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Shiny When Wet! 1966 Mustang 4-Speed GT Convertible

Gaze beyond the cheap steel wheels and significant metal and mechanical work required, and it’s easy to picture this 1966 Mustang GT Convertible in Cape Girardeau, Missouri in glorious restored condition. After a recent separation from its resting place flat on Mother Earth, the A-Code 289 cid (4.7L) Ford currently rolls on fresh tires (if you push it). The Caspian Blue drop-top seeks a new owner here on eBay, where vigorous bidding has eclipsed $3500 on its way to somewhere south of the Buy It Now price of $16,000, a number tailor made for an impulse buyer sniffing glue.

The white convertible top offers additional ventilation (and water ingress) compared with the original, and the seller confirms that most of the car’s lower metal requires attention or replacement. Along with VW Beetles and Jeeps, nearly everything imaginable can be purchased for a classic Mustang.

The A-code 289 makes 225HP and 305 lb-ft of torque (SAE gross), only outdone by the solid-lifter 275 HP K-Code motor in ’66 (thanks to mustang-s.com for some details). Manual steering and brakes guarantee excellent road feel. Be sure to scroll down in the listing to see a host of interior and under-car pictures. Tip your hat to the seller for not making it sound like it’s one tune-up away from an evening cruise.

The Pony Interior and console perfectly compliment the exterior colors and GT package. The third pedal and row-your-own shifter elevate this pony to dream-land for many would-be buyers. The manual gearbox also serves as a built-in anti-theft device since hardly anyone learns manual anymore. My daughters learned standard-shift (or “straight drive” as we say here in Southwest Virginia) from day one. Whoever takes on this project can’t go wrong for a fun cruiser or finding a buyer. Let’s hope this classic gets in the wind soon. Don’t buy this one just to shove it aside for another decade or more. What’s your top dollar on this drop top pony?

Comments

  1. Avatar Classic Steel

    It looks like 2020 is test the waters on how much to ask on project cars.
    Its a four speed great !
    The body shows mainly dents on hood door and quarters .

    The engine doesn’t run but looks better that the other field car with rust at 11 k ask.

    This one is 16 k and needs a minimum $6 k paint and go through brakes, fuel lines with a possible 4 K engine rebuild.

    A think at 26 thousand it doesn’t pass the sniff test.

    It looks like a fun project but price affects puchase.

    Fyi Being a 67 convertible owner by all means go through the roof with market price 👍😉

    Fyi: i taught my kids to drive four speeds and three on trees. Only can get kids on manual trans 🤣

    Like 4
  2. Avatar Sam61

    Ambitious price and project…attractive color combo!

    I remember being taught stick in driver’s ed…circa 1976. One of my best friends in high school had an Opel Kadet…would borrow it on occasion…ground the gears and stalled many a time. Father in law had a Chevy PU…3 on the tree…got a little better at shifting. Made the mistake of trying to teach the ex-wife stick on a new Camaro Berlinetta she wanted to buy in 1984…another failure.

    I do like driving a stick and had a lot of fun with my son’s 06 Saab Aero.

    Todd, how far in SW Virginia…father in law haled from Norton.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Todd Fitch Staff

      Hey Sam61. Norton – I had to look that up – that’s a ways West – I’m closer to the New River Valley. Lots of awesome roads ’round these parts. Your Opel story reminds me of a friend who loved her girlfriend’s ’70s Honda 600 in High School. It was tiny and stick-shift and unlike anything she’d ever driven. Her Dad said she was forbidden to ever ride in or drive that “tin can,” so, of course, she drove it every chance she got. Thanks for your comments! I taught about 10 or more people to drive “stick” on my ’84 Dodge Colt GTS Turbo – it was so small it was like driving a toy – easy to master.

      Like 1
      • Avatar Sam61

        Todd, One final story…the ex-wife bought a new 85 Cavalier automatic. We made a trip to Norton to visit relatives and did a lot of local driving.

        I lit up and warped the front rotors, not knowing how to drive in the mountains. The local Chevy dealer took pitty on my stupidity and replaced the rotors under warranty. Small town hospitality!

        Like 1
    • Avatar Angrymike

      Amazing as it may seem, the first stick I drove was a 1970 Buick Skylark GS stage 1 Convertible. It was at a gas station I worked at and had to put in the garage at closing. Even with the torque of that 455, I stalled it 3 times going 20 yards. I’ll never forget my first time, and wish I could have bought that $8000 car back in 1982 !

      Like 7
  3. Avatar Paolo

    That was a handsome Mustang when it was new. It needs a lot of love but I noticed that clamps on the fuel lines are original. Those usually get replaced early in the life of a car so I would tend to believe the 77k mileage claim.

    Like 1
  4. Avatar CCFisher

    A GT convertible with 4-speed, deluxe interior, and rally-pac, in a great color combination? Despite the extensive rust, it will not be a difficult restoration. Parts are cheap and plentiful, procedures are well-documented. This one will go for more than the naysayers expect.

    Like 2
  5. Avatar dave Member

    And that Autolite battery!

    Like 1
  6. Avatar Stillrunners

    A standard – not power – disc brake car….wonder if it has a posi…

    Like 0
  7. Avatar Gaspumpchas

    Again-first thing you need to do is see if the doors close. Inner rockers give this pony longitudal strength and repair is a bear.Looker over good, 16k is no gift. parts are available and methods of fixing well documented, but trust me, its not for the faint of heart!! Good luck to the new owner
    Cheers
    GPC

    Like 4
  8. Avatar Joseph

    16K seems a steep. Lots of work needed and lots of rust. Would make a nice car when done.

    Like 1
  9. Avatar Marathon06

    You can Fred Flinstone when you need to stop as it is rusted through the floor pans. hahahahah What a massive project, everything needs to be redone, floors, door, paint, top, interior, engine, brakes, suspension. Those who do not think this will be an extensive and expensive project have never done one.

    Unless you own a paint & body shop with serious mechanical skills and can do the work yourself you will be quickly buried in this rust bucket. What a project! Seller should take the current bid, cash the check, change their cell phone number and run for the hills….

    Like 4
  10. Avatar Mountainwoodie

    I would think that the “impulse buyer sniffing glue” is way past the sniffing stage. At this price probably mainlining methamphetamine.

    I’ve said it before I know, people are nuts.

    Its a shame this car is such a rust bucket. Appears to have been a flood car or left submerged in snow drifts. But now! I want big money for this. “You” can fix it.after you buy it. Pass

    Like 1
  11. Avatar TimM

    The owner checked the right boxes when he bought it!! 4 speed convertible cars are the best in my opinion!! Needs some love but not a project I would throw away!!

    Like 0
  12. Avatar z28th1s

    The K Code 289 was rated at 271 HP, not 275.

    The feature car needs a lot of work!!

    Like 1
  13. Avatar Terry

    I like steel wheels.

    Like 1
  14. Avatar Lance

    Our local Craigslist has a 66 GT that went thru a complete and total restomod to include a 363 small block custom engine that has a dyno run that shows 490 rear wheel horse power. The ASKING price is $59,000. The KICKER is he has just over $100,000 into the car. Now that’s how you lose money on a build.

    Like 0

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