Driver-grade First Generation Mustangs will always generate interest when they enter the market, but this 1966 model lifts that interest to a higher level. It ticks many right boxes because it is a rust-free classic with a healthy V8 under the hood. If that isn’t enough to tempt you, the owner’s decision to offer it for auction with No Reserve could prove the tipping point. If you find it too hard to resist, the Mustang is listed here on eBay in Boise, Idaho. Bidding has raced to $11,499 in this winner-takes-all auction.
The seller is pretty candid about this Mustang’s condition, admitting its Arcadian Blue paint is not great. He describes it as a cheaper paint job, although it retains a respectable shine. There are many minor flaws and defects, and a repaint would make a significant difference to its presentation. The panels are straight, but the best news with this classic is its rust-free status. The exterior is clean, while the underside shots reveal no problems with the floors, rails, or torque box region. This is an essential factor when you consider how many rusty Mustangs we’ve seen over more than a decade at Barn Finds. The windshield has a chip on the passenger side, but the remaining glass looks clear. The chrome presents well for a driver-grade classic, and the aftermarket wheels look right at home on this Mustang.
The Mustang’s interior continues the tidy driver-grade theme because it has no immediate needs. The Black upholstered surfaces are clean and free from significant wear and physical damage. The headliner and pad look good, and the factory radio is intact. It is serviceable in its current form, but a few small and relatively inexpensive upgrades would make an enormous difference. The most obvious would be for the buyer to outlay $225 on a new carpet set. The existing carpet is heavily faded, and the investment would transform the appearance. Some painted surfaces look tired, and the faux chrome on some parts of the gauge binnacle is worn. The new owner could address both problems in a home workshop, meaning the interior could present beautifully without breaking the bank.
Lifting the Mustang’s hood reveals the company’s sweet 289ci V8. The car also features a three-speed automatic transmission and power steering. Decoding the VIN confirms that this classic rolled off the line equipped with a T-Code 200ci six producing 120hp. That means it is no longer numbers-matching, but that isn’t bad news from a driving perspective. The specifications of the V8 are unclear, but the car runs and drives exceptionally well. The seller supplies this YouTube video. It offers a walk-around and allows us to hear the Mustang running and driving. The motor sounds as sweet as a nut, the transmission is smooth, and the car drives with no evidence of rattles or squeaks.
For a First Generation Mustang with a V8 under the hood, the bidding price for this classic remains in “modest” territory. That is despite it receiving thirty bids at the time of writing. It may not be numbers-matching, but the healthy drivetrain and lack of rust will help its appeal. I won’t be surprised if this is an auction where bidding becomes frantic as the end draws closer. Even if you aren’t seriously considering dropping a bid or two, this auction could be worth watching. It promises to be an entertaining experience.
Seems like a very nice driver. Some time spent working on panel alignment would elevate it a bit. It looks to have been taken apart and reassembled without much attention to panel gaps, which are quite noticeable with a light color like this.
Unless the panels are replacement Chinese knock offs. I’ve seen quite a few of those and the gaps are all over the place. You cant line some of them up at all. Hopefully this one has factory steel and just needs some fitment
This looks like a ’65, not a ’66
.. with a 66 dash pad … bit of a bitzer ;-)
I agree it’s definitely a 65 dashboard is definitely 65 door cards gas cap is 65 and it is a 50 rugs and that was a true six-cylinder car it would have had four lug wheels plus who would put torque boxes in when they changed it over if it’s got torque boxes and the floors are original then there’s something really funny I wonder if the Vin tag has been changed
Beautiful color! I have that same color on a model of the same car sitting on my shelf. The model is probably 40 years old by now.
Wow. From the poor paint job, the aforementioned bad gaps, adjustable leaf spring brackets, to all of the miscellaneous 1965 parts, this has a lot to answer for and lots of questions. Also, a 6 cylinder would have come with 4 lug wheels. Basically, the car is a mish-mosh between ’65 and ’66.
Every Mustang I owned with a 6 cyl and 3spd would be a 4 lug. The autos had 5 lugs.
I’ve owned a ‘66 Mustang with the 200 ci 6 cylinder with automatic transmission for almost 50 years (second owner) and it came with and still has 4 lug wheels. I believe all the early 6 cylinder Mustangs came with 4 lug wheels regardless of the transmission type.
