If you worked on a Ford assembly line between 1964-66, you must have made enough money in overtime to put in a swimming pool or add a second story to the house. Since Ford built 1.3 million Mustangs between early 1964 and the end of the 1966 model year, that had to add up to a lot of tired people! This ’65 Mustang was an intended restoration project and parts are scattered all around the garage. But that has never happened and now someone else can do it. Located in Wheatfield, Illinois, this (hopefully complete) Ford is available here on craigslist for $5,500. Bring a trailer – and a wheelbarrow. Once again, Pat L. finds another vintage car for us!
We don’t see the whole Ford in any one photo and the garage is dark, but the seller has detailed what he must sell. Most of the pictures have writing on them to describe what parts there are. The Mustang could be wearing its original red paint and the interior pieces are red and black. While no dents jump out at you, there is a lot of rust in the door and fender on the passenger side. We don’t know about the driver’s side and part of the car is covered up with stuff.
The project comes with a 289 cubic inch V8 that the seller says runs, but it’s not currently in the car and not pictured. We don’t know if it’s the motor that came out of the Mustang, but it was paired with an automatic transmission. The seller says a bunch of parts was purchased for the rebuild that didn’t happen, and we can’t tell between what came off the car versus what was acquired to go on it.
This pony car looks to have the potential of being a time-consuming and costly project. The ’65 Mustang sports coupe with a “regular” 289 V8 was probably the most-produced of the model that year. So, it should be the easiest one to find today, which points to the mid-$20,000s being top dollar for a prime example.
I wonder what the final price difference would be in an e-bay auction between this presentation and if the seller dragged everything outside and laid out all the parts in an orderly fashion with better pics?
The 3 “fingers” of chrome on the side say it’s a ’66, not a ’65. Man, it looks thrashed. If this were an upscale GT, maybe it would be worth the asking price. I bought my “65 Mustang with a 6 cylinder for $7,500 about 6 years ago. I haven’t restored it. I was told buy a couple of car guys that I paid too much for it, and it is in much better shape than this one.
Garage find? More like a barn find.
I’m with Mike on this being a ‘66. My best friend had a copper ‘66 with a 6-cyl. I had a ‘65 with a V-8. Sold mine for-are you sitting down-$640 back in the day. This one will require more than a weekend or two. Pass but GLWTA
Let me up you one on the stupid list. I sold my 64 1/2 (260 V8 with generator) that came with the letter from Lee Iacocca thanking customers for their purchase. I got $500 for it in 1972.
And you also have saved almost 50 years of upkeep, maintenance, gas, oil, tires, licensing, insurance and storage. What did you do with all that money you saved?
Me too. I sold my handsome silver with black interior 66 GT coupe A-code 225hp 289, and 4 speed. It had lots of options like the wood grain interior bits, console, pony seats and door pads, styled chrome wheels, fog lights, exhaust trumpets and red strips along the rocker panels. Just about every option except air conditioning. I sold it in 1976 for $800. It looked good and ran great. Chicks dug it. That’s one I regret.
MIKE – – I think you meant trashed. About late 73 or early 74, I boughe a
64 1/2 convertible in Monterey CA for $450. It had a 6 with auto. Changed to V8. Traded it for 75 IH when I got orders for AK. Sure wish I still had it.
As evidenced by this listing…Our hobby is riddled with DREAMERS and DOERS…always has and always will. Sadly the former way outnumbers the latter and many cars have met a sad fate as a result.
Please don’t be “Sad” there are so many Dreamers. The Doers were Dreamers first, else why do anything? In fact, what would ever be accomplished without someone dreaming that it could be done?
Judging by the edge of that back seat, I’d say a HAZMAT suit and lots of white vinegar will be required to bring the interior back. I’m with Mike, if the seller could pull the thing out and spread the parts around for a photo shoot…maybe along with some cursory cleaning…they might be able to sell this pony expeditiously. I think some of the surface rust is from a long-ago spilled fluid which ate the paint. HARD PASS.
If the engine is not even in the car, then it does not run.