The Ford Mustang was introduced at the New York World’s Fair in April 1964. Two and a half years later, the company had built more than 1.2 million of them, making it one of the most successful automobile launches in history. Of those, nearly 175,000 had a convertible top, so it’s not surprising to still find some of them running around today. This ’65 Mustang has had some work done and will drive around the lot, but a restoration is more in order. Located in Wentzville, Missouri, this pony car is available here on craigslist for $17,950. A tip of the fedora to Gunter Kramer for this tip!
Production of the 1965 Mustang is often broken into two camps: those built before the Fall of 1964 and those produced after. The first batch is sometimes referred to as “1964 ½” models, but they were all titled as 1965s. Subtle changes were made during 1964, such as a shift from the 260 to the 289 cubic inch V8. And given the gold paint on the air cleaner, it’s possible this Mustang was built over the Summer of 1964.
The history of this Ford isn’t provided. The mileage is said to be less than 69,000 which could be legit if the car was dormant for a long time. The seller (or someone prior) has replaced the tires and gas tank and has performed some brake work. The bumpers and some of the exterior accessories are new, but the dark green paint has run its course though the body looks fair overall (but the seller admits there is some rust). This Mustang was well-equipped when new with “factory” (or dealer) air conditioning, automatic tranny, power steering and brakes, and a console.
Under the hood lies a 289 with a 2-barrel, hence the “C” code. While the car will drive around the property, we don’t know what else will be needed to venture out onto the highway. The interior is original and is ready for a makeover, including the metal parts of the dashboard which have some surface rust. The convertible top is also ready to be retired as the glass is missing and is otherwise showing its age. Next to the fastback or Carrol Shelby editions, the convertible is probably the most sought-after of the 1964-66 Mustangs.
IDK about the holes in the one frame member. How do you even fix something like that on a unibody? Showing my ignorance here. If you were to restore it, I guess you have to keep the two barrel carburator to maintain the value, but I sure would like to upgrade that intake.
You take the interior out, cut out the entire frame rail, and weld in a replacement. Rust repair parts for early Mustangs are readily available and reasonably priced. There’s nothing here that’s not repairable, and it won’t break the bank.
After you replace the floor – then you can replace I think I saw one frame extention. Still on the high side I’m thinking….with engine and/or trans work soon.
The 289 was available in 1964 1/2. It was designated as a ‘D’ code. The ‘D’ code was only used for 1964 1/2 cars, later dropped in favor of the much more powerful (higher CR and mechanical valves) ‘K’ code.
The D-code 289 was replaced by the A-code 289. The K-code was a separate animal, available in both “1964 1/2” and 1965 Mustangs.
CCFisher is right, there were 64 1/2 k codes. Not many but there were some. And the D code engine was horsepower rated between the C and A codes. But anyway this car isn’t a 64 1/2 anyway, the vin number is way too high for that. In fact it is more likely a very late 65.
This Rustang needs love.
The frame sections, trunk and others means tear it apart and rebuild.
Its priced to high for the work needed in my opinion
I do hope the Mustang gets put back .
I restored a rusty one in my youth but never again to cut and toss metal. I bet the inner rocker supports need replacement too.
GLWS!
There’s always the Dynacorn option! Dynacorn builds complete replacement bodies under license from Ford. Write Dynacorn a check for $17.5k, and they’ll drop ship it to your front door! Or anywhere else you’d care to name, so send it off to the local body shop for prep and paint, and while you’re waiting for the body to come back from paint, rebuild the driveline. Here’s a link:
https://dynacornclassicbodies.com/1965-ford-mustang-convertible/
Dynacorn got their start building replacement steel panels under license, until they made every panel you’d need to build an entire car. When that happened, someone at Dynacorn got the bright idea that they could build a jig to weld all of the pieces together, and sell complete bodies! The rest, as they say, is history!
Dynacorn does not create repair panels. They buy and distribute replacement panels and have bodies built from them as well. And yes they sell them. But the sheet metal is not stamped by then. It’s the same metal available under other names
Pretty nice car for 1965. Air and a convertible! Like the console. Wish it were mine after it gets restored.
I remeber seeing these for the first time in a magazine in a PX. I was in love. 13 months later i was actually able to buy one, but I was so glad to be home, that was all it took to make me happy. I kept driving my 55 Plymouth.
No thanks, you have a car worth $3,500. I just completed a 68 coupe that cost me $45K Everything from floor pans to fenders rot to other body rot and engine, transmission and reared. It is a beautiful car now but you have to be will to spend night bucks for this project. Great luck to this new buyer
As a Mustang restorer for 40 years, she’s worth more than $3500 lol
Way over-priced.
Given wealthy baby boomers desire for the cars of their youth, prices on all 1960’s iron have skyrocketed, especially Mustangs. I don’t blame the seller for trying to cash in, but I don’t think it’s worth the $17k+ asking price, since there’s probably a lot more rust hiding under what’s left of that dark green paint. The problem is, you won’t know for sure until the paint has been fully stripped off of the body, either using media blasting or chemical methods, and by the time that happens, you’re in too deep to get out without spending what ever it takes to finish the job. No matter what happens, you’re likely to be “under water” by the time you’re done. The only saving grace is that repair parts are plentiful, reasonably priced and available.
“we don’t know what else will be needed before venturing out on the highway.” For an overpriced asking price of 18g’s, I’d wanna know! Shabby seller imo when u don’t provide enuff needed info. C’mon