My Dad bought a 1966 6 cyl new with auto that had 4 lugs. We still have it.
I’ve owned a’66 Mustang 6 cylinder with automatic transmission for almost 50 years, and it has always had 4 lug wheels. I believe all early 6 cylinder Mustangs came with 4 lug wheels regardless of which transmission they came with. V8’s came equipped with 5 lug wheels.
Whether a Mustang had an automatic or manual transmission had nothing to do with if it left the factory with 4 or 5 lug wheels. That was decided by the engine. A 6 cylinder car had 4 lugs and a V8 car had 5 lugs.
Reminds me of the promo models I bought when these were new.
You send $1.00,& they’d send you the model.They almost always
were this light blue color.
As to real Mustangs – I drove a few of them back when they were
cheap used cars.While a nice driving car,I was not impressed.
Looks to be a 65 not a 66.
That’s right. A ’66’s grille would have the floating horse, not the one with the bars found on the ’64 1/2 and the ’65.
Not just that. The gas cap is 65, as is the side chrome. The seats–they reskinned the fronts with 66 inserts but left the back with the smooth skins of what was probably the original seat, 65 configuration.
Agreed. The instrument panel and side trim are all ’65. Nice car, though.
I believe it’s a 1969 without a roof rack.
Its a 65 not a 66. Sweep speedo was in 65 (unless it was a GT). 66 had the round gauges. Plus grill is wrong and side emblems are for a 65.
Nice car though.
This car has a 1965 dash The ’66 had full instrumentation in round dials. This is the Flacon slide rule dash used on the earlier models. Also the grill and gas cap indicate a ’65 model. The grill and gas cap might be easy switches the instrument panel his not. I don’t know if this is misrepresentation or ignorance but it is probably not a ’66.
Dash is also a 64-1/2 or early 65. Also looks like an Earl Schieb color. I had a 65 fastback that was that color, and still had the receipt in the glove box
Except for the things mentioned earlier and that AWFUL COLOR not a bad looking vehicle but the price is climbing rapidly and that will kill interest in a hurry!
Definitely a 1965 not a ’66. Has the grill, dash panel and side cove chrome of a ’65 and well and the edge guard is missing off of the hood which would be in place for a ’66. The gas cap is also a 1965 so I would definitely be checking all paperwork and all V.I.N. numbers if this is being sold as a 1966. A 1966 Mustang was my very first new car and I am very familiar with them, as well as the 1965s and 1964 1/2s.
After researching the data plate it becomes even more confusing. Data plate indicates a 66 but the car looks to be a 65. ????
1966 Ford Mustang!
VIN: 6R07T172284
Production Year 6 1966
Assembly Plant R San Jose, CA
Body Style 07 Hardtop
Engine Code T I6 200 CID 1V
Production Sequence 172284 172284
Data Plate Information
Body Style Code 65A Coupe w/ Standard Interior
Exterior Paint Code 8 Springtime Yellow
Interior Trim Code 26 Black w/ Black Trim
Date Code 02C March 2, 1966
DSO Code 71 Los Angeles
Rear Axle Code 3 3.20:1
Transmission Code 6 C-4 Automatic
It is a 65 the grill is honey cone. And bars on either side os pony and the instrument cluster 65 the 66 had a completely different dash cluster
I fully agree with other readers’ observations that this is a ’65 model, not a ’66. My 1st car was ’66 in the same color and I currently have a ’65. I am surprised that the author of this listing decoded the VIN to confirm this was built with a T-Code 6 cyl but failed to note if it started with a “5” for 1965. Unless evidence is shown that the VIN starts with a 6 and not a 5, it is
misrepresented.
Did you view the ebay listing? If you had you would see that the seller has provided the VIN and also posted a photo of the door data plate with the same VIN. The first digit of that VIN is 6. Now the only real question is does that posted VIN match the inner fender apron stampings? And that is a question that I do not have the answer to.
For all the people questioning the year, here’s a story. A friend of mine bought a 65 must as his first car, it kissed a tree, he bought a 66 that was sitting in a chicken coop for years we transferred all the interior part and running gear, tail lights doors etc it’s registered as a 66 but most of it is 65
Adam, for the love of all that is good and true, please, please stop ticking boxes.