1965 Ford Mustang

Description

Do not dismiss this 1965 Mustang coupe because of what lives under the hood and those racing stripes are no joke. There's no rule that says Mustangs have to be expensive and have eight cylinders to be a blast to drive, as this tidy hardtop so easily proves.

This clean little Mustang has certainly lived a charmed life. It's a T-code car, so you know it wasn't abused or raced, so the bones are perfect for upgrades. It's been treated to an extensive makeover that didn't involve just dropping in a V8 and calling it done. Instead, they aimed for a performance look, and gave it a subtle silver gray paint job that looks icy and slick on the vintage Mustang body. A few Shelby-esque styling cues, including the chin spoiler, grille, and quarter panel scoops add an aggressive look, and the bumpers were painted to match the body, so it's super sleek. And just check out that tiny deck lid spoiler, which seems ideal on a six-cylinder car like this. It's a driver, make no mistake about that, but if you're tired of happy little Mustangs with smiles on their faces, perhaps this one with an evil little smirk will be more your style. The bright Ford Blue racing stripes certainly help in the attitude department, and they're wrapped around the entire car: nose, roof, deck lid, bumpers, and even the roll pan under the rear bumper, which really makes for a nice effect.

The all-black interior takes the original theme and bumps it up a few notches, too. Standard black seat covers look great on the original buckets, and there's no console between them for a road race look that's right up this car's alley. A fat three-spoke Grant wheel reinforces that road race image I mentioned earlier, and the shifter for the 3-speed manual transmission falls easily to hand. The original gauges are bright and crisp, and it shows no need for aftermarket dials tacked on underneath. There's an AM/FM/cassette stereo in the center of the dash and the door panels have a cool matte finish that's a nice contrast to the usual shiny stuff. The trunk is neatly outfitted with a reproduction mat and a full-sized spare with a matching cover.

So about that engine. As I said, you don't need eight cylinders to have fun in a Mustang, and this warmed-over T-code 200 cubic inch inline-six is proof. It was rebuilt about 500 miles ago and runs superbly, with a silky smooth personality that comes from having seven main bearings on the crank. The air cleaner and valve cover were powdercoated silver to match the bodywork and the rest is basic black for a no-frills look. A big aluminum radiator seems like overkill, but you'll never have to worry, and you'll note that there's also a new brake master cylinder and booster on the firewall. The 3-speed manual transmission snaps through the gears easily, making the most of the six's power curve, and the 8-inch rear end carries 3.20 gears that cruise easily behind the eager-to-rev six. There's also a brand new exhaust system, fresh shocks, rebuilt brakes, and some of the cleanest floors we've ever seen in a low-priced Mustang. 15-inch Rota wheels look like period Minilites and carry 195/65/15 front and 205/65/15 rear performance radials.

For the price, this is a great car, and in these more frugal times when economy matters, perhaps this beautifully refinished Mustang makes a lot of sense. Call today!