Ford Mustangs were hot properties in those early days of 1964 to 1966. Nearly 1.3 million of them rolled off the assembly lines back then. A small number were destined to be exported to Germany as T-5s because Ford wasn’t able to license the name there. This 1965 convertible purports to be a rare T-5 ragtop, but the photos provided don’t seem to point out the telltale signs. Located in a storage unit in Barstow, California, this Rangoon Red (?) beauty is available here on craigslist for $50,000 or a serious offer. Our thanks again go to T.J. for a tip on a potentially out-of-the-way car.
American-built autos were sometimes scarce in Europe in the 1960s because so many were gas guzzlers. But the Ford Mustang was an exception as it was found to be desirable over there, too. However, a German truck manufacturer already had a vehicle called the Mustang, so Ford instead used the project’s code name T-5 for Mustangs shipped to German buyers and U.S. service personnel who had them imported. Tell-tale T-5 signs included different wheel covers, no Mustang verbiage in places, and T-5 emblems here and there.
The seller’s car looks like a regular Mustang to me, but perhaps a T-5 aficionado who is also a Barn Finds reader can help. It appears to have 1966 wheel covers (like the ones on my 66), a 1966 gas cap with the name Mustang clearly spelled out, and a horse emblem on the glove box door. Since T-5 parts are hard to come by, perhaps this T-5 was at least partially restored, and Mustang pieces were used as replacements.
No issues seem present with the body and paint (wish we had more photos), and we’re told the black interior is about 80% original. The C-code 289 cubic inch V8 has been rebuilt and upgraded to a 4-barrel carburetor. The 60,000-mile Ford comes with a 4-speed manual gearbox. The seller says the T-5 dash plaque is there, but provides no image of it, which would help clear things up. T-5 drop-tops are much harder to come by than coupes in the U.S. after 60 years.
Certainly a T5 version of the Mustang would be a conversation piece at a cars and coffee gathering but I wouldn’t pay the kind of premium the seller seems to be looking for here. Especially as it lacks the very unique T5 identifiers required to make it saleable in Germany at the time.
Looks like a Mustang smells like a Mustang taste like a Mustang….. must be a Mustang.
The seller makes a big deal about the car having its rare T5 emblems, however, the one picture they show of the gas cap is a domestic market cap with the word Mustang, not what is supposed to be the T5 specific gas cap, which is readily available from several aftermarket suppliers. Since Ford didn’t have the rights to use Mustang in Germany it wouldn’t have had this cap, it makes sense the “T5” style cap would be reproduced since it’s something different and has a cleaner look. The seller is fishing, he couldn’t be bothered to include pictures of what makes this car different, while asking a premium and can’t even get the subject of those to line up with the text in his ad.
Steve R
Heh Steve R I agree with you. He doesn’t even include the side fender marking showing the T-5 emblem. The door tag showing the DSO would also be a big indicator. Most were manufactured in Metuchen NJ from what I know. I have a 67..
Don’t forget lazy, delirious, imported to Germany makes it a $50k car?? No. It’s a mustang in really good shape, but this is going too far.
Steve , you forgot to mention that T5 export version of Mustangs to overseas had a kilometer speedometer not miles.
Not exactly true. If a T5 was ordered by a US serviceman who was stationed in Germany at the time it may get a mph speedo and would have special serviceman license plates which identified which military station .
A friend tells me the vin # DSO should have 95 in it.
This has some telltale signs that it is a real T5.
Not all T5’s came with kilometers in the dash.
I’m sure the original gas cap has been lost, but it does have the original horn ring, which is impossible to find.
It could be a DSO number 90 and above
Their are more than just DSO 95 on T5’s such as DSO 91
Agreeing with all these comments, plus it has ’66 wheel covers on it . . .
This has some telltale signs that it is a real T5.
Not all T5’s came with kilometers in the dash.
I’m sure the original gas cap has been lost, but it does have the original horn ring, which is impossible to find.
I was fortunate enough a few years ago to have Gale Halderman as a neighbor, if you don’t know he was the lead designer of the Mustang under Lee Iacoca. Naturally I wouldn’t leave him alone asking all about the history of the Mustang. He was very gracious and put up with all my questions. He was a great guy and I considered him a friend and hoped he felt the same about me. He has since passed away and I don’t know for sure, but I think that he would agree with me that 50 K would be a ridiculous number for this car. But I do think he would get a laugh out of it.
I was lucky enough a few years ago to have Gale Halederman as neighbor. If you don’t know who Gale was, he was the lead designer of the Mustang under Lee Iaccoca. I was obviously star struck and always wanting to hear more about the history of Ford and the Mustang. He was more than gracious and I considered him a good friend. He has since passed away and I can’t know for sure, but I think he would find 50 K for this car as ridiculous as I do! I also think he would get a big smile too.
But it must be rare, the seller says so !
Have you ever seen one in person?
They are rare. Many if not most Mustang Owners aren’t aware of their existence. Much less seen one.
As I understood it – the T5 designation came because another German car company had the rights to the Mustang name – possibly DKW – so on a T-5 “Mustang” should not appear on the model.
That was the German truck manufacturer KRUPP. Check Mustang Maniac under https://mustangmaniac.org/history-of-the-ford-t5-mustang/
Sorry for double post. They are rare, they got a boat ride ,the others didn’t!
Wikipedia seez: “When Ford in 1964 wanted to introduce the Mustang in Germany [especially since American military personnel stationed there wanted the new car], they discovered that the KRUPP company had already registered the name for a truck. KRUPP offered to sell the rights for US$10,000. Ford refused and removed Mustang name badges from exported units, instead, they named the cars T-5 (a pre-production Mustang project name) for the German market until 1979, when Krupp copyrights expired.”
The word “Mustang” wasn’t allowed; the running horse logo was.
These German DSO cars have a lot in common with the 1965 Shelby GT 350.I will explain:
If this car was a K code, it would essentially be a convertible Shelby GT 350
1. Shelby used the German required special handling and steering package.
2. Shelby used the German required firewall bracket with export brace. Not like a regular Mustang.
3.Shelby used the German required Kelsey Hayes Front disc brakes
These T5 cars had special Headlamps for better visibility
There were quite a few in my area in North Carolina due to the military bases. It only cost one dollar to ship home. I have a 1972 Q code Mach 1 sitting in the back yard with 32,000 miles. A good friend just sold his dad’s 1965 fastback T-5 C code auto, radio with ZERO rust and needs nothing replaced. Nobody wanted it here in the U.S. was on Craigslist and ended up in Brazil for $20,000. Just needed to be sanded and new paint. Was only driven to show since 1975 so in great shape. All original interior. I found NOS emblems that were on it at a swap meet many years ago. You can see pictures of the fastback on the T-5 Facebook page.