One Owner Roller: 1965 Ford Mustang

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From the moment that Ford introduced the Mustang at the New York World’s Fair in 1964, the assembly lines didn’t get a break for several years. That’s because more than 1.2 million of them were built and sold between early 1964 and the Fall of 1966. That includes this example from 1965 that’s said to be a one-owner car and in a barn since 1981. The engine is in pieces, so it’s a rolling project that will need completion. Located in Hutto, Texas, this Silver Blue Metallic (looks more like Skylight Blue) Mustang is available here on craigslist for $8,500 OBO. A salute to Barn Finder T.J. for the tip!

When this Mustang was assembled in San Jose, California in November 1964, it was like many others of Ford’s new pony car. It had a 289 cubic inch V8 with a 2-barrel carburetor and a 3-speed manual transmission. The interior was standard fare and air conditioning was added, perhaps by the selling dealer. The seller’s grandfather bought the Ford when it was new and put 98,000 miles on it before retiring it to a barn, possibly for mechanical issues.

As the story goes, the seller inherited the automobile about a year ago. It’s not clear whether he/she disassembled the engine for a rebuild or if that was done by Grandpa. But either way, that work will have to be finished and the engine put back in the car. While the seller provides ample photography of the vehicle itself, there are zero images of the motor.

The body seems to be in fair shape and rust doesn’t appear to be a crippling factor. The paint is probably original and wants to be redone. The interior looks rather good, though there may be a separation in the material in the driver’s bucket seat. The new owner will receive a bucket load of documentation, including the window sticker, build sheet, and a spare set of keys! Once you get the engine back in and put on some new tires, maybe the old Ford will be ready for some laps around the neighborhood.

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Comments

  1. Mark_K

    That may not be aftermarket A/C. Factory A/C also hung from under the dash like that. It’ll take a Marti report to figure that out.

    Like 4
    • Big_FunMember

      That is Ford Dealer installed A/C. There is a Ford crest in the center (circled in picture above). Window sticker says it was Silver Blue, now looks like Tropical Turquoise – if it is a ’65 color.

      Like 10
      • Get

        The color is tropical turquoise not silver blue. Come on people, get it right or don’t do it.

        Like 3
    • stillrunners stillrunnersMember

      Yep….it’s a factory A/C unit…same one that was in my 1965 2+2 when it was stolen the second time….got it back and was surprized they didn’t take it when they took the engine/trans and wheels.

      This is a nice car but maybe a little on the high side for a coupe…but a nice one.

      Like 6
    • Bob_in_TN Bob_in_TNMember

      Unfortunately, no Marti Reports until 1967.

      Like 8
    • gregb

      No Marti Reports for Mustangs prior to 1967

      Like 3
    • GT500

      No Marti report until 1967.

      Like 0
  2. March Stang Madness

    Wow… March is Mustang Month..

    Another classic ….

    Luv Mustangs…

    Like 3
  3. Rickirick

    I like this one. Never seen that color interior be4. My 2nd car was a 65 dark blue rebuilt 289 auto. My cousin & I took it from Detroit to Naples, Fla right after hs 🎓. Other than a ticket in Louisville, a great road trip! Went into Army shortly thereafter, giving my brother the car. That was the end for it.

    Like 3
  4. Steve R

    Not matter how nice it looks in the pictures it’s hard to see a strong demand for a 65 coupe, needing an engine rebuild that is not registered in the sellers name. It’s not a one owner car, that went away when the original owner passed away, it might be one family if it really is the grandson. There is one flipper I watch on eBay that has sold dozens of cars over the years that belonged to their parents, grand parents, aunts or uncles, including a car he bought from my parents. If there are problems with the paperwork, the buyer is likely on their own since the sellers name won’t appear anywhere. That should also be reflected in the purchase price.

    Steve R

    Like 2
  5. 19Tiger65

    Reasonable priced, offer $6500 cash and I bet you take it home. I like the color, AC is neat and with a little spit and polish I think its back on the road in no time. Better choice between the 3 mustang shown today.

    Like 3
  6. TRUTH

    Now that’s a good deal overall. Drop a couple grand on a drive train, a couple more getting the body fixed up nice and a couple more maybe on some hidden items and you have a great head turning driver for years. ALL for less than 20K total.

    Like 2
  7. Eric

    That is a factor as it unit. I bought my 65 Mustang from the original owner granddaughter, her grandfather was a Ford employee and order air conditioning, manual side mirror and center console when it was built in San Jose, California.

    Like 2
  8. Robt

    Would love to have this for a daily driver.
    Drop in a running motor until the original can get put back together. Upgrade the suspension, brakes and running gear as necessary and just drive it. Not a fan of the color, which isn’t original anyway, so I’d probably rattle can it for the time being.
    I’ve always preferred a notch back.

    Now if I only had the pockets to make an offer …

    Like 2
  9. boxy

    How long have Marti reports not included Mustangs from 1964 on? I’ve obtained 2 Marti reports for a ’65 and ’66 Mustang fastback, but the last one was about 3 years ago.

    Like 1
    • Mark

      Marti reports only goes back to 67.

      Like 2
    • GT500

      I guarantee you have never got a Marti report for a 65 or 66. They don’t exist.

      Like 2
  10. Troy

    Sounds crazy but I would drop a 4.6 in it with a decent exhaust upgrade to disk brakes if it doesn’t have them already and just drive it and enjoy it.

    Like 1
  11. Billy wilson

    Looks like a High Country Mustang. They were the only ones that offered that color combo. If this car was from Colorado chances are it is one. High Country is the first Special Edition mustangs built.

    Like 0
  12. DA

    This one at least does not look rotten to the core, although underside shots would be nice. Definitely factory air con, and the interior looks pretty good. Still will spend a hefty chunk on paint and body work, of course whatever the engine needs.

    I wish people would stop saying “rust free”; every vehicle that says that has rust that is plain as the nose on your face, as this one also does.

    Reminds me of a similar question: Does the engine have smoke coming from the exhaust? Yes. Light smoke or heavy smoke? Medium smoke.

    Like 2
    • Bubba's Hot Rods on YouTube

      When it says “rust free”, it means no rust holes. Yeah, it may have surface rust, but that’s not what they mean.

      Like 0
  13. JWK

    The color currently on this Mustang looks like Turquoise, not Silver Blue. If you look at the ad, the original window sticker says the car left the factory as Silver Blue. I would guess it was painted once long ago…

    Like 1
  14. John b

    I guess im a unicorn- I would love to find this car as a 1965 tropical turquoise fastback six cylinder with an automatic

    Like 0
  15. Bubba's Hot Rods on YouTube

    If I had deep enough pockets, I’d buy this gem, but I’d keep it the way it is if it has the factory literature. Rebuild the 289 that it comes with and daily it. That’d be my route.

    Like 0

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