This Mustang started like many of the 559,000 copies that Ford built for 1965. It was assembled in September 1964 with a C-code 289 cubic inch V8, which would have included a 2-barrel carburetor. That’s largely where the car departs from stock today. While the engine was rebuilt last year, a high-rise intake manifold was added along with twin carbs. Located in Putnam, Illinois, this Mustang presents well and is available here on eBay for the Buy It Now price of $23,950. As an option, you can make an offer.
While we’re not certain, this Prairie Bronze ’65 Mustang may be in the possession of its second owner. It was repainted about 20 years ago and looks great until you start looking for flaws. There is a scratch here, a ding there, and some paint bubbles brewing in a few places. The chrome pieces are all nice and shiny. The 65A White Palomino “standard interior with bucket seats” looks to have been redone with contrasting seats and carpeting that look sharp. It even has cup holders, not part of the typical mix in 1965.
The big news is under the hood. The 289 was refreshed in 2021 and was bored out to .040 over. But the seller doesn’t even mention the most notable feature of the car, the hole in the hood that accommodates the high-rise carb set-up. There is no mention of what performance boost the car has received because of this change and the cutout in the hood doesn’t look to have been that well done. The V8 is paired with an automatic transmission and a power assist is provided for both the steering and brakes, which have discs upfront.
This Ford wears a nice set of aftermarket chrome wheels which are wider in the back than the front. And the car’s stance suggests there may also be a set of air shocks in the back to add some lift. We’re told the car is in good condition and ready to go, yet the brakes need a “minor adjustment.” You would think that’s something the seller would take care of before putting the auto up for sale. A link to a video of the Mustang is available upon request, not included in the listing.
Overall, a fairly nice vintage Mustang, especially if you like the boy racer look. I don’t so I’d ditch the high-rise intake and dual carbs and go with a good low-rise intake and an appropriate four-barrel carb. Fix or replace the hood and then you’d have a nice sleeper. I’m wondering if the trans has had any work done to it to handle the extra power the rebuild obviously generates. I like my vintage cars to look mostly stock so I might look for more period correct wheels. Others may love the car as-is which is fine by me, too.
Just curious as to why it would be a sleeper with a stock hood. It’s only a 289. How much smaller an engine are people going to think you are running, a 260?
You can get some pretty decent power out of a 289. Does a K-code 289 ring a bell? Or a Shelby GT350? There are plenty of speed parts available for a 289 to boost performance.
Tony, are you really a car guy, saying something like that?
I think you got it right Tony. A generic small block mustang is not a sleeper. Mustang were suppose be sporty, fast, etc.
Would only be a sleeper with a big block or a serious hp enhanced, oversized, small block hiding under the hood.
I actually like this color combination but the cut out hood ruins it for me. I’d be tempted if this car were stock. Even better would be a 6 cyl and 3 speed manual
Way to ruin a good can opener. .
There is no way that engine can’t have been breathed on hard if we’re going with that intake set up, for me a performer manifold and well dialed single four barrel carb would work great. This dual quad set up is for show. Other than that its a nice street machine and powered by FORD!
Oh, just good ol’ American fluff, like “oh boy, look Cletus, thaty there Mustang gots 2 carbs”,,, I’m sorry, I can’t help it, you have a beautiful car, and butcher it all for the sake of oohs and ahhs, what’s wrong with these people? 2×4’s on a tunnel ram belongs on a ’41 Willys gasser, not here. You trounce the throttle, this thing will stumble like drunk on payday. Apparently, a really nice Mustang like this simply isn’t good enough today, you have to hang that crap on it. I had a friend in HS, had a ’60 Chevy, 283, he put 2×4 barrels on it, you know, more is better,,was a bad idea.
Pretty dumb in my opinion carbs sticking through the hood. Screams from a time when big speakers in the house made one feel large between the legs when the ladies came over. Look at me! Look at me!
Guys like this have added to the millions of dollars catalog companies like Jegs and Summit making a quote unquote “Street Machine” Hard money buying piece by piece. Car would have been more enjoyable for the owner in the long run with a mild build and an everyday driver.
A garage queen that can’t be driven in the rain. It’s funny these builds are built with a lot of short sided thought. I guess thats what makes the world go round.
