1966 Ford Mustang

Description

Here's one of those rare cars that's priced all out of proportion to how cool it is. Beautiful paint, a gorgeous tan leather interior, and a snarky 289 under the hood, all for the price of a used Honda? Where do I sign up?

If this was a Harley-Davidson, we'd call it a "full dresser," since it carries just about every shiny bolt on and bauble you can imagine. However, it also wears a gorgeous burgundy paint job that gives the coupe a wonderfully upscale look that's sure to win admirers everywhere it goes. Fit and finish are impressive, particularly at this price point, and it proves that there's no such thing as a bad-looking early Mustang. Good panel gaps, lots of time spent on buffing the final finish and just the subtle white stripes along the rockers make this car stand out in a big way using small details. Some of the upgrades include a running pony hood ornament, a lighted corral in the front grille, fog lamps, and a Shelby-esque hood scoop. All the chrome is nicely polished and really glitters against that deep burgundy paint, delivering classic good looks with a modern twist.

That's a pony interior, but now completely rendered in tan leather instead of vinyl. Custom headrests, a center console with armrest, and matching door panels give it an OEM feel that's big on luxury. A correct A/C unit under the dash reinforces that feeling, but the sporty aspect of the Mustang's personality wasn't overlooked, either. You'll note white-faced gauges in the instrument panel, a column-mounted tach, a woodgrained steering wheel, and, of course, Carroll Shelby's signature on the glove box lid. With contrasting carpets and dash pad, it has a very sophisticated look that belies the Mustang's humble origins. The back seat is, of course, upholstered to match and there's a recent tan headliner overhead that makes the interior feel bright and airy. A factory AM radio remains in the dash, so that's one area that could use an upgrade, but otherwise it's first class all the way. Even the trunk is dressed for success with a correct mat and full-sized spare with cover.

If you're driving an early Mustang, a 289 is your engine of choice. The engine isn't original to the car but has been rebuilt to 225-horsepower specs with an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor, finned aluminum valve covers, and an open element air cleaner to keep things looking fairly stock. Ford Blue paint on the block always looks right, and you can tell that this is a clean car just by looking at the ultra-clean inner fenders and firewall. Chrome Monte Carlo bars reinforce the front end and the A/C system uses a modern compressor and R134a refrigerant for reliability. It's backed by a C4 3-speed automatic transmission spinning the original rear end and exhales through a great-sounding dual exhaust system that tucks up under the car quite nicely. Adding a set of staggered aluminum wheels with spinners certainly gives the coupe a muscular stance, especially wrapped in 215/60/14 front and 215/65/15 rear tires.

Look at the photos of this car carefully, then look at the price. This is a fully finished, ready-to-enjoy V8 Mustang with A/C for the price of a project car. Call today, because it won't last long!