Is there a better entry-level classic car than a Mustang? Pick your generation, they’re all generally affordable, easy to work on, and well supported by a vast network of parts suppliers and knowledgeable, enthusiastic fellow owners. This ’66 Mustang coupe, a running six-cylinder automatic project car, would be the perfect project for anyone getting into the old car hobby to take on. Find it here on eBay with a $3,500 Buy It Now out of Rosenberg, Texas.
I wrote that entire introductory paragraph as a big ol’ middle finger to the seller of this Mustang, who has the crust to say, “If you are not familiar with Mustangs of this era please move on. This car needs a qualified owner to reach any level of potential.” About a six-cylinder, automatic ’66 Mustang! Qualified, my eye; I can think of no better car for a novice than this. Our focus here is rightly on the cars, but we feature cars that are for sale and base our analysis on information and context provided by the sellers, so inevitably they creep in; I try to be positive or give sellers the benefit of the doubt, but this person just made me angry.
I mean, look at the amount of space in that engine bay! As a pretty novice-level DIY’er myself, I would weep for joy at that level of accessibility under the hood. The six runs, we are told, at least well enough for this pony to canter onto a trailer under its own power, but otherwise the car is in need of a “total rebuild and total restore.”
The seller’s primary tactic to weed out any buyers he or she might deem “unqualified” seems to be withholding useful information (that, and the slightly inflated asking price). Why does the car need a “total rebuild and total restore,” you might ask? Why, because it “has all the usual problems of the first generation Mustangs,” of course, and if you have to ask what those are, well, you clearly don’t know enough to be able to handle this oh-so-special car. Give me a break.
Perhaps the most telling aspect of the seller’s anti-pitch is that this would be a great “VIN for [a] re-body of other projects.” I have a strong suspicion that “any level of potential” in this seller’s eyes would include no traces of the original engine or transmission in this 79,000-mile car; I get the impression of someone who is a little too embedded in some deep level of Mustang enthusiasm, at the cost of forgetting what general automotive enthusiasm looks like, especially when you’re just getting into it.
Is a six-cylinder automatic Mustang coupe—in white, for goodness sakes—an exciting car? Taken just on those merits, absolutely not. But to, say, a fifteen-year-old kid, waiting to get a license and wrenching on weekends side by side with a parent or grandparent, getting this car, exactly as it sits, roadworthy again could be the most exciting thing in the world. There’s been concern for quite a long time now about the future of the classic car hobby; this is the perfect car to pass along to someone who can be part of a solution to that problem. Attitudes like this seller’s will only keep those people away; don’t be that person!
get off my lawn!!
Nathan – what you fail to realize is that this is a “forst generation” Mustang and as such demands a certain level of sophistication for ownership.
As a true Mustang aficionado, the seller reveals that it “has all the problems”. Apparently he does not feel compelled to provide pictures of the floor pans, trunk, wheel wells, rockers, lower fenders, etc. so that a buyer of lesser commitment to the marque would be able to judge the extent of rust & bondo.
I thought it was us Corvette & Porsche owners who were the worst offenders at overvaluing their rides.
I hate when the writer is so condescending toward a novice seller of a car I want to look at.
$3500 it should be gone in a minute
I read your commentary, Nathan, before looking at the Ebay ad, and to be honest, I was expecting worse. But yeah, he’s kind of clueless. What always cheeses me off the most is that a seller can’t be bothered to write more than three sentences to sell a car online. Geez, is there somewhere else he really needed to be, or what?
It may be overpriced, depending on how solid it is (and we have no clue, but the fact that he’s shopping it as a VIN donor tells you something). A 200CID six-cylinder is actually quite a nice little motor in these first-gen Mustangs, albeit not with the auto box. Change it to a 4-speed (not a difficult job) and you’ve got a pleasant vintage cruiser, and an outstanding first classic car for someone new to the hobby.
Seller states – “this car needs a qualified owner”. The only qualification I see is who can come up with $3,500.
Mike that made me laugh out loud. Can you imagine a person showing up with 3.5K in his hand and this seller looks him over and asks a couple of questions, then says, “Sorry, you’re not qualified to own this car”.
Looks like this is his first rodeo selling on Ebay so, maybe he’ll learn something.
“About a six-cylinder, automatic ’66 Mustang! “…..hilarious!
Who was it who said you can’t go broke underestimating the intelligence of the average person…..sheesh………maybe he ought to roll it across B-J…….lots of qualified buyers there.
