When the Ford Mustang hit the scene in April 1964, buyers flocked in droves to dealers to get theirs. In the abbreviated so-called 1964 ½ season, only coupes and convertibles were available, with fastbacks joining the line-up in the Fall. This 1965 “pony” was a driveway find in Tennessee before it was relocated and put into storage in East Peoria, Illinois. Unmolested, this stock Mustang will need some effort to get it running again, but it looks mostly solid and complete. The asking price is $25,000, here on craigslist.
More than 559,000 Mustangs were built in the extended 1965 production year as all cars produced between April 1964 and August 1965 were titled as such. That was topped in 1966 with 607,000 more units, making the original Mustang one of the most successful automotive product launches ever. In ’65, one of every seven Mustangs sold had the new 2+2 fastback body style, like the seller’s well-equipped example. It has a 289 cubic inch V8, automatic transmission, power steering and brakes, and factory under-the-dash air conditioning.
It appears that this Mustang spent some time on concrete in the previous owner’s driveway. So, it was exposed to all sorts of weather which severely faded the car’s red paint. There is no mention of any rust and the limited photos provided don’t show any glaring cases. The interior is in surprisingly good condition where no one thankfully ever cut holes in the doors for speakers. There is no indication of what it will take to get the Ford running again.
The seller has extra parts for the car plus a set of Cragar wheels and tires which we assume were worn by the Mustang at some point. Should you have a conversion to a 4-speed transmission in your restoration plans, the seller has a set of pedals for it. Along with the original keys and some of the paperwork that date to the day of sale in 1965. The seller refers to this Ford as a “unicorn” – perhaps because they’re getting more difficult to find these days in restorable condition.
I think the real unicorn is the sucker that will pay $25,000 for this rusty money pit.
Could you point us to where you see rust in the photos or mention of it in the ad?
Perhaps you looked at it in person; could you give us a general report?
Click on the Craigslist link and look at those photos. There are two underside photos with plenty of rust.
Yikes. To clarify, half of those photos in the ad including the undercarriage were either just added since my comment or my phone was glitching and didn’t show them.
Certainly rust, so yeah they’re asking too much. No rot at least, but definite rust.
Not Cragars, Russ.
$25,000 is a non starter. The cost get it running is going to put you underwater at that price. I would have to look at but I’m thinking somewhere between $5000-$8000 depending on rust.
LOL!!!!! Good LUCK finding ANY titled ‘65 fastback for $5-8k for sale anywhere 🤣🤣🤣
It occurred to me, the comment sections on ads here are exactly the opposite the likes of Barrett Jackson and Mecum. Where they sell vehicles for overly inflated prices (sometimes outrageously so), the people here perpetually UNDERvalue everything. It’s almost like they’re trying to counteract the BJ/Mecum effect. Whatever the case may be, the valuation assessments thrown out by most people here are just as unrealistic outliers as high end auctions are high.
Baseline for a ANY ‘65 fastback right now is $10-12k for an ULTRA rusty car that needs absolutely everything. Typical serious east coast rust will still bring $13-15k. Moderate western US daily driver rust will fetch close to $20k, and primo southern California rust-free is anywhere from $25-30k. If you find a car priced cheaper than these baselines, BUY IT, you’re getting a good deal.
I would buy every single ‘65 fastback I could possibly find for $8k or less.
Some of the people complaining about the price want to pay next to nothing for these cars so they can flip them at a 300 percent profit
The impression I get is that people making these comments are perhaps older (not knocking, just saying), who were more involved with the hobby years ago and now don’t pay as much attention to things like bj, mecum and the current market in general. Therefore, they’re going by prices of 20 years ago or more when they were more involved.
A lot of people of other generations also feel that old cars should be perfect looking, so they see a car like this as needing a total nut and bolt resto as opposed to preserving, which is big money.
On top of all that, I also get the impression many are just not fans of vintage mustangs.
But you’re so right, it is the exact opposite here.
There is no mention of any rust and the limited photos provided don’t show any glaring cases.
Bone stock cars are not my personal interest, but this one would be a great starting point for a restoration, it would be a shame if this were to be hacked up into another Felby GT350ish thing. Just not for 25 grand, way to expensive as a project basis.
Yet another ad with a lack of photos and info, so obviously you’d have to look in person or beg for photos/ video.
If what little of it is shown is an indicator of what the entire car is like; then someone will be getting a nice rock solid pony. These just don’t come up for sale in this condition anymore.
Restore mechanically, clean and detail and drive, assuming the undercarriage is nice.
The comments on vintage mustangs on this site never cease to amaze me, but the 5-8 grand comment may be the best yet. This is 2023, not 2003 or the 90’s. Unfortunately.
Since my comment they added undercarriage photos or I at least couldn’t see them before.
So, it might be a tad overpriced, but still looks like a potential good one.
Agree….this could be the twin to my old 2+2 but mine had a white inside.
Not seeing any hard rust out on the body – the frame and bottom is just surface rust but by all means call someone up to go look at it in person.
Sold mine running and driving and that was maybe 1998 for $8500….but they are getting harder to find unmolested….
The O’Jays “Money Money Money Money” comes to mind. Whew that engine bay looks rough & ya could surf on the dash. I had one in dark blue as my 2nd car back in 74.
