Disclosure: This site may receive compensation when you click on some links and make purchases.

Field Find Project: 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback

The Mustang was a sales bonanza from the moment it debuted in the Spring of 1964. These early cars are sometimes referred to as 1964 ½ models, but everything built through the Summer of 1965 was all titled as ’65s. The fastback version did not come along until the Fall of ’64 and accounted for one out of every seven first-year Mustangs built. This ’65 Mustang fastback has been sitting out in a field in Elverta, California, and is a project the seller says he will never get to. Not much is mentioned about the car that’s offered here on craigslist for $7,500 OBO. Thanks for the heads up here, rex m!

After building 121,000 Mustangs in just a few months, Ford went full-steam ahead and produced another 559,000 for the full model year. That was followed up by 607,000 cars in 1966. That incredible showing is probably only matched by the likes of the Model T or the Volkswagen Beetle. The addition of the fastback for 1965 gave the Mustang a truly sporty look, distant from the Falcon that the Mustang was based upon. I wonder what Lee Iacocca’s bonus was for the profits this car continues to bring to the Ford Motor Co.

We don’t know much about the seller’s ’65 fastback. It appears to have been sitting out in the elements for way too long. Much of the car’s green paint is almost gone (replaced by patina) and there is probably some rust to be found, especially since it’s been sitting on dirt in some photos and on top of a piece of canvas in others. The rear bumper is missing, and the passenger side front floorboard is rather crusty in appearance. The back seat may be saved with a good cleaning, but the buckets will need new upholstery.

The only mechanical note about the Ford is it has a 3-speed manual transmission. No reference to the powerplant, but the fender crests likely say 289 and there is a V8 under the hood, condition unknown. It has an air conditioning compressor hooked up to it and the interior unit hangs under the dashboard as was the case with these cars. Unless there is something about this ’65 Mustang fastback that’s extra special, a really nice example is likely to fetch $30,000. Can you restore this car at the spread between that and the asking price?

Comments

  1. bobhess bobhess Member

    My offer on this car would be a whole lot less than the asking price, but if the underside isn’t rusted out, as much as I hate to admit it, this could be a good rebuild candidate. My first total restoration was on a ’49 Crosley station wagon that had been used for a chicken coop so my history of taking on cars like this can’t be denied.

    Like 10
  2. Avatar rextreme Member

    “a really nice example is likely to fetch $30,000” – good luck with that…

    Like 10
    • Avatar u

      A really nice 65 Mustang fastback with a 289 and manual is likely to to fetch about 2X $30,000.

      Like 9
  3. Avatar wuzjeepnowsaab

    7500?? Wow they think they have a rust bucket 356 or something

    Like 3
  4. Avatar Robert White

    I’d snap this up long before everyone else if I actually had dough. Unlike other commenters I’d grab this car for the asking price without bickering so I’d beat everyone else out of it.

    65 Mustang is the best year IMHO.

    Bob

    Like 18
  5. Avatar S

    559,000 sold in 1965… 607,000 sold in 1966… only beat by the VW Beetle and the Model T… and the Chevy Citation in 1980, at over 800,000. Not that there’s any comparison beyond that.

    Like 2
    • Avatar James Vansicklin

      And how many of the Citation were called back the most called back car in GM history

      Like 4
  6. Avatar 433jeff

    If its not rusty( California) then 7500 isnt as crazy anymore, Title 289 3 speed, i see people asking 7500 for just the fastback on top of a rotted hulk, no vin no nothin. These are great cars. No I wouldn’t do it, someone else has all the parts and will pay the entry fee

    Like 5
  7. Avatar Johnmloghry

    Well, it seems these fast back Mustangs are very sought after. Personally I’d rather have a nice convertible. You can put a lot of money in these before you see any visible improvement. My brother had one rebuilt from the ground up for his daughters high school graduation gift. That was in about 2003. He spent over $30,000.00 on it. She still drives it occasionally, but for the most part it sits parked in her barn in Georgia.

    Like 1
  8. Avatar Ten50boy

    To all those haters claiming $7500 is too much….. if this is a typical California car, with little rust….. price is right on. Seriously, try finding a similar fastback with a lower price. Sometimes these posts make me laugh.

    Like 14
  9. Avatar fran

    As seeing what prices are today, that is not bad.

    Like 7
  10. Avatar butchb

    In 1979 I bought a 65 Mustang convertible with a bad engine for….$20.00
    My how times do change.

    Like 5
    • Avatar bobH

      Yeah, me too. towed home a non-runner, light blue, convertible. A complete car, top, engine, drivetrain, no rust, no dents, good upholstery, simply everything. For free. Took the engine to put in a Jeep. I let a buddy strip everything he wanted. Took the hulk to a junk yard. Did I mention, all for free. As said, I think times have changed. (And I later kept the engine and put another one in the Jeep. I still have the engine.)

      Like 3
  11. Avatar Woody

    Only if the Datsun B210 two door comes with it! Fastback could be solid project car if it’s not rusted through the cowl behind the firewall front clip?

    Like 1

Leave a Reply to u Cancel reply

RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks.

Become a member to add images to your comments.

*

Get new comment updates via email. Or subscribe without commenting.