Tidy Driver: 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback

Owning a spotless survivor or a meticulously restored classic car can be a wonderful experience. It also comes with a couple of potential drawbacks that some buyers never consider until it’s too late. Automotive perfection can leave an owner hesitant to take their car out of the comfort and protection of its garage in case it receives a chip or some other damage that will spoil its flawless presentation. That’s where cars like this 1965 Mustang Fastback come into their own. It isn’t perfect, but it is a very tidy classic that could be driven and enjoyed without the kind of stress and anguish that I’ve just described. It sports fresh paint, and the upgraded transmission should make it an accomplished open-road cruiser. The owner feels that the time is right for it to find a new home, so he has listed it for sale here on Craigslist. It is located in Santa Rosa, California, and the owner has set the sale price at $34,000. He may entertain reasonable offers, but he stresses that he will only do so after potential buyers have performed an in-person inspection. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder rex m for once again demonstrating the ability to spot some great classics for us.

There’s no doubt that this Mustang presents nicely. It rolled off the line wearing Wimbledon White paint, and the owner has recently treated the vehicle to a repaint in that color. Therefore, it is no surprise that the car exhibits an impressive shine. There are no flaws or blemishes, and the paint has been applied over extremely straight panels. The owner doesn’t mention any dramas with rust, and if the car has spent its life in its current location, there’s a good chance that it is rust-free. It appears that he has installed what I believe to be reproduction Shelby scoops on the rear quarter panels, while the lack of a badge in the grille adds a distinctive look to the front. The remaining trim is in good order, as is the glass. With chrome wheels rounding out the package, this Mustang makes a positive first impression.

The impression that the owner conveys in the listing is that the engine bay still houses its numbers-matching 225hp A-Code 289ci V8. The original owner also ordered the car with a four-speed manual transmission, and this combination would’ve fired the ‘Stang through the ¼ mile in 15.4 seconds. It’s worth noting that the four-speed is now a distant memory, and a newer five-speed manual has taken its spot. Its origins are unclear, but it should make the Fastback an accomplished and relaxed open-road cruiser if it’s an overdrive unit. The owner doesn’t provide any concrete information on the car’s mechanical health, but since he describes it as a “get in and go driver,” it seems that the news on this front should be pretty positive.

If I am disappointed with any aspect of this Mustang, that honor falls to the interior. There’s nothing horribly wrong, and it is undoubtedly serviceable, but it has an incomplete feel about it. The original front buckets have made way for a pair of later seats, but I’m struggling to determine their source. They could be from a Fox-Body because they appear to have the holes to accommodate separate headrests. I could probably accept them more readily if the rear seat were upholstered in matching cloth, but it and the remaining upholstered surfaces wear factory vinyl. If I were to buy this classic, I would either source a set of original front seats or have the lot upholstered in matching material. The rest of the interior looks tidy except for the missing gas pedal. There are no issues with the carpet, dash, or pad. The owner has added an aftermarket stereo and wheel, and whether they stay or go would depend on the buyer’s preference.

Several cars have remained staples of the classic car scene for decades, and the First Generation Mustang sits front and center in that category. I can’t remember values dropping significantly at any time over the past couple of decades, and they seem to do nothing but continually creep upward. That makes finding an affordable solid driver-quality example a challenge. That is what this 1965 Fastback appears to represent, and while it isn’t perfect, lifting its overall presentation to the next level should be a relatively easy and inexpensive undertaking. It isn’t unusual to see rusty project cars climbing easily into five-figure territory, while spotless examples will regularly change hands for sums above $50,000. With those thoughts in mind, the price on this one looks competitive. I also find it encouraging that the owner encourages in-person inspections because that indicates that he has nothing to hide. If I were in the market, I would be sorely tempted to take him up on the offer. Would you?