Drive While Fixing: 1965 Mustang Fastback

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How often have you seen someone haul home a project in pieces, store it away in boxes, and then never get a chance to drive it? Many of us have been there, whether the project was too big for our wallets or skill set, or life throws us a curve ball, and the project gets shipped to the next caretaker. A good alternative to this situation is trying to find a running project that needs some work to be completed. It can be enjoyed while being completed. Here is one of these for your consideration:  a 1965 Ford Mustang fastback in good driving condition. Located in Aragon, GA, this ‘Stang is being offered for a Buy-It-Now price of $30,000 here on eBay. Offers are also being accepted.

Yes, I know. It’s just what you want to read about: another Mustang. But there is a reason why these cars are so popular. Lee Iacocca and his team hit the ball out of the park when they designed and released the Mustang, and these cars have filled many bench racers’ yarns since the 1960s. Of all the models Ford released, the 1965 fastback may be the benchmark for the Mustang brand.

Our example is being offered for the price of a new Mazda. This may seem high for a 1965 car with drum brakes that needs at least another new Mazda’s worth of work to get it back to showroom condition. Of particular note is the discount Hertz rental black and gold striped paint job, which is a 20-footer, according to the seller. It is also currently set up with a rebuilt 302, which obviously is not original to the car. According to the VIN, the car originally came with the 200 6-cylinder, so it appears that it has been switched over to 5-lug wheels at some point in its life, too.

So, what do you think should be done to this car? Should it undergo a restoration? Should it continue with the Hertz GT350 clone? Or maybe a restomod with a Coyote? The look and feel of this car is very honest and a bit raw. I would build a high-revving small block, drop it in with a 4-speed, and terrorize the streets as is. Ahhh, bench racing…

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Comments

  1. Bob_in_TN Bob_in_TNMember

    I didn’t see a link, but I did find the car on ebay. I don’t have much to offer, other than it looks pretty good and appears to be a decent candidate for further work. The ask price illustrates the popularity of the fastbacks.

    I remember reviewing another Mustang project from this seller several months ago. If this interests you, drive through Aragon using Google Street View and look for a Mustang salvage yard/building right along the main drag. You can see the “inventory” as of April.

    Like 3
    • Dusty TravisAuthor

      Thanks, Bob! I’ve been having issues with the links in my posts. I just corrected that. Thank you for your comment!

      Like 1
  2. Aussie Dave Aussie DaveMember

    At first glance you can tell it’s NOT a GT350H, but hey suckers are born every minute.
    And Dusty, why do you have an RAF Roundel as your profile pic??????

    Like 1
    • Dusty TravisAuthor

      Hi Dave! It’s a mod target, too. Throwback to my younger years…

      Like 0
  3. rustylink

    The Stang fastback bubble hasn’t burst yet…..

    Like 2
  4. Mark F.

    Might make a nice restomod if the body isn’t too bad. It’s a T code car (200 straight six) and is missing too many things to be worth doing a back to factory restoration, would be worth more in the end as a nice modified cruiser. 30k seems steep, not many people in the restomod world would like the 3- speed manual. I get that they were kinda going for a GT-350H look (I’m not a fan of Shelby clones, too many around) but it’s not really clone material only thing that makes you think GT-350 H is the color scheme and magnum 500’s , doesn’t have any of the Shelby parts or even the side stripes.

    Like 1
  5. Mark F.

    I kinda wish it wasn’t promoted as fix while you drive. While it is complete and running so you could drive it now. You couldn’t fix this car right while driving. The seller in the eBay ad says it has filler and will need body work and has poorly patched floors. This car would need disassembled to fix those issues. Too many people get caught up in thinking they can fix a car like this gradually while they drive it, then find out the hard way that isn’t the case. That’s how cars end up sitting in someone’s garage for 20-30 years with the owner saying I’m gonna fix it someday.

    Like 2
  6. Heck DodsonMember

    I’m getting prepared to list a 66 Mustang Fastback with rebuilt matching 289 and aftermarket 5 speed with front disc a ND rear disc conversion, along with many other upgrades. All she needs is pint and interior.

    Like 0
    • STEVE

      And the price is…..?

      Like 0
  7. Mark F.

    Heck Dodson: That’s probably a better start than this one. This one needs paint, interior, body work, different transmission, and who knows what else. At least with yours you just have to assemble and the brake upgrade is done. This one needs disassembled just to get started on it.

    Like 0
  8. Charles JenkinsMember

    Numerous comments and only a passing mention of the price? Seriously folks, don’t you think that we have taken this “collector car” thing a little too far? 30 K??? I’m sorry ladies and gentlemen, but that figure has no basis in reality. Just my humble opinion.

    Like 0

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