I was thinking there was a lot of righteous indignation in that intro, then I read the ad. Even not being a Ford fan, I agree with Nathan that this could be the perfect starter classic, provided that it’s not too infested with tinworm. No shots of the floor pans nor inside the trunk, however, there’s a great shot of the two pounds of wheel weights on the left rear. If I were closer, I’d have a look, especially because Mama’s a huge fan of early ‘Stangs.
2 years ago I bought ALL original 73 Mustang coupe bronze exterior and brown interior with 8K original miles Zero rust all documentation , manuals 302 auto , factory ac , factory am radio , manual windows I paid 17K for it Just beautiful ! Not for sale am just sharing my passion for classics!
Not a Mustang fan, but while we’re ripping apart the seller…
I see poor fitment/panel gaps of the passenger’s door, and no closeups of that side of the car. Hinges worn a bit, or is there body damage?
No close or straight-on views of the rear…strange “ladder photo bomb” notwithstanding.
Newer “OCOD” and parts of the fuel system, yet no air cleaner that I can see. Drives onto a trailer just fine. Makes me wonder if it won’t go out of first gear, and how much the car had to be punished to figure that out.
Thank you Nathan for an honest and straightforward writeup and assessment. This is why I love BF. Keep going.
I always wanted a car that could load itself on the trailer. And this was way before cars that could park themselves.
Yes Cuda’s and I have owned/driven Stangs….just prefer the look the ride…
Maybe he’s speaking from experience. He probably bought it, without his wife’s approval, brought it home, and it went downhill from there. As all old cars can be, it’s probably tempermental. Without the usually mandatory pump of the gas to set the choke and give it that initial shot of gas, it probably failed to start. His brand new fuel injected mini van would never let him down like that. Therefore, his assumption: You need to be an ASE certified mechanic to own something like this.
I don’t understand his comment: ” If you are not familiar with mustangs of this era please move on”. Is this just pure arrogance? As a buyer, with cash, it should be my decision whether or not to spend it on something I know little about. As a 16 year old kid, I was working on these cars, by myself. Changed engines, transmissions, water pumps, etc. etc.. Soon after that, I was “Familiar with Mustangs”.
True. Six cylinder automatic Mustangs “from this era” are of about the same complexity as a Ford Falcon. Or Nova. Or Valiants. Or or or.
I am sure that after owning a 63 Valiant Signet for several decades I’d have no problem with owning a six cylinder Barracuda.
It has duel exhaust, split exhaust manifold I guess, kind of cool .
My first car was one of these………I kept the junker 3 weeks and traded it for a great 1967 chevelle, 327 and a four speed….
I’m restoring this car in red. This is #8 or 10 in a series of project cars over the last decade; I’ve lost track. Yes, that 6 cyl is surprisingly quick, even with the automatic. You can almost build an entire ’66 from online suppliers and the mechanicals are as simple as they come, so it hardly requires a master restorer.
You’re right, it’s a great entry level car or the right car for someone looking to stay in the hobby on a tight budget.
The owner’s admonishment is really just poorly stated advice: research before you look. Know the typical trouble spots before you inspect a potential project.
That being said, most of us Mustang types welcome new people to the club. An early Mustang is an excellent entry point into the old car world. They’re easy to work on, club support is excellent, and just about every part is at your fingertips.
If your are experienced with Falcon’s will your skill set transfer? I would guess yes.
I like the ‘carb’ … 😎
Only missing a bullet hole… perhaps the present owner could stand a little closer to the car
And no one mentions the fender medallions???… Hmmm…
Looking at the poor alignment and gaps in most of the body panels and the front fenders and the fact their is no title mentioned in ad (I’m not familiar with Texas laws so maybe this is normal for its age) and from the sellers attitude shown in the description, I’d definitely pass. (Also from the toolboxes etc. in the garage, raises some real questions in my mind).
W: I think it’s been hit in the front at some point. The color of the front right fender is a different shade of white.
Could be why that door is so “off”.
At 70,000 miles the gaps should have tighter tolerances than that even after accounting for 52 years and the general looseness a hardtop will develop.
I totally agree with you! This seller is trying to sell a car at a premium price! What gets me the most is he is advertising a premium price for a car has a good potential for rust issues in the frame and other places! Not a single picture of under it?
Seems like a nice car for that price. Seller sounds like Charles Emerson Winchester III.
Cuz there’s no car more complicated than a 60’s Stang!