There are times in life when we can feel that we’ve bitten off more than we can chew. That leaves us to face a choice. Do we chew harder or turn around and walk away? That is the question raised by this 1965 Mustang Fastback. It appears that the owner has listed it with No Reserve, and since somebody has submitted a bid, it is destined for a new home. Are they taking a big bite as a project build, or have they turned their backs on that prospect to make the best use of the parts and clear title on offer? As you will see, there would be a mountain of work required on this Mustang that is listed for sale here on eBay. It is located in Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, and a single bid has set the ball rolling at $1,000 in a No Reserve auction. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for referring this thought-provoking classic to us.
I’ve sat here carefully examining the supplied photos and struggling to find a genuine positive attribute with this Mustang. Then I struck gold; It appears that the passenger side taillight globe might be okay! I’ve seen some sad sights during my years in the classic car scene, but this Mustang sits with the best of them. The extensive panel damage suggests that it has found itself shiny-side down at some point, which has destroyed many panels and twisted the shell. Its cause hasn’t been helped by the extensive rust that has attacked every steel surface. It is so bad that I believe there is a clear danger that the car may snap when being dragged from its current location. It appears that only the roof is tying everything together, and with evidence that the A-Pillars are rotted, I doubt that this Mustang will find its way onto a trailer in one piece. There is no glass, and any remaining trim is fit for the bin.
This interior shot graphically demonstrates the difference between the terms “flawless” and “floorless.” The former describes perfection, while the latter applies to this Mustang. If you thought I was exaggerating when describing the extent of rust in this Fastback, this should ease those doubts. It also reveals that there is little left inside this classic worthy of salvage. It appears that the gauge cluster and some components for the Sport Deck rear seat are present, but their condition is debatable. I can also spot a few switches and hard trim pieces that might be fit for reuse, but anything else is little more than junk. As a classic car enthusiast with a particular passion for anything wearing the Blue-Oval, these pictures are difficult to digest.
The VIN indicates that this Fastback rolled off the line with a C-Code 289ci V8 under the hood. Backing this sweet V8 was a three-speed automatic transmission, and with 200hp on tap, the Mustang would have romped through the ¼ mile in 16.5 seconds. The owner includes a 289 and auto transmission in the sale, but it isn’t clear whether these are original to this car. There’s also no information on whether they have landed in their current location for the photo shoot or if they have been exposed to the elements long-term. If the latter is the case, that’s a genuine concern. The oil filler cap is missing, allowing moisture to flow unhindered into the motor. If that has occurred, I would expect the V8 to be locked rock solid, and I doubt whether it would be useful for anything beyond serving as a boat anchor. Still, it would be worth checking. After all, there has to be one crumb of good news amongst the devastation and destruction, doesn’t there?
Those who know me believe that I’m an optimist who can see the positives in any situation. However, I struggle to picture this 1965 Mustang Fastback as anything other than a donor car. There’s no doubt that every piece of steel required to whip its body into shape is available, and we’ve seen some genuine basket cases brought back from the brink over the last decade here at Barn Finds. Ford produced 559,451 Mustangs during 1965, but I believe this car confirms that the total has now dropped by one. What do you think?
A thorough detailing would really make all the difference… maybe an interior kit if you planning on impressing the Judges.
Save what?? Should have been scrapped decades ago.
Apparently it was
This Mustang is just painful to look at in its condition. Other than maybe the 289, there is nothing of value left of the car. Looks like it got rolled over decades ago, and should have been sent to the crusher.
Yard art
A great big flower pot
“art”? Yeah, art like that modern crap where some punk spits paint on a canvas, calls it some esoteric name, puts a crazy high price tag on it…then laughs all the way to the bank. Know what? People are stupid enough to buy art like that at a stupidly high price, someone will buy this too. Probably to transfer the title illegally. That alone should make selling something like this in itself illegal. why isn’t it?
Ha. I read about that guy…
You might be able to get your money back on the few, very few, usable parts, but you wouldn’t make any profit. A lot of that depends on if the engine turns. Then VIN, title and door tag would be great for a custom build on a Dynacorn body.
Why doesn’t a Dynacom body have a title? That would stop a lot of these hijinks. Of course, why don’t we do sting operations of scrappers that buy truck beds full of hastily cut catalytic converters? The world would seem to be reasonably easy to run, why isn’t it?
Spot on, Gary…..exactly what should/could be done.
“needs work” hahahaha
Yup
The vin is where the money is
That hunk of rusted metal hasn’t seen a barn or cover for many years. Why is it here?
Take the vin plates from this clean titled car and use them for the one from Venezuela in yesterday’s email
Why doesn’t a Dynacom body have a title? That would stop a lot of these hijinks. Of course, why don’t we do sting operations of scrappers that buy truck beds full of hastily cut catalytic converters? The world would seem to be reasonably easy to run, why isn’t it?
Not even sure where this corrolates in to this discussion but who cares. Spot on brother… LMAO
You had me up until the last part. It is because your rights end where mine begin and mine end where your rights start. You see I have the right not to catch something from you and vise versa. I am 100% with your right to not have that jab, but I am also in favor of restricting your movements in society to protect others in it. It is a law designed to protect the greater good, like the Ten Commandments, or a speed limit in a school zone, or a sneeze guard at Golden Corral. We are a society of laws to make civilization work. No amount of bluster, or bravado is going to change that. Perhaps we should have a nation wide vote on it. I am all for that.
Should read “experts knew”.
