whether it is a three or four-speed unit. Performance would have been pretty respectable when it rolled off the line, but that time is long behind it. Unsurprisingly, the Mustang doesn’t run, and I suspect it hasn’t for many years. The seller doesn’t indicate whether the engine turns freely, but budgeting for a rebuild as part of the restoration costs would be wise.
Opening the Mustang’s door doesn’t improve our outlook, as the interior is a sad and sorry sight. It would have looked nice when its Black vinyl trim was in good order. One positive aspect is that it is complete. However, it requires nothing less than total restoration. Trim kits are readily available and affordable, making this potentially the cheapest part of any planned restoration. Alternatively, there are plenty of salvageable parts if its new owner views it purely as a donor for other projects.
This 1965 Mustang could be a cheap project, but will the buyer be getting what they pay for? Everything required to recapture its youthful good looks is readily available, which is one reason why these remain popular amongst enthusiasts. However, the required work may place its financial viability in question. While I would love to see it returned to active service, my instincts tell me it will end its days as a parts car. Do you agree, or do you see potential in this tired classic?
No title, no dice in my state
I’m convinced that there are hundreds, no make that thousands, of first generation Mustangs still lurking in barns. Which makes sense; they were extremely popular in their day, and given their sporty and desirable nature, a logical car to stash in the barn. Which brings us to part of their issue as a “project.” Unless a convertible or (especially) a fastback, finished projects are not overly valuable/expensive. And, given the availability of repro parts, rusty, poor-condition, incomplete examples like this are not even particularly useful as a parts car (unless one is a stickler for certain original parts).
So, if my logic is halfway correct, this car sadly doesn’t have much value. If I was advising the seller, I’d recommend taking ‘any’ offer, even if only a few hundred dollars.
I’ve occasionally fielded calls about my advice on barn-found plain-Jane Mustang coupes in similar condition. I usually try to temper the enthusiasm about their “treasure”.
Yep – you know the 1965 production was in the millions – right ?
Rare bench seat but that’s about all….
Those are bucket seats in this car. When did they ever put a bench seat in a Mustang?
Yblocker, 63C body code indicates it came with a bench seat. Probably sold years ago, then someone put buckets in it. Bench seats in Mustangs were “rare” only because not many people wanted one. They were more “unpopular” than “rare”.
Millions?? There were 559,451 Mustangs produced in 1965.
Bob,well said.
Having just finished a similar 65 project…although starting with a car in better shape, but doing just about everything to it that this one requires…I can say it’d be easy to spend $20K on parts before you’re done. You’d have it just the way you want it, but don’t think it’d be much of a money-maker, especially if you have to pay for labor.
Why does it always have to be a money maker?
It is code 1, so a 3-speed manual.
Also, interior is code 32, a blue bench seat, not black. You can see it if you look closely.
V-8 is always a plus.
And if you REALLY look closely, you will see it has bucket seats, somebody stuffed some kind of armrest in between, which might make it appear to be a bench
It came with a bench seat originally
I had years back a performance 289 4 barrel 65 289 engine given to me from a barn. The water jacket in back was cracked.
Kept heads and intake etc .
Juat saying we don’t know if this had freeze plugs broke out or properly drained on this 2 barrel.
Getting a title has gotten harder to obtain .
If only a NY state car or other BOS states….
DeKalb IL is west of Chicago. If the car was in southern Illinois there’s a small chance it’s not a total rust bucket. Since it was found in northern IL, I’d give it a 25% chance of it staying together when you try to winch it up on a trailer.
As for what it’s worth as a parts car, there are enough parts out there to build a new 65 Mustang if you want to. I don’t know anything about the Ford reproduction parts, but if you want Chevy parts there are a LOT of them out there that are poor quality and/or just don’t fit.
A friend was restoring a 70 Camaro that had been a race car most of it’s life. He needed a lot of interior parts and they were all available, but most were poor quality and/or didn’t fit. He ended up paying good money for a parts car that had been sitting behind a barn since 1972. He used or restored all of those parts and threw away or returned the “New” stuff he bought.
