One Owner California Pony! 1965 Ford Mustang

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It’s sort of unusual for a car to be nearly six decades old and never once exchanged hands, but the seller of this 1965 Ford Mustang here on Craigslist claims that this one’s been with the same owner since new, but he’s Power Of Attorney over the original buyer’s estate so it appears the time has finally arrived for the family to let the car go.  It’s not perfect, but to be the same age as me it sure looks a lot better than I do, so if you’ve been seeking an early Mustang this one may be an excellent choice.  Ventura, California is the pony car’s home, and the price has been firmly set at $28,000.  Our thanks go out to Rocco B. for the tip here!

While I’m sad for the family that the original owner is no longer with us, it’s always a blessing for the car community when someone loves a vehicle enough to keep it for most of their life and care for it all those years.  To me, that just exemplifies what the car enthusiast community is all about, and I hope the Mustang finds a new caretaker who will enjoy it as much as the previous owner did.  The seller says the car was purchased new in California and spent its entire life in a garage there when it wasn’t being driven.  One respray was applied in the original color of Wimbledon White at some point in the past, and while the finish still looks good there are just a small number of body imperfections, such as a minor rust area on the bottom of one of the doors.

The original 289 is said to still be under the hood, which is stated to start right up instantly and without cranking.  There’s no mention of whether or not it’s ever had a rebuild, but the car is said to have been nicely cared for and the engine compartment seems to be in decent order.  The automatic transmission is reported to still be shifting smoothly, plus we also get a peek from down below and the undercarriage looks good and solid, at least from what we can see.

If that’s the original interior, to be nearly 60 years old and having been sat in for 121k miles, it looks pretty amazing overall and seems like a good testimony that the Mustang has indeed been treated to the kind of care the seller claims.  More good news is that A/C is still blowing ice cold, and although I get that this one isn’t in show condition I’m still hoping the car ends up with someone who will appreciate and preserve it as close to original as possible.  Ultimately it’s up to the next owner to decide the car’s fate, and if a resto-mod or engine swap is in order, it’s probably a good candidate for that as well.  What would you do with this 1965 Mustang?

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Comments

  1. Moparman MoparmanMember

    Looks to be a good point of entry for someone desiring an early Mustang. Personally, though, I DETEST those add on unecessary luggage racks! GLWTS!! :-)

    Like 12
  2. Bamapoppy

    My, oh, my! An awesome find! I’m with Moparman about the luggage rack. One question? Starts right up instantly and without cranking?

    Like 5
    • Billyray

      My 69 Mercury does that too. What the seller means is it starts so soon after you turn the key, that you don’t hear a cranking sound.

      Like 6
      • Chuck Simons

        Unlike a MOPAR

        Like 2
  3. Art Engel

    Looks like a very nice car. I question the mldg. on the side of the roof, was this a vinyl top car? I don’t recall seeing this molding unless it had one. Also I remember working at a dealer in the 70s and there was a company who put those body side moldings on, they drilled holes and pop riveted the aluminum pieces on and then pressed the rubber trim on, It was a bad idea in Michigan.

    Like 7
    • angliagt angliagtMember

      It was a bad idea everywhere.

      Like 5
    • gkrone

      It IS a vinyl top car. The 3/4 rear view shows the seam on top and the ad trunk picture shows a small part of the vinyl pattern behind the trunk lid.

      Like 4
  4. Claudio

    So many estate sales , so many deaths ! For real info and numbers , search steve kirsch

    Like 0
  5. steve

    That side body molding really ruins the look. I’m sure it can be removed, but at what cost to the car? I also see some slight evidence of rust on the inside, lower trunk edge.

    Like 1
  6. Jeff Davis

    I was raised.in the Ventura/Oxnard area and cruised both cities almost every night, I was just wondering if we ever passed each other. Grad of Hueneme high in 1963. Go Vikings!

    Like 2
  7. Jose morales

    Yup all this people that bought these cars in the 60s and they were in their 20s are now dying 😪😪😪, i was born in 64, and 58, this was the best era for muscle cars, 65-70

    Like 2
    • Jeff Davis

      You’re absolutely right Jose. I turned 78 today and our numbers are going down. But boy do we have memories of growing up in some really good times (before Vietnam).

      Like 2
  8. stillrunners

    Reporting Chuck’s comment as his comment doesn’t have the feature. He never has sat in my 1965 318 poly wagon and turning the key – it would change his thoughts………

    Chuck Simons
    Apr 5, 2023 at 1:13pm
    Unlike a MOPAR

    Like 1
  9. Greg

    I don’t think I ever saw a white Mustang with a white vinyl top. Thousands with a black top!

    Like 1
  10. jim

    I had a 65 burgandy 289 3 on the floor ~ Pony Express

    Like 0

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