1966 Ford Mustang

Description

Early Mustangs make fantastic starter collectables. One, everyone loves them. Two, they look awesome. Three, they're a ton of fun to drive. Four, parts are plentiful and inexpensive. And five, cars like this 1966 Mustang coupe deliver the biggest bang for the buck available anywhere.

Yes, there are still good deals on good Mustangs out there, and since the days of usable $1000 Mustangs are long gone, we have found that cars like this represent a great entry into the hobby. This car is complete, clean, and very presentable, with a shiny blue paint job and that classic Mustang look. It's got a few modifications including a chin spoiler and that wing on the rear deck, but the basics are quite good and you could have this car delivered to your house and be out cruising that evening. The two-stage urethane paint would really pop with a professional cut-and-buff, and that would add a ton of value to the car, but even as it sits it has a nice look. It's the little stuff that really stands out: panel alignment and gaps are really quite good, there are no goofy stripes or decals stuck to it, and it definitely has that classic Mustang look. Other things like the chrome bumpers, grille insert, and taillights are in great condition, belying the car's price point. Even if you did nothing but drive it, this car would earn a lot of appreciative glances on the street.

Unlike many affordable cars, this one has an interior that's quite correct and very usable as-is. Two-tone blue upholstery looks right in the 1966 coupe, and with recent door panels and carpets, plus seat covers that are just a few years old, you don't need to do anything to start enjoying it right away. The fat wood-rimmed steering wheel actually looks great in the vintage Mustang passenger compartment, particularly with a correct Mustang horn button, and the woodgrained dash appliques match pretty well. All Mustangs got the GT-spec instrument panel for 1966 and the gauges show crisp, bright markings. An AM/FM/CD stereo with speakers on the rear package shelf makes it fun to drive even when you're not running hard. Instead of the usual Rally-Pac, there's a Sun tach discreetly mounted to the steering column and the B&M shifter puts the transmission at your fingertips. This is also one of those rare affordable cars where someone attended to the details, as there's a nice-fitting reproduction trunk mat in back, too.

The 302 cubic inch V8 isn't original, of course, but it's a strong runner with great torque that makes this Mustang rather formidable on the street. A Holley 4-barrel carburetor atop an Edelbrock intake manifold combines with an electronic ignition system to make this a potent little pony. Long-tube headers and Flowmasters give it that famous 5.0 bark and with a mild cam inside the engine, it has enough of a cackle to get noticed at cruise-ins. As I mentioned, this car is not a rust bucket that needs to be resurrected from the dead, but rather a tidy car top and bottom that can be enjoyed immediately. 15-inch American Racing Torque Thrust wheels never fail to brighten a vintage muscle car and wear 225/60/15 BFGoodrich radials.

Affordable doesn't have to mean "project car" and this handsome coupe offers a lot of performance and classic good looks for not a lot of cash. Call today!