This 1965 Ford Mustang doesn’t make a positive first impression. From its tired paint to the acres of surface corrosion, it’s easy to dismiss it as a potential project. However, a closer look at the seller’s photos suggests it might be better than it first seems, and the intense bidding action supports that. The seller has listed the Mustang here on eBay in Orange, California. Thirty bids have pushed the price to a mere $1,650 in a No Reserve auction.
After its sensational unveiling the previous year, the First Generation Mustang cemented its place in the market and automotive folklore in 1965. Ford couldn’t build them fast enough, and it is astonishing to think the 1965 sales tally of 559,451 vehicles wasn’t a record. Ordered by its first owner in Twilight Turquoise, this classic would have been an attractive car in its prime. Sadly, what remains of its paint is baked, and much of it has surrendered to surface corrosion. It would be easy to discount the Mustang as a lost cause, but there are factors worth considering. This old pony appears to have spent its life in California, which is almost invariably good news. The surface corrosion looks bad, but a closer look at the listing images reveals no worrying penetrating rust in the lower extremities, the shock towers, or the front inner fender wells. Potential buyers would need to climb beneath the vehicle to ascertain the condition of the floors, rails, and torque boxes, but the car certainly shows promise. If it is as structurally sound as the images suggest, it could be an excellent project candidate. The trim is intact, but some pieces require replacement.
Mechanically, this Mustang could be a blank canvas for the winning bidder. The first owner’s choice of drivetrain components made this car the least potent variant available in 1965. They teamed the 200ci six with a three-speed automatic transmission. This motor produced 120hp and 190 ft/lbs of torque in its prime, delivering performance on par with the average family sedan. This classic is a mystery machine because the seller hasn’t tried to coax it into life. The battery is flat, and there are no keys. Therefore, interested parties are rolling the dice. However, they may decide to discard the existing mechanical components, because slotting in a V8 would be easy and worthwhile to provide a marked performance gain.
The Mustang’s interior isn’t pretty, with California’s harsh UV rays taking a heavy toll on the vinyl and plastic. That is unsurprising, considering the state of the exterior. The basic hardware is intact and fit for reuse. That said, it requires a complete retrim to return to its original glory. Trim kits are readily available and relatively affordable. The buyer can follow the faithful path with standard vinyl, or up the ante with pony trim to help this Mustang stand out in a crowd.
Gauging whether a classic has hit a sweet spot with enthusiasts is sometimes challenging, but the listing statistics confirm that people see plenty of potential in this 1965 Mustang. The 30 bids received are an impressive start, but the Listing View and Watch List tallies of 953 and 173, respectively, are among the best we have seen at Barn Finds. There’s plenty of time remaining for interested parties to throw their hats into the ring, but will you be one of them?
A V8 convert would be nice, profitable I imagine as well, but be preparred to redo much of the suspension. I believe some very early stangs in the production run ran 260 V8s. That might be interesting if a viable one could be found. Too much power here is maybe not a good intention, maybe just a nice cruiser. A cruiser would do just fine with a rebuild of what is already here. And that comes from a man with a race prepped 351 in a 68 Stang. A low powered car might be the perfect candidate to teach a young person to drive a stick. I myself learned on a humble 1951 Plymouth with a 217 cubic inch flat head six.