I do own one Ford, a 1943 GPW Military Jeep. It has a 283 Chevy motor with a 1955/56 distributor. The points are different from 1957 up.
I decided to replace them and the two new sets I got through the local parts store were both bad. I filed the set that had been it for at least 20 years and it runs fine. It has a MSD 6A ignition box, so the points are only looking for a ground and they should outlast me.
I’m not looking for performance, a 1943 Jeep with a 6″ lift kit and 36″ Desert Dog tires with a warmed over 283 Chevy is as dangerous as anything you can think of. I go slow on back roads to close car shows or cruise the ‘hood” on side streets.
As you suggest, it’s a parts car. It probably isn’t a viable project even with clean paperwork.
If bought for the right price this will make a great parts car. No matter what people think, not all parts to build a car from scratch are available new, even if they were the costs would be prohibitively expensive for all but the most rare and valuable examples. It appears to be a complete car that nobody has stripped or cherry picked the hard to find parts and pieces that either aren’t available from restoration suppliers or if they are, are if inferior quality.
The seller looks to be doing the smart thing, for him. Get someone to buy it and haul it away so he doesn’t have to. Price seems to be irrelevant.
Steve R
Barbara Hale, aka, Della Street was from DeKalb, she was certainly no rust bucket lol. Granted, this Mustang has been sitting for 45 years in extreme temperatures, and humidity, but it’s also been secluded from salty roads. We should always look close before we judge
Hi Steve,
I’ve been told that almost every part to build a mid-60’s Mustang, 57 Bel Air or 69 Camaro is available. Some aren’t exactly stock, but it can be done. It’s supposed to be possible to turn a Tri-Five Chevy four door into a 57 Bel Air convertible with available off the shelf parts. It just costs a lot.
As you said, the cost of that stuff is insane but it can be done. If somebody has a 65 Mustang that needs parts, this one would be a good candidate at a decent price.
As for “No title,” that’s a problem. Somebody out there may have a title and legally own it. I wouldn’t consider it even as a parts car because the real owner could come back after you. Unless you strip the parts off it and get rid of the evidence. That probably won’t happen, but I wouldn’t like taking that chance. In PA it’s hard to get rid of a car without a title. The scrap dealers won’t take a cut up car without a title.
Sitting in a barn for a decade? The license plates are from 1979, more like sitting for 45 years. I think some young ambitious buckaroo who isn’t scared to get his hands dirty, should pick this up, and fix it up. It’s complete, and just might not be quite as bad as it looks.
Likely worse than it looks in reality
Worthless junk. The missing title invites a challenge alone, the condition only adds to the woes.
Looks liike they pulled it from a lake!
I had a fish like that
Didn’t say it had to be a money maker, Yblock. Just seems like more than half the folks who use this site are interested in flipping these cars. My wife says I’m not a collector, I’m a consumer! I’ve got a 65 Vette I bought in 71, a 62 Vette I bought in 72, and a 49 Packard I bought in 75. Unless I have to, I never sell NUTHIN!
Looks like bucket seats in this POS but a bench seat was available in mustangs and in firebird/ Camaro why ?? IDK but had a girlfriend who had 66 mustang with a bench weird
The bench seat Ford put in these was probably identical to what they installed in the Falcon.
This thing is basically a tetanus shot and emptied wallet away from becoming someone’s serious case of buyer’s remorse.
Whether it’s worth saving or not it would be interesting to see how this beast would look after a good wash.
Car as a V8 donor is worth two grand having all the pieces to convert a 6 cylinder to a V8. Standard shift conversion is a hot item as well. New Hampshire has a vin verify process to obtain a title if needed to put on the road.
Didn’t the 6s come with 4 bolt 13″ wheels? Wheels, brakes etc. plus engine to rebuild, 3 spd and bench seat should be worth some money and time as a donor car. Heck, I have a friend that bought a rusty 65 wreck just to get the in-dash 8 track player (in place of the radio) that was a rare option.
Took the pictures, put her on Fee Bay, but couldn’t find that garden hose. I can smell that raccoon condo from my house.
Rare case where you buy a parts car to restore this and end up restoring the parts car instead.