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Highly Optioned: 1966 Ford Mustang Convertible

One of the great attractions for buyers when they wandered into their local Ford dealership to order their shiny new 1st Generation Mustang was the enormous selection of optional extras on offer. If you look back across motoring history to that point, there had probably been no make or model that offered the buyer such an opportunity to tailor a car to their specific needs and taste. The original owner of this 1966 Mustang Convertible took advantage of this phenomenon to equip this classic with some desirable extras. The car has been sitting since the 1980s, but it looks like it could be a rewarding restoration project. It is located in Dallas, Texas, and the owner has listed it for sale here on eBay. It has generated plenty of interest because it has already received forty-one bids. This action has pushed the price to $7,750, but this figure remains short of the reserve.

The original owner ordered the Mustang wearing Wimbledon White paint, and while it continues to wear that shade, I can see a few spots that indicate that someone may have performed a repaint in the past. It looks a bit tired, but it isn’t horrendous if the buyer felt that driving it in “survivor” mode was a viable option. There are plenty of small chips and marks, but no major defects. The same is true of the panels because although there are a few marks, there’s nothing of any great consequence. One option that the original owner chose was to equip this Mustang with a power top. Despite the car being inactive for more than three decades, it still raises and lowers as it should. That means that the frame and bows are good, but the top itself looks to be beyond its “best before” date. That’s not the end of the world because finding a replacement in the correct material for under $400 is not a huge challenge. I would love to be able to say that the Convertible is rust-free, but I can’t. The panels look pretty good, as do areas like the frame rails and shock towers. The floors are another story, but I’ve seen plenty that were far worse. The buyer will undoubtedly replace them at some point, but they look sturdy enough to suggest that it wouldn’t need to occur immediately. The trim seems respectable, as do the original wheels. The glass appears to be in good order, and the overall impression that this Mustang makes is pretty positive.

While it might not be the most potent package Ford offered potential buyers in 1966, this Mustang is equipped with a C-Code 289ci V8 and a three-speed automatic transmission. It seems the original owner liked the idea of an effortless driving experience because they also ticked the boxes beside power windows and power brakes. As a performance combination, that little V8 offered the driver 200hp and the ability to cover the ¼ mile in 16.9 seconds. That might not seem that fast, but on the positive side, it reduced the chances of occupants developing the windblown look. When you consider that the car has been sitting since the 1980s, it probably won’t surprise you to learn that the engine doesn’t currently run. The owner doesn’t indicate whether it turns freely, but if it does, it might not take a lot of effort to breathe new life into it.

The interior of this Mustang is another area that would be classed as serviceable, but once again, there is evidence that someone has performed some refurbishing work in the past. I say this because the carpet fit is not close to the standard that Ford achieved in the factory. The carpet isn’t badly worn, so the buyer might be able to stretch it into position correctly. Most of the upholstery looks okay, although it appears there might be a split developing in the driver’s seat. Before I spent any money, I’d spend some time performing a deep clean to ascertain what may need replacing. That’s where the buyer will face some decisions. Age will have affected the color of the seat upholstery, so replacing the driver’s seat alone would be a pointless exercise. When you look at the fit of the carpet, the prospect of replacing the seatcovers, the cracked dash pad, and locating a few smaller missing parts, it appears that a trim kit might be the most cost-effective option. That leaves one final choice for the buyer to make. Do they follow the path of originality which would see a trim kit costing $1,400, or is the thought of a Pony kit at $1,650 more tempting? While I usually advocate for originality, the Pony kit looks mighty tempting. The original owner ordered the Mustang with air conditioning and a pushbutton radio, and while both remain intact, it’s a sure bet that the A/C will need some work before it blows cold once again.

It seems that most 1st Generation Mustangs will attract their share of attention when the owner lists them for sale, and this 1966 Convertible is no exception. It shows a lot of promise as a restoration project, and the list of optional equipment does nothing but increases its desirability. If the buyer restores it to a high standard, it should be capable of commanding a value beyond $40,000, and that figure should keep rising with each passing day. Of course, we have no idea where the owner has set the reserve, but I’m willing to take a guess. The equipment list and the structurally sound state make me believe that the bidding will need to be beyond $15,000 before we hit paydirt. I’ve been wrong on this in the past, so this listing should be worth watching closely.

Comments

  1. Avatar Terrry

    Be careful, give it close inspection. Underneath it could be a real Rustang.

    Like 2
  2. Avatar Gord

    The wheels look like Cougar styled steel wheels – not Mustang

    Like 11
    • Avatar James Quinn

      I agree, thought the same thing.

      Like 5
  3. Avatar Poppy

    I see they also checked the box for the rare “tailpipe delete” option

    Like 8
  4. Avatar rustylink

    ” it seems the original owner liked the idea of an effortless driving experience because they also ticked the boxes beside power windows” – this car clearly shows window cranks….

