When the new Ford Mustang was unveiled in April 1964, only a coupe and a convertible were offered. It wasn’t until the Fall, when the official 1965 model year got underway, that the super sporty fastback edition would arrive. It proved to be quite popular and was only second to the coupe in demand. The seller’s ’65 fastback is said to be a rust-free survivor that has a new interior (part) but needs paint. And there are some mechanical issues to sort out.

After selling 121,500 Mustangs between April and September of 1964, Ford followed up with another 559,500 copies over the next 12 months. And 607,000 more units for 1966, so this would turn out to be the second best-selling car of the 1960s (only bested by the Chevrolet Impala, I think).  The seller’s Mustang is one of more than 77,000 fastbacks to roll off the assembly line in 1965.

This Mustang has the A-code 289 cubic inch V8, which means it came with a 4-barrel carburetor (225 hp). The seller assumes it’s the car’s original motor, but that will be up to the buyer to verify. No mention is made of any work having been done to it (like a rebuild), but the automatic transmission has had a refresh. The vehicle runs and drives, but some things need to be sorted out. The motor makes a “funny” sound and there are leaks at the back of the engine and from the rear end.

What we have is a “black plate” California car with 27,000 miles on the odometer, which surely has turned over. Under the grey primer should be Vintage Burgundy Metallic paint according to the door tag. From what’s presented, this Mustang looks like a solid candidate for the completion of a restoration, starting with sorting out the noises and leaks. Located in Hemet, California, this Ford is available here on eBay where the reserve is unmet at $17,100.