Most Barn Finds readers will have seen an example of a classic that seemed a lost cause but has been brought back from the brink by a dedicated enthusiast. It takes a special type of person to achieve such a feat, but sometimes, waving the white flag is the best approach. Such could be the case with this 1965 Ford Mustang. It suffered severe damage in a building collapse, but the seller must feel it has potential if their price is an accurate guide. The Mustang is listed here on Craigslist in Mariposa, California. It could be yours for $5,500 OBO, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Mikey P LAYKLYF for spotting this poor pony.
Enthusiasts considering a restoration project face many choices. Most will be realists willing to admit when a car has reached the point of no return. Others are grimly determined, and by the time they have finished, not only has the budget blown out substantially, but the only original parts of their pride and joy are the gas cap and ignition key. This Mustang could be beyond help, which is a crying shame. The building collapse inflicted enormous panel damage on a rust-free car that has spent its years in a dry climate. Areas like the floors, rails, and torque boxes are still structurally sound. The crushed roof and upper rear quarter panel require replacement, but crucial components like the cowl appear undamaged. However, what might be hiding beneath could pose a bigger challenge. Such a substantial hit may have twisted the bodyshell significantly, making satisfactory repairs impossible. Therefore, it is worth considering what the car offers as a parts donor. The seller indicates it was an Eleanor Tribute, with the Mustang retaining the distinctive hood and side scoops, rear spoiler, and taillight panel. The hood, trunk lid, and driver’s side panels might be okay, and anyone already working on a rusty Mustang project could cut out this car’s healthy sections. These could be welded into that project, ensuring the finished product retains as much original Ford steel as possible.
I suspect this Mustang has already been a donor for other projects because its drivetrain has been reduced to “roller” status. The original 289ci V8 and four-speed manual transmission are long gone, but the rear end, suspension, and steering are intact. That trend continues inside. I can spot a steering wheel and most dash components, but the trim and seat hardware aren’t visible. Such hurdles aren’t insurmountable if someone wishes to drag the car back from the edge. However, they add still more to the restoration costs, further undermining its project potential.
The optimist in me would love to see this 1965 Ford Mustang returned to its former glory, but I am not blind to the work and cost involved in achieving that goal. A person with well-developed welding skills could address the roof and quarter panel damage, but the price of the required steel will not be cheap. Therefore, I believe its days of prowling our streets are probably over. That raises the question of the seller’s price. Is it realistic, or will they need to compromise? Over to you.
Good golly almighty. What building fell on it; the one up the hill on the cliff, after the rain washed out the foundation?
Rip the VIN plate off and crush the rest of this hulk into oblivion.
Is that not a newer car than that? Bigger lights and the lip on the boot.
$100 for it and find one with a rotten floor to chop the top off; get busy welding!
What…….a joke. This thing isn’t worth towing away for free.
No structure but no rust.
Please just sell the vin , engine, two body panels and be done.
Not a rustang but a crushtang
I luv stangs but not this poor baby.
This isn’t a barn find. This is junk removal.
and they want to charge you $5.5k for the privilege of removing it. Insane!
Adam two things: I see quite a bit of rust & I’m almost 68. Secondly, “the seller indicates it was an Eleanor Tribute.” Well….I believe that ship has sailed.
Based on what you can see of the inner fender and passenger side cowl as well as what looks like cracking body filler between the top of the passenger side quarter panel and rear window, I don’t necessarily buy the “rust free” claim. It was butchered before the building collapsed on it, if there ever was a car screaming out to be rebodied using a Dynacorn shell this is it.
Steve R
Lot of money for a vin tag and title…..
Yeah, right. we’ll get right on it. NOT!!!
When did the building collapse on this car, in 1985? There’s a lot of rust there too.
And no drive train which no one’s mentioned. Add that $$$ to your purchase. I have a # of 65 Mustangs 1/18 scale collectibles I purchased along my journey of life for $100 roughly a piece. Complete. This real one sadly is not worth even that. Chris Cornetto was exactly right…”This thing isn’t worth towing away for free.”
This is laughable. Not paying over $5 grand for a few salvageable parts…
A little early for April Fools, no?
Did he say he’d give $5,500 to someone to hall it away?
It’s an Eleanor tribute? Was his mom named Eleanor? Cuz those are ’67-’68’s, not first generation. And at $5,500? I guess the weed out there in LaLa land is pretty powerful.
I don’t think ‘crate’ is a strong enough description for this example. Hard pass.
Using the handiest tool of bodywork, the alignment bench, can get this car as straight of not straighter than as new. Take off the top, align the chassis, leave it on the bench while welding on a new top, and you have something to work with.
Already halfway crushed might as well put it out of it’s misery and finish it
I have a fb roof ,Ive been saving
So trying to get more after the insurance pay out, I would do the same, it has a California pink. If the frame survived you might be able to get a decent build but I think when its all done you could just buy one that already runs and drives
There is no frame. It’s unibody.
Wrong!! Separate body and frame. To the best of my knowledge (and as a retired automotive writer and editor I had to know more than the average reader and have bookshelves filled with reference materials) the 1960 Ford Falcon was FoMoCo’s first unitized body and frame vehicle. And my first car (which my parents gave me and which I still have) is a 1956 Ford Ranch Wagon and it most definitely is separate body and frame!
This gave me the biggest laugh for a while, so that’s worth something.
How much for the doggie in the picture?
Worthless, with all the rust and roof crushed into the door.
Actually V Robert Wallace it was the 58 Lincoln Contiental that made the cut for being the first unibody for Ford. Bombed terribly. No car 20′ long can be a unibody. Ford found that out the hard way.
VIN Tag donor, keep the steering wheel for wall art…