Sadly the reality. No amount of carbs will compete with modern EFI and electronic traction control from a Camry, Civic to the modern Mustang and Challenger. What you have here is an expensive noise maker.
Sigh! GLWS
Especially carbs sitting on a manifold like this. This setup would flow roughly 3x what that engine could actually use. My guess is someone really wanted the LOOK of something seen in a magazine. I will go so far as to say it Really is a SLEEPER, and not the fast kind!
Do you guys know how BORING it is to drive a stock 289 powered mustang? they are very slow compared to what is now available. I believe my 2.7 ecobost F150 would outrun a stock or even a mildly modified 289 and it weighs 5200 lbs. Take the 289 out and put a stroked 351 in it with a decent set of heads as most people wouldn’t be able to tell the difference especialy with a single 4 barrel carb. I built an overbored 292 Y block in my 57 tudor htp with a 150 hp shot of NOS and had lots of fun with it.
Phillip Tenney – Were you ever a subscriber to Y-Block Magazine ? They’ve been publishing it for 28 years. I’ve seen much valuable info in it. Though I haven’t had such an engine since 1964 with my 239″ 54 Ford the knowledge of what makes Y-Blocks make horsepower has greatly improved. In ’64 I swapped a 390 FE w Cruisomatic into it..Ran across real deal on a ’61 390 Hi-Perf (single quad 375 hp). Put the good parts on my 300 hp engine and gradually developed it to put down best times of 13.10 ET, 108.56 MPH. Haven’t had a Y-Block since ’64 but found the magazine entertaining. Unfortunately,if they don’t find a new editor they will quit publishing. Doug
I have been a subscriber to the Y block magazine darn near since its first issue I hope it continues.
As I recall the basic problem with the 289 was that it didn’t breathe very well compared to a small block Chev. Small valves and ports. With that in mind it would seem that a 600 cfm carb would be about right. I owned a 66 GT 350 for many years and that’s the set up that seemed to work well.
They have another 65 Mustang for sale at the same price.
Ooops at $26,950, i had a senior moment.
you have a hole in the hood and destroyed the car. Go for a GMC blower and finish it off.
I read with interest the various comments made regarding this Mustang. The owner did what he thought he liked on this Mustang which always made them fun cars. The look is period correct for that genre . There are many people who don’t mind the dual quad set -up. True, EFI are better but it wasn’t offered then. I’m currently in the process of building a ’67 Fairlane convertible with a 427 sideoiler and dual Sniper EFI quads on a cross ram intake. Wow factor? Yes! Go fast? Yes
Hah ! In the past I’ve seen this sort of thing. Old worn out engine, stock cam and compression, factory cast iron exhaust manifolds. He’d be better off with the factory 4 bbl manifold with a 450 cfm Holley (list 4548) or factory Ford/Motorcraft 4 bbl. Also I’m sure he put on a really loud muffler. What’s he gonna do if he’s challenged to a street race by a 17 second car ?
I have seen a lot of comments about Ford 289 engine’s not being sleepers. I owned a 1965 289, 2 barrel 3 sped coupe from 1966 to 1974. It beat more 4 speed Hi-Po Mustangs, GTOs, Chevy’s etc. Of course the suspension had helper springs and the exhaust dump tubes and it’s best time in the quarter mile was 13:91. After I rolled it in 1974 I bought a 1965 GT 289, 4 speed fastback that won 5 of 6 classes at Atco Dragway in one season. When you won a class they would place you in a faster class and the 6th race I lost all the racers were big block, towed or trailered against my street driven car. So I disagree that small block Stangs can’t be “Sleepers” and that is why I have been known locally as “Mustang Marvin”. LOL!
You guys are a riot ! A bunch of old cacklers. Picking on others cars, while pumping up your own. I had a 4×2 on a 351C back in my high school days. I cut the hood ( that was rotten anyway). Had some fun with it, and yes, it was fast, and then put it back to stock after I grew up. Ive bought several vehicles from this site, after the cacklers made their “personal opinions” and I love em all, regardless of the negative comments made. Keep it real folks, were all in this hobby because we love cars (and trucks, and Jeeps, and pretty much anything that runs on petrol)
I miss the days of engine stuff sticking out of the hood. Especially fond of injector stacks.