Regardless, any car setting outside exposed to the elements any length of time will have rust. Mustangs of 1964-1966 usually had cowl rust if they had set outside. On-site inspection would be a necessity before purchasing this Pony. May or may not be a “rust bucket!”
Somebody bought a car cheap from somebody and now wants to hit a grand slam with it. No VIN, little information, no mileage. Does the engine move freely? For 25K, they are going to have to provide photographs showing it is worth it, and those crappy cell phone pictures aren’t passing the test. The green algae on the exterior along with paint crazing suggests long term outdoor storage. Minimum 15K repaint.
Russ,
The A/C underdash unit is an aftermarket piece, it’s not a Ford factory or Ford dealer installed accessory. The correct version has 4 round vents, with a Ford shield emblem in the upper center of the facia plate.
Mustang AC was a dealer installed add on, Mustangs didn’t get Factory air until the 67 Model was introduced!
Yes but there was a ford version of add on A/C and that’s not it. That is aftermarket.
Ford offered factory-installed A/C from the start of Mustang production. It was the same setup as the dealer-installed unit, but the details were different. Factory-A/C cars had punched holes in the radiator support as opposed to cut holes for dealer-installed units, and I believe the vents and bezel on the in-car unit were different with factory A/C. My ’65 also had “A/C” marked in grease pencil on the radiator support.
CC Fisher, that would be interesting to see if you have any pictures. The radiator support markings were all applied before paint, so they are only visible as they age and it bleeds through. What I can tell you for sure about markings on the support is that they marked the rotation number on them which always started with a letter. With A being one of them. I was told by a someone who was from Ford that the 65-66 mustangs that were “ordered with factory a/c” actually had the A/C parts in a box in the trunk for the dealer to install prior to the new owner taking delivery. So all the A/C units for 65-66 were dealer installed even if it was ordered by the customer that way.
CCFisher,
You are partially correct. Based on my research, including posts on the Mustang Forum, If a 1965-66 Mustang was ordered with A/C from the factory, the following differences were made during assembly:
1. The radiator support had 2 large holes cleanly punched [not drilled] for routing the A/C refrigerant hoses to the condenser. [And screw holes MAY have been punched in the support as well, for hanging the condenser.]
2. The car was equipped with an up-rated radiator.
3. The A/C parts for the installation were in boxes in the trunk. None of it was installed as part of the work on the assembly line.
It’s interesting that the car seems to have the incorrect interior door handles. They are the clip on style from the 1964 1/2 type. I was at first thinking that maybe this car was an early production fastback and perhaps it may have had some of the 1964 1/2 parts on it originally, but the date code on the plate listed in the craigslist ad decodes to January 7th 1965. Which is too late in production to still have those clip on door handles and window winders.
My stepdad had a 66 Galaxie that he was very proud of the fact he was 2nd owner and it was 100% factory stock and his came with that exact ac unit from the factory so it is highly possible that is a factory unit only a different model than most people are used to. And no those aren’t Crager wheels. They are Keystone Raiders. One of my favorite wheels to come out of the 80’s. Also unlike Cragers, pretty much all Keystones are universal and will fit pretty much any 5 lug pattern up until the metric stuff we see now. As for this car. Could be really nice but way to high price for it’s condition. Take around $10,000 off the price and you could feel a lot better about how much it will cost to just get on the road let alone restore. Still would like to see it done. Just don’t see enough of the 2+2’s any more. Keep it stock, resto-mod it hot rod it. Whatever you’re in to. Just save it from getting any worse.
Davey Boy,
I’ve done a lot of research into the various FoMoCo underdash A/C units, and the type with the 4 round vents was the only type available in all Mustangs thru 1966.
The one photo of the A/C unit is difficult to see because of the steering wheel, but I think this is a 1962-63 Ford SelectAir unit. That unit was sold for all Ford vehicles, even trucks, so it was probably installed by the Ford dealer. NO Ford A/C units prior to the 1967 model year were available with “wood” trim on the front.
Ford bought their underdash units from Frigi-King and Mark IV, who both offered very similar examples to aftermarket shops, but never with the FoMoCo emblems. It’s entirely possible that when new, the buyer wanted A/C, so either the dealership sent it to an outside installer who put a similar type in your family’s car, or the Ford dealer installed the earlier SelectAir style. Because the Mustang was such an unexpected sales success, it’s entirely possible that the selling dealer simply ran out of the Mustang version of A/C, and substituted the SelectAir instead.
Back in the early 1970s I worked at a Ford dealer in the new car department, and I was one of the guys who installed the A/C units in new [and used] cars.
Love this body style, too expensive for my wallet tho.
25k where a bit high from what I see,it is not out of line at all..That has just become the cost of entry for a fastback anymore and this one bing as stock and unmloested as it is will get it since although it has some surface rust,is noit a rot box……Glad I had one in the day,exactly the same color code and option list,less the AC which in the east was not needed back then…Came in on trade where my dad worked…Had a little minor frontender that wrinkled the bumper very slightly and the lower valance,so I just removed the bumper….Cost me all of $100 in 1973…..;-)…
Nice! We used to snap these up in the early 70’s for a song. Never more than a grand. Beat the heck out of them. Today I’d rather have a 2014 6 spd for $20k.