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.
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