1965 Ford Mustang

Description

With all the resto-mods and custom cars running around, sometimes it's refreshing to see a clean, honest, yet surprisingly quick early Mustang. This lovely 1965 coupe features a wonderfully traditional color combination, a sweet-running 302, and an extra-large dose of charm.

I'm guessing this one wears a coat of Wimbledon White to purposefully keep a low profile, but it definitely stands out today when everyone's building bright red and black Mustangs. On the hardtop body style, it's sophisticated, more of a gentleman's express than street brawler, which is surely Ford's intention. Bodywork is quite good, with straight panels and good alignment throughout, staying true to the Mustang's roots as an affordable, fun car. The finish is modern urethane, so the shine is deeper than anything science could dream up in the '60s and it'll look great for years to come. It's also nicely detailed, with a correct "crosshair" grille, bright chrome bumpers, cool inserts in the quarter panel vents, and those iconic badges on the front fenders. Aside from the red pinstripes along the flanks, there are no radical modifications, no additions, and no custom pieces; just an honest, clean little Mustang that looks like a million bucks.

The interior is the same deal: clean and done in fantastic red vinyl. Fresh seat covers with correct pleated inserts give the buckets a racy look, while remaining comfortable enough for long-distance cruising. Matching red carpets have been fitted, and I've always personally been a fan of the console-free look which seems to emphasize the Mustang's simplicity. The interior is pretty much stock in every way, showing very little wear and offering all the charm that made Mustangs famous and yes, the original under-dash A/C unit remains fully functional today. All the instruments are working properly, as is the original AM radio in the dash. If there's a demerit, it's that there's some very minor fading on the carpet on the transmission tunnel, which is common with red upholstery, but it's so slight that you need just the right light to see it. The trunk is also neatly finished with a reproduction plaid mat and a full-sized spare tire.

A Mustang with a V8 is always a joy, and the 302 cubic inch V8 under the hood of this pony runs beautifully and looks enough like the original 289 that nobody but an expert will notice. Dressed with a few factory-style dress-up pieces, including the gold valve covers and an open-element air cleaner, it looks awesome and starts easily with a turn of the key. Satin black inner panels are obviously super clean and the A/C system looks quite authentic when you glance under the hood, another way of camouflaging the late-model block. Stock-style exhaust manifolds feed a burbling dual exhaust system that provides the perfect accompanying soundtrack: mellow without being too loud. A C4 3-speed automatic transmission backs up the engine with crisp shifts and quick reflexes, feeding an 8-inch rear end with 3.00 gears inside. The undercarriage is in very good condition compliments of years out west and it sits on 215/70/14 whitewall radials and factory wire wheel covers for a clean, early Mustang look.

Good, clean, honest Mustangs like this are getting increasingly hard to find, and if you appreciate wolves in sheep's clothing, this is an excellent choice. Call today!