Today, the most desirable early Ford Mustang is probably the fastback. It wasn’t in the mix when the car debuted in the Spring of 1964 (1964 ½?), arriving in the Fall when the official 1965 model year began. The seller has what may have been a rather common first-year fastback, with a 289 cubic inch V8 using a 2-barrel carburetor (“C-code) and an automatic transmission. Stored for 40 years in Lincoln, Nebraska, this mostly solid restoration project is available on eBay, where the current bid is $13,200, though the reserve is unmet.
Buyers took home more than 77,000 fastbacks in 1965, the body style’s best showing before they began being called the “SportsRoof” in 1969. Most of the history of this ’65 Mustang isn’t mentioned, but it stopped accumulating mileage in the 1980s. After about 40 years of dormancy, Mother Nature has been kind. The Ford is not corrosion-free, but it’s far from being a rust bucket, and preparing the body for new white paint shouldn’t require Herculean efforts.
The seller is very thorough in describing the Mustang’s flaws, if that’s the right way to describe things that come with age. The trunk lid was replaced at some point with a green one, but it’s been spray-painted white to match the rest of the vehicle. The interior is surprisingly nice for the age, but you’ll probably want to work on the front bucket seats, though not the most glaring need.
With some work, the 289 V8 will turn over and fire. The distributor is stuck, and the exhaust system is shot. The brakes are shot, and the fuel delivery system will need cleaning. You could get this car running and use it as a driver for the near future. Save the restoration for when you have more time and money to invest.
Wow, looking at the eBay pictures, there is a lot of structural looking sheet metal to replace and what projects need is always more than what you can see. I’ve long wanted a fastback but starting a 15k or more entry fee seems like I would be seriously underwater just getting the chassis/body strong again. And then the motor rebuild & suspension/brakes, paint & interior… I wish good luck to whoever tackles this one. Oh, and I would need a third pedal :)
Dave Phillips I couldn’t have stated it any better than you did. Seller repeatedly says, ez fix. I say not me. Inside is beautiful; the shell far from it, along w/engine. As you mentioned, with all required, you’d be underwater quickly.
Back around 1972 in San Francisco, my best friend growing up, who lived around the corner, was gifted a ’66 Mustang fastback like this one, dark metallic green with a 289 and 4 speed for his 17th birthday. I was still taking the bus everywhere. He never even gave me a ride in it and I rarely saw him after that. He was now the “Big man on campus”.
Early in my married life (55 yrs. ago), I bought a 65 Fastback with no motor that had been a drag car. Was going to put the 260 from my wife’s wrecked falcon in it for use as a daily driver. However, it had a 4.11 gear in it which made it impractical for freeway use to get to work. Sold it to my brother who proceeded to put a 4bbl carb on it and terrorize the local stoplight street racers. They couldn’t believe it was a 260. He finally sold it after a number of tickets and last we heard it got crunched by a dump truck. Anyway, I hope this one finds a good home.
nice interior but still has a rotted floor pan.
Looks nice enough, but no sale with a 17.5k high bid. I’d also add more there’s going to be more than a couple weekends of tinkering to have a competent runner no matter the seller’s conjecture. One look under the hood says it all. Let the buyer figure the mystery.