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Texas Dust: 1966 Ford Mustang

mustang1

Does it get any better than rolling up a storage unit door and seeing a dusty vintage car sitting behind it? I don’t think so, and that’s exactly what we appear to have with this 1966 Ford Mustang coupe here on eBay. The seller claims it remains highly original, but engine’s head was removed at some point and it’s not currently running. There’s no reserve on the auction and the car itself looks quite dry. 

mustang2

There’s no telling how long this Mustang has been locked up. While that dust may make its stay look lengthy, the car also hasn’t deteriorated like one that hasn’t been touched for 30 years. With the head removed, it reminds me of my own project car where the previous owner tore it down to the block for an engine rebuild but never finished the project. That’s why the engine is currently at a machine shop and I’m pricing out custom pistons!

mustang4

The sale will also include two C4 transmissions, which makes you wonder if this Mustang was having shifting problems before it was retired. The wording is curious on this listing: it has been garaged for 14 years, and there are some photos which clearly show the vintage hardtop in its existing setting. What I’m wondering is if the dusty discovery is how the seller found it 14 years ago, and it’s now been sitting in his garage ever since.

mustang3

Nice stablemate for this pretty blue pony. The seller says it is now in an easily-accessible storage locker for pickup, which only confuses me further as to the vehicle’s current state. Regardless, every photo shows a largely complete car that will need an undetermined amount of engine work to get back on the road. Still, if it’s rust-free and otherwise original, it could be worth a gamble even with the unknown engine and transmission health – at $5,000 or less, this seems like a bargain for a fun summer project. What do you think?

Comments

  1. Avatar Patrick Pylant

    The 66 has a rare bench front seat option. I have only seen a couple of these.

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  2. Avatar Leroy

    I’m wondering the timeline of the pictures, too. The pic of the clean car shows the front license plate with no damage and the metal behind the front bumper with no damage but in the dusty pic, there’s damage.
    The dusty pic shows skid marks in front of the front tire like the brake was stock and they pushed the car into storage and did the damage.

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  3. Avatar MH

    To me something looks off. Almost looks like a barn find that has been set up. The damage before and after are strange.

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  4. Avatar JW454

    It looks to me like they damaged the bumper filler shoving it into the storage unit. Based on the ad, that’s where it is now. I like the bench seat. Makes it a little different than the rest of the herd. (pun intended)

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  5. Avatar piper62j

    I like it.. Especially if it’s a rust free Texas car.. Dust contamination is minor and a good shop vac and cleaning will make it easier to work on..
    I’ve seen only one other 66 Mustang with a bench seat and it had a red interior.. Very rare..
    The picture sequence is odd, but shouldn’t deter a good pre-purchase inspection.. If I didn’t already have two Mustang projects going, I’d be on my way to Texas to pick this one up..
    Great find and a potentially great little steed…

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    • Avatar D. King

      Please don’t assume Texas car = rust free. Every part of the state floods, some areas more than others. There was a major flood in May, 2015. I don’t know if that’s the story here, but the dust pattern is suspicious, as some others have commented.

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  6. Avatar RoughDiamond

    @MH-I was thinking exactly the same thing.

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  7. Avatar Barney

    All the time line mystery doesn’t matter much to me but this is a six banger car which means if one wants to put a V8 in it, EVERY thing underneath has to be changed. I have had poor luck getting any money out of a six cylinder car when I finally went to sale it

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    • Avatar Keith

      I do very well with the 6 cyl Stangs, key with them is low purchase price when you buy it and do as much of the work yourself as you can, and also not to “over restore” them

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  8. Avatar Chuck F 55chevy

    I have a bench seat with some Mustang parts I bought, they must have made a few of them, seems like I have seen bench seat covers in a Mustang catalog.

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  9. Avatar BradL

    The plates on the car were issued from 1982 to 1985. Since the plate is in good shape and not sun-bleached, I’d guess the car was parked circa 1986.

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  10. Avatar Randy

    I’m not sure a six cylinder automatic coupe is worth the effort, except maybe as a donor for a fastback conversion.

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  11. Avatar Jeff G

    My first thought was that it was staged and I didn’t even notice the damage. The dust is just too perfect on the horizontal surfaces. Aside from that it looks like a good project.

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  12. Avatar piper62j

    Barney.. It wouldn’t take all that much extra time and money to swap in a small block v8.. The tranny will bolt up with the correct flex plate.. The wiring is all there and a fuel line from the apron to the pump is short money.. A nice dual exhaust system might be a few bucks but the engines are readily available used.. they usually come with the carb, starter and alternater… I think it would be worth popping in a 289 or possibly 302..
    Check this out- $300. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1966-Ford-289-C-Code-Engine-/322106527693?hash=item4aff0b8fcd:g:0zkAAOSwubRXNMUl&vxp=mtr

    Think of all fun !!!!!

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    • Avatar Keith

      there’s a lot more to doing a I6 to V8 conversion than just dropping in the engine and bolting it to the trans. At least, if a person wants to do it right.

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  13. Avatar Mike Williams

    Piper62j doesn’t know what it takes to convert a 6 to a 8. You can’t just drop one in. Nothing fits. EVERYTHING mechanical has to be changed over to v8 specs. With a bad six, this is a six parts car, not worth more than 2k.

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  14. Avatar Alan (Michigan )

    Tire tracks Check
    Body damage Check
    Dirt spray Check

    Yep, certainly looks to have been staged to me too. Duh. What is it with some sellers?

    And…. more like 130K too.

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  15. Avatar piper62j

    Mike.. Obviously you’ve never, ever performed any engine swaps in your lifetime.. The parts are readily available and if you know what you’re doing, the job takes time but is fairly easy.. You are probably only familiar with the newer, more complicated vehicles out there and never worked on these older cars..

    “All the mechanicals”??? Not sure what you’re talking about there… I’ve done Chevys, Fords and only two Mopars in my career as a line mechanic. Always had a good time with it..

    You must get frustrated easily doing this type of work.. Sorry ’bout that!!

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    • Avatar Mike Williams

      So your good with a 7 1/4 rear end, small driveline, small c4, small radiator, small Falcon brakes and spindles. It’s not only undependable, it’s totally unsafe. I know you at least need a v8 parts car or it’s going to get real expensive. I bought a new Mustang when they first came out and was real upset, when I found out all these mechanicals were updated for a couple hundred dollars when you got the v8. Best by out there is a v8.

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  16. Avatar Andrew

    6 cylinder cars had 4 lug brakes and wheels. I believe a less robust rear too.

    Like 0

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