Now let’s talk about cars!! :)
FOR SALE; One 1965 Mustang Fastback title and VIN Plate. Purchaser must take “car”.
Bunky, where is the vin plate? On the driver’s side interior fender or inside the driver’s side door jam?
It depends upon what you call a VIN plate.
There is a plate on the drivers door below the latch that is called a Door Data Plate. It will have the VIN on it and codes for the body style, exterior color, interior color, build date, which DSO the car was ordered from, the transmission code and the rear axle code.
Then there will be a tag under the hood. This is called a Buck Tag. It will have the VIN on it along with some other codes. It depends upon the year and the model where this tag will be located. They could be on the face of the radiator support, the joint where the upper cowl meets the firewall or as I believe that it would be on a 66 Mustang on the top of the inner apron close to where it meets the shock tower.
And then the VIN will also be stamped into the top of the inner front apron close to the shock tower. I understand that there are also some hidden VIN locations that are used by law enforcement, I have no idea where those locations are.
Ran when parked?
“Worth Saving” ?
only answ is nother Q “By who?”
I say – bring um all back. Here? alill too old for the committment this would take, so personnaly, yes, I’d walk away now. Tomorrow? oo00OO, don’t ask me that~
I swear it is a mental illness. People leaving a once rebuildable car in a field open to all the elements and then try to sell it.
This car certainly tests the theory that any early Mustang can be restored. It’s true that the parts are available, but something has to be straight and square on the original body to serve as a starting point, and I don’t think there’s an inch of this body that isn’t tweaked or damaged in some way. Looks like it was rolled, then wrecked three times as the inebriated driver tried to limp it home.
The only value here is in the VIN, the title, and Dynacorn’s phone number.
Seriously, Again !!!
It looks bad but I’ve seen worse. I would fix it. Mike
“Worth Saving?”
No.
If you lived nearby and have a trailer with a good winch… and you have a Dynacorn body ready, it *might* be a good deal, provided the engine isn’t locked up.
I don’t even see a VIN plate in the pictures. Perhaps some other Mustang has already been reincarnated?
4 bids with 4 different bidders, why would anybody even want it? Not even for a shooting range.
this brings back bad memories followed by good ones. I bought pretty much this same car in the same condition back in 2000. I was young with babies and no money or sense. I learned how to refine my own welding skills on that car. The car now is still in my collection and has been turned in to a Shelby GT350 clone. The amount of detail I did was incredible. All in I spent 31K to bring it back to what it is now. I paid 900.00 for it. I guess what I am saying is it can be done but wow it was a lot of work. I sure wish I could post a photo of the car now
Daryl Rose Pictures Or It Didn’t Happen.
I remember before Mustangs Unlimited went out of business, they had a Fastback Vin plate for sale in its display case. It was something like $750. I sure miss those guys.
I have 2 Mustang fastback vin clippings and plates saved from destroyed ones I got years ago.. how much are those worth now days…I just picked them up for a “Maybe Later” kind of project… seems I chose wisely back in the early 90s.
Hey there’s some Mustang on that rust!
Back in 1980 I was in vocational school and one of the other students was the best bodyman I ever saw, no matter the age. He saved a worse one example of the same car. Between scrounging rust free parts and getting what new parts were available he ended up using the original roof, cowl, front frame rails and core support. It took all year between scavaging parts and labor to do it but the car came out beautiful. I don’t know what happened to him after we graduated.
If someone has a Vin plate along with a clear title, for a 66-67 Fastback, who knows what it’s worth? I’d rather not deal with those kinda headaches. I’d prefer to spend a little more buying a sound Fastback in driveable and restoring condition.
Another mans trash is another mans treasure but this is not it!!!
And sometimes one man’s trash is just……..trash.
the red and blue pickups are more of interest to me
Our canadian meathead could share
As a old racer I know would say ” A little JB WELD and some 200 mile an hour tape will fix it right up “
Farmtruck and Azn would take this and use it for cannon target practice
There are thousand of Mustangs like this lying around old time junkyards in the East coast alone ; most are just as stripped out and worthless.
All of this banter and comments about a busted up 65 Mustang,,that rolled and wrecked decades ago that isn’t worth a dime anymore. There are better ones out there, this ain’t one of them. It’s painful to even look at.
$2550 with 4 days left? They must be bidding on title/VIN, engine/trans and rear end. Does the VIN or data plate indicate a fastback versus a plain coupe? (I don’t know any specs about ‘Stangs) I’m more interested in the “bump-side” Ford trucks sitting next to it!
Yes, a Mustang VIN will tell you if the car is a coupe, a fastback or a convertible. There are unique numbers for each body style. It will also tell you what size engine the car was originally equipped with.
The door data plate will take it a step farther. It will have the VIN on it so you can tell if the plate is original to the car. It will also have codes on it that will tell you the original paint color, original interior color and style (Pony interior, bucket or bench seat), build date, what the original transmission was, what the original rear axle ratio was, and where in the country the car was originally sent to.
The buck tag will also have the VIN on it so you can again tell if it is original to the car. It will also have a few other codes on it. Some of the codes will be the same as ones on the door data plate. There may also be some codes on it that will tell you that the car had a certain option on it. An example would be if there is a PS that would be for power steering.
Thanks for the info, CATHOUSE. So the numbers and clean title (for a fastback) must be the reason why it’s at $3k (3days to go). They will most likely wind up on a donor or new body.
I would agree that the reason anyone is bidding on this is for the VIN and paperwork. Because I certainly do not see 3K in parts in what is left of this car.