OK, OK, “Playmate Pink” is not my suggested handle for what was officially known as “Dusk Rose” but P.P. became the more controversial name for this most obvious of Ford Mustang hues. Finding an original one is supposedly a big deal, so, is this Dusk Rose ’66 coupe genuine or just a tease? Let’s dig in and find out. This pretty pony is located in Chico, California and is available, here on eBay for an opening bid of $15,000 or a BIN price of $60,000.
I don’t recall ever encountering a Dusk Rose Mustang and if I did, I probably thought Earl Schieb was at it again. But digging around, I found the following, according to CJ’s Pony Parts, “The Playmate Pink Mustang — often mistakenly called “Playboy Pink” — was a special-order option available for first-generation coupes and convertibles. To this day, a lot of misinformation surrounds the Playmate Pink Mustang, in part because of its rarity. Very few true Playmate Pinks survive, and those that do are highly prized by collectors and almost never come up for auction.” Apparently, Playboy’s Playmate of the Year was awarded a pink car but it was only a Mustang in ’64 and ’69. Interestingly, the Dusk Rose cars showed no paint code on their trim tag, and that’s the case with this example. It is also suggested that doing things like pulling off door panels and seeing what’s behind them can help to determine the authenticity of the original color. It is claimed that there is no official count of the number of pretty in pink Mustangs.
So claimed to be a garage rescue, the finish is still fair, though faded, and there are signs of surface rust, especially across the leading edge of the hood. There are other dabblings of rust on the horizontal fender surfaces but no rot-through in the fender legs or quarter panels is obvious. If you examine the door jambs, there is no sign of overspray or an attempt to cover a previous paint shade so the Dusk Rose would seem to be original. Surprisingly, the black vinyl top cover is not degraded or flapping in the breeze but that front bumper has seen better days.
Of course, for the top to flap in the breeze, this Mustang would have to have the power of self-motivation and that doesn’t appear to be the case. We’re gettin’ the old “ran when parked” toss off, specifically, “The car drove great up until the final drive into the garage“. That garage ingress was about 35 years ago so this 195 gross HP, 289 CI “Windsor” V8 engine may need some coaxing to actually do its thing again.
Thanks to box-o-everything positioned in the driver’s side footwell, it’s hard to get a complete glimpse of the interior but what can be spied doesn’t look bad – and there are other helpful images included in the listing. The seller suggests that the interior could use a deep cleaning and that’s universally a good idea for a car that has been slumbering as long as this one has. The mileage is recorded as 60K miles but there is no claim to that number and I have to admit the carpet still looks surprisingly good for its age, maybe just a bit faded. Also nice to find is the original radio.
The seller adds, “I have been told this may be the only one in existence with original paint and as a ’66“. Maybe, maybe not. Whatever the case, I can’t see $60 large for this Pink Playmate, how about you?
I personally would call it Pepto Bismal pink.
Alas, this Playmate Pink Mustang appears to have the sagging Dagmars endemic to old age.
You just know at one time that there was a massive beehive driving this.
And the beehive belonged to a high school buddy’s mom circa 1969. Williamsville, NY. What a crazy time!
You’re in Williamsville? I’m 5 minutes away. I wish I was in high school in 69. Born during the wrong era.
Eric- I wish I would have taken some pictures of the Williamsville North parking lot in 1971. It looked like Cars and Coffee before there was such a thing. Any muscle car, pony car, or sports car you could name would be in that picture. Just a few I remember are 1967 4-4-2, 1969 GTO convertible, 1970 Shelby Mustang, 1970 454 Chevelle and 454 El Camino, 1969 Super Bee, 1969 Mach 1, 1969 Hemi Road Runner, 1969 Z-28 (Owned by a teacher) 1970 Z-28, 1967 (?) Sunbeam Tiger, and Mrs.Bernstein’s Pink Mustang. You must be in Clarence.
Never been smoked in . .
That’s an AM/8-track radio, complete with its original, oversized bezel. Very rare!
At my dad’s Ford store in 1966, the sales guys called that color ‘Poodle Pecker Pink’ and hoped one one would ever special order one…
Even if the Playmate of the Year owned it, it ain’t worth $60,000.
And even if she came with the car, still not worth it.
Maybe if she was in original condition….
I could see 8-13 Gs. 60k? Huh?!?
If it was in perfect original condition? Maybe.
Should a Playmate Pink Mustang be topless – I mean convertible?
Cher….(sonny and Cher) had one of these in the 60s,this color-
Theirs were both customized with square headlights and other George Barris type custom features-
And Very Ugly
I like it. Way over priced though. It would look nicer with a white top and interior.
If history has taught us anything, it is this: One-Never get in a land war in Asia, and two, never buy a car strapped down on a trailer.
Chico is the home town of Aaron Rodgers Green Bay packers QB. Perhaps, but not likely this car belonged to someone in his family. Pink, or Coral with some car companies was quite popular in the mid to late fifties. I bought a 58 Olds Fieste wagon at one point in pink, black and white tri-color.
God Bless America
For those knowledgeable about Mustangs ( I owned a ’65 back as a teenager and drove it like heck) and that’s not me, how much would a restoration cost for this? And then add the $60 large? Too rich for my blood.
Jim,
The reason that there is no paint code on the door data plate is because Dusk Rose was not a regular color option for a Mustang. It was a special order color. That is also the reason that the DSO code on the door data plate is 6 digits instead of the normal 2 digit code. The last 4 digits of the DSO code are the special order number that this car was ordered under.
Needs a BOOB JOB!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Playboy_Playmates_of_1966
Because there is no paint code and looking at it, it’s Playboy Pink. Dusk Rose is lighter in color and has an S for the paint code. I own a 1967 Dusk Rose and know. Dusk Rose was only produced in 1967.
I would never pay 60k but it is a hard color to find. I went to look at one in GA about 5 years ago and she wanted $17k for it. It was nice but needed repainted.
Will be an awesome car when restored.