The Mustang coupe took the world by storm on April 17, 1964, with the convertible body style coming online the same day. Five months later, as if they needed something more to make this nameplate a roaring success, Ford Motor Company dropped the fastback into the mix. Now here we are six decades later, and an opportunity to own arguably one of the most attractive cars ever made presents itself here on ebay. Current bidding is up to $7800 with four days left in the auction on this, a second-year, 1966 Mustang 2+2, as they called the fastback. Just don’t get the idea of driving it home from Lewisville, TX, because the ad is clear: the car doesn’t run, which is why it is listed as a “project car.”
What level of project? Words are spare in this listing, but a quick inspection of the images tells us that there is rust, albeit mostly of the surface variety, except at the base of the doors. That’s where water pools when the drain holes at the bottoms of the doors get plugged. Oops, never mind. One image shows a massive hole where the firewall meets (make that, used to meet) the forward section of the driver’s floor pan. In another, there’s a new floor pan laid in. All that proves is that one can order parts, but it will be up to the next owner to do the welding. Add to that replacing various bits of soft trim and detail work like renewing the window felts and excising the later-model steering wheel, wheels, and front seats, and you’ve got a big task to get this car on the road again.
What will you have once you do that? A handsome but decidedly tame car when it comes to power output. It’s a Sprint Six, wearing a package including a chrome air cleaner. It’s no big secret that Ford used this promo in 1966 as a way to build interest in the 200-CID engine offering, because they were unable to supply enough V8s to meet demand. But wait. The VIN has a “C” in the fifth digit. That translates to a 289-CID V8. What gives? Either someone did a reverse resto, downgrading the car to an inline-six, or that VIN number is wrong. Might be an innocent thing, but you’d best be diligent in matching title to body tag to make sure the finger of the law isn’t pointing at you for fraud. As for the seller, he’s clueless. Why do I say that? Nobody calls the 200 a “3.3 liter,” do they? But that’s how the displacement is listed in the ad.
So should you jump on this one? The bidding is fierce, with nearly thirty bids recorded in the early going. The path to perfection is long with this car, but the results will be stunning.
VIN? I’d swap the 3.3 for a 5.0! I always liked the fast back. Hope it’s restored to original as possible. Thanks Brian K.
Just remember that upgrades made to a sprint mustang to a bigger engine (V8) require replacing 4 lug patterns to 5 lug wheels and will require putting a better rear end .
I always get nervous on primer cars and wonder what lies beneath.
The wheels on the car were only made with 5 lugs, so with that knowledge and the ‘C’ in the vin one can surmise this car has gone from a v-8 to a 6. Easy to go back to an 8 if all the good parts are still there.
Car is a bit of a mess though.
From the wheels that are in jt you cant see if they. 4 or 5 lug
Did they make that wheel in a 4 lug?
No they didn’t. Those are 5 lug wheels, from a later model.
It’s a shame to have a 6 cylinder in a 66 Mustang Fastback, especially if you’re wanting to replace it with a period appropriate V8. Like some already mentioned, if it has the 4 lug instead of the needed 5 lugs, it will also need a 8.5 or 9″ rear end as well. Not a small job. I’m getting ready to list a 66 Fastback 2+2 with a rebuilt 289, new 5spd trans and rebuilt rear end.
Sounds a sweet 🐎 ride HC. Love that 289 and a 5sp perfect for the streets.
Blowing up the ebay photo of the left front fender reinforces the “289” vin code, as there are holes where the original emblem was. Also, I’m willing to bet the 289 is going into the ’68 coupe parked next to it.
Im pretty sure the 4 lug wheels were 13” . These are 14”
I’ve got a set of 14″ 4-lugs that came off my ’68 that I bought new. Dunno why I still got ’em, but I do.
I bought one of these right off the show room floor when they came out for around $3400.
love dat motor (& model) esp w/this head:
https://www.vintageinlines.com/product-page/deposit-only-aluminum-head-package
Altho a ford guy i say: “the FB is really the only 1 to have.” I imagine it set up for running SCCA type racing (trans-am) or vintage (class6). I used a fiat X 1 / 9 back in the day (of time’n money; a devoted trailer; etc).
Triple the fun – do some wrenchin, DD, run it with others~
Theoretically, 3.3L it 201 cubic inches. Just saying….. ;)
Those wheels were never made in 4 lug. Once again, Brian was astute in spotting the C code stamped on the body. Those serial numbers were stamped in, as the body was being “bucked”, so the assemblers had a “head’s up” before the broadcast sheets were thrown in the cab.
If these are 5 lugs with correct rear end, all you’d need to do is drop a Ford small block in it. At least that’s what I’d do. So a new drivetrain included in this cost. At least he’s asking a reasonable price for what’s there.
lol probably cost a couple hundred bucks to get the V8 instead of the ridiculous 6 cylinder.
“It’s a Sprint Six, wearing a package including a chrome air cleaner.”
That’s not a chrome air cleaner and the decal is not correct for a Sprint Six. Of course the VIN shows it was never a Sprint Six anyway.
The steering wheel and the passenger seat are not the right ones either.
Has lowering blocks on the rear, and the front is obviously somehow lowered as well. Stance isn’t bad, but it looks like the tires would rub pretty bad in a real world driving situation.
What most have said is correct – the lower strut does look like it’s be changed so I’d say it was on it’s way. Inherited my dad’s 65 2+2 with the little 289 standard 3 speed. Didn’t really like it all that much compared to my 1965 Cuda and when it got stolen for the second time in 1989 – once in 1982 from dad – we got it back in 1994. After and dropping in another drive train I was happy to see that orginal paint go…..prefer the early A body Mopars so to each his own.