Another day, another Mustang, or so it seems. Here’s one that probably wouldn’t have been dragged out of the barn, except that people are digging ever deeper into their garages to find stuff to sell. This might be the result of need, or it might be that folks see the market as crazy right now and want to capitalize before the tech nerds who have run every junker up to a $20K starting price run out of dough. The car I’m talking about is a 1966 Mustang 2+2 (fastback) available here on ebay for a bid that exceeds the current mark, $17,500. If you win it, you’ll be expected to send a truck to Virginia Beach, VA to collect the car.
Send a truck? Heck yeah, because there’s no way you’re driving this car anywhere. It’s clearly as “barn findy” as can be, if you take the photographic evidence seriously. Dust and dirt are everywhere, and that’s added to an engine that probably hasn’t been started since a Bush (which one is still a question) was in the White House. This thing is desperate for care. To start with, the seller says that his parents used to drive it in the 1980s. That means, of course, that it hasn’t been started for nearly 40 years (yes, do the math). The ad does report that the engine is not seized. But neither is this a particularly well-equipped Mustang. It seems that the next owner can add on to what the factory offered. Does that mean a V8 (289)? Power accessories?
Things don’t look bad, but a total re-do will be essential. The one trouble spot noted in the images is the lower door area, which has some bubbles, a common spot for a Mustang to rust. The real area we want to see is the trunk area, and underneath, so we know if the integral, uni-body frame rails are bad, or if they’re not. That’s not shown nor talked about. So if you spring for this car, know that you might be buying a starting point, not an ending point. Good thing almost every bit is available from catalogues.
As for the car itself, it’s a mess. The only way to go would be media blast, replace whatever sheetmetal is done, and restore the interior from a catalogue. If you have the scratch for this, and it’s not out of the realm of affordable depending upon where this auction runs to, then this project signals hope. But if some internet people push the price of entry into the 20’s, or further, then walk away. There’s no value here.
I think more barn finds are being sold because the now adult kids have zero connection to deceased Mom and Dad’s old car in the barn, so are selling them like hot potatoes so they can make a payment on their $85,000 pickup truck in the driveway of their $3,000 mobile home.
Not far from the actual truth Tom. Well stated. Btw, I’m a 67 year old (next month) Mustang Man. Wish I still had my 65.
Excellent LMAO
Based on the limited pics (would like to see the underside) the car is not that bad. Another case of the owner not showing the comparison with as found vs post wash pics.
How many vehicles have we seen on BF in similar shape and celebrated for their “patina”?
Original straight 66 2+2’s are few and far between. Clean it up, power it up and run it as a sleeper.
Definately should be powerwashed and put new ignition parts in it before the asking a crazy price. Alot of mustangs around. If this can be had for under 10K it is a good project
Not so much a ‘good project’ at the $17,500 it is now.
But if you really, really want one then it’s only money, right?
“another day another mustang” … It shows exactly how rare these cars are not. And 17 hahaha thousand hahaha dollars hahaha for crusher bait shows how stupid people are these days
This is crazy, 18k for a straight six fastback that needs…everything.
5k tops, dynacorn repop, and then get all the bolt on goodies to make it road ready
Body condition topside, poor; underside likely worse. Doesn’t run; 6 cylinder, transmission integrity unknown. For some reason, in neutral rather than park position (pushed into place for lousy photos?). Is that an under dash aircon unit, maybe with a condenser? A planned upgrade that stalled when the car did, maybe. Not worth the dollars, and I will wager it is another eBay no-pay. Seller is crazyguy57, indeed.
No Way!!!!!
My father had a 1964 Mustang 1/2 6 cylinder engine. Excellent car with its a/c and original console, I remember that a person offered him $5,000 just for the console.
Wow! Another 18 and I wouldn’t even be through with the total resto. Just buy one that’s already done and save the headache.
17 for a parts…car???
Bought a restorable 2+2 40 years ago with a 4 speed, edelbrock intake and 9 ” rear-end, and I drove it home for $150.00. Turned it into a dirt track car. Those days are gone. Save your scratch and buy one already restored.
Fastback try and find one. solution=buy it paper vin +dynacor body 289271 4sp (9″ pony interior shelby mags done
I can always spot a Brian K article. If the car needs anything more than a good detailing, he dumps all over it. This Mustang appears to be fairly solid based on what we can see. If the underside is anything like the topside, this will be an easy restoration. The price seems steep, but it’s important to remember that the early fastbacks are less common than convertibles, so they tend to bring strong prices. Besides, it’s an auction, so the seller isn’t setting the price, the bidders are.
I’ve noticed that the author of this story must be aging very fast in the past year, because his stories get more and more grumpy as the year goes on…
Let me think,mmmm nope nope and nope
You guys, I am no expert on car rebuilds, however, my husband has been “restoring” his 1965 Mustang Fastback 2+2 for the last 7 years so let me tell you something; he bought the car 40 years ago, had it repainted, repaired inside and out for under $5k. Soon after he joined the Marines and stored it in his parents garage. Fast forward 19 years, two marriages and 7 children later he’s finally had the funds and time to focus on his beloved car…WELL, $159k is what it took to get that car in tip top shape. The only thing original about it is the trunk top. Insane isn’t it. When he got it back from his parents house it had been sitting for all those years so some of the body frame was rusted, interior had spots where mice had chewed it up, paint flaked and bubbled here and there. The sad part is his car was in 90% better shape than the car shown in this article! My point is, unless you’ve got money to burn just buy a new car because what you see in this picture will not be what you end up with, it will be a whole different car from the ground up, nothing original. My hubby had a strong attachment to his Mustang (long story) so I certainly wasn’t going to get in the way of his dream. The most expensive thing about this project was paying someone to do the bodywork. We paid the guy $140 per hour, but he was worth every penny, the car is gorgeous.
There’s a guy on YouTube who, instead of fixing rust or dents on fastback mustangs, he just rips the whole panel off and replaces it. Because of that, all of the cars he “restores” are only about 10% original.
If this car already had a running 289 and needed “ moderate restoration “, I’d say the price is close. BUT NOT with a with a “ non-running “ inline six. Nice Mustang, could be a great project, but it’s too far “behind the eight ball “ now as far as the price goes. There ARE A LOT of cars to choose from now, no sense in “buying in too soon “. Nice article.