    Like 6
    • Avatar James Quinn

      Power windows was not an option for mustangs. I assume he meant power steering.

      Like 4
  5. Avatar CCFisher

    “Highly optioned” is a stretch. A/C is a little unusual on a convertible, but that’s about all that stands out here. Deluxe interior, console, Rally Pac, uplevel radio, GT equipment – all are absent. The wheels are Cougar items, so it’s a safe bet it came with wheel covers originally. The woodgrain dash appliques are part of the deluxe interior and are not original to the car.

    Like 2
  6. Avatar Tucker Callan

    Mercury wheels. Could be Cougar center caps?

    Like 1
  7. Avatar Terry J

    I was in High School in the mid 60’s and had friends with new Mustangs. Really fun little cars. Today it is rare to see one for sale with a V8 in it, far more common are 6 cylinder cars. Back in the day, Camaros were usually V8 equipped and often with 4 barrel 327s and 350s. I never saw a 6 banger Camaro. Still don’t. Never understood why, but the end result was that most Mustangs couldn’t compete with most Camaros in the stop light drags. ( I’m not including Virgil’s 390 GTA Mustang in this generalization). :-) Terry J

    Like 0
    • Avatar Stephen

      It’s rare to see mid 60s Mustangs for sale with a V8? Don’t think so.

      Like 2
      • Avatar Terry J

        Around here it is. (Western Oregon). By far most are 6s. Terry J

        Like 0
  8. Avatar Frank

    Bet the AC is junk!

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Stephen

    I stand corrected. In Dallas we see mostly V8s. And the BaT sales are predominantly V8s.

    But the six with a three or four speed manual is a great car.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar gaspumpchas

    Correct as shown, Terry and James, the bottom looks highly suspect, but they didnt take any pics of the inner rockers, which are the bugaboo of a mustang convertible. If you look closely the Gaps on the doors is are tight , maybe not but this is the first sign that the car is collapsing. The bidding is suspect, too, maybe they are fishing for the reserve, but the low and zero feed back are present. Being sold by a dealer. The condition under the hood is a far cry from the outside of the car- you would think the seller would spruce it up a little.
    Anyhoo, lots of red flags here, Know what you are buying, Good luck and happy motoring.
    Cheers
    GPC

    Like 2
  11. Avatar GEORGE BIERLY

    Any chance this could have started life out as a 6 cyl? Vin will confirm.

    Like 0
  12. Avatar GEORGE BIERLY

    5 lug hub confirms factory v8 car

    Like 0
  13. Avatar Gary James Lehman

    Why does everybody pick all these cars apart? NIT-pick, I mean. It’s like a contest with you guys as to who can find the MOST minor detail wrong with the cars on this site. Lighten up.

    Like 2
    • Avatar John S Dressler

      Gary, if you’re interested in the car as a buyer, you’ll want all the nit-picking from as many knowledgeable people who know the car as you can get. It will definitely temper your desire to buy the car or not and help you decide whether the car is fairly priced or not.

      If you’re not a buyer, there is much to be learned from some of the very knowledgeable people who comment on the cars posted here. I’ve learned a lot more about some models of cars that I’ve admired in the past just by reading the comments.

      Like 0
      • Avatar Gary James Lehman

        The guys making these comments aren’t “buyers”. And I doubt if there are more than a few real buyers on this site.
        I get tired of reading “if it only wasn’t 300 miles away, I’d buy it” or “that’s not the original interior–hard pass” or “this one would be in my garage if it was white” and so on.
        I’ve been in the car business for 53 years and it’s the same boolsheet that I listened to from customers who had no real interest in a real purchase.
        I agree that there are some smart individuals on this site, however a LOT of them just like to hear themselves make noise.
        Thanks for your comments.

        Like 0
  14. Avatar Terry J

    You’re not the Dealer who owns the car by any chance, Gary? Pretty defensive. Which comments offend you? I don’t see any B.S. in any of them. Well just one actually. LOL. Terry J

    Like 0
  15. Avatar Gary James Lehman

    Terry J,
    No, I don’t own this car. I never said any comments offended me. I said I was tired of guys nitpicking every car ad nauseum. And I’m not being defensive. In this thread alone, there are so many “see how smart I am” comments:
    *BE careful–give it a close inspection
    *I’ll bet the a/c is junk
    *Cougar styled wheels–not Mustang
    *Could be Cougar center caps
    *Gaps on the door are tight
    *Bidding is suspect
    *I see they also checked the box for the rare “tailpipe delete” option
    * This is the first sign that the car is collapsing.
    *Maybe they are fishing for the reserve
    ETC.
    I guess it boils down to not liking guys who act and talk smarter than they are….you know, the bigger they are…….
    They say if you think you are the smartest one in the room—you are in the wrong room.
    Thanks for swapping thoughts with me.

    Like 0
  16. Avatar Otto Leslie

    Removed, reserve not met at 13,050

    Like 0

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