1965 Ford Mustang

Description

This beautiful 1965 Ford T-5 convertible looks like a Mustang, drives like a Mustang, and does all the wonderful things that Mustangs can do, but it's not a Mustang. Apparently another company in Germany owned the rights to the name "Mustang," putting it on trucks and motorcycles. They offered to let Ford use the name for $10,000, but instead of paying up, Ford simply renamed the Mustang "T-5" on all cars sold in Germany. The name 'Mustang' doesn't appear anywhere on the car, and finding one in the US is rather rare. This one apparently came home with a US serviceman stationed in Germany in the 1960s and still looks great today.

Decoding the door tag reveals a DSO of 91, which means export, so there's little doubt that this is a real T-5. The look is quite familiar and this one has been restored in its correct code X Vintage Burgundy, which always looks great on early pony cars. Fit and finish are quite good, particularly for a convertible, and there's plenty of evidence that this one has led a good life, although it has never had a full restoration. The color accurately captures the original hue, and white stripes along the rocker panel were a feature of the GT group on both Mustangs and T-5s overseas. That same GT group also includes the fog lamps in the grille, which does feature the usual Mustang running horse emblem, dual exhaust trumpets protruding through the rear valence, as well as GT badges just ahead of the T-5 logo on the front fenders. The other equipment is standard Mustang fare, including the three-element taillights, center-mounted gas filler cap, and bright chrome bumpers, all of which are in very good condition.

According to the door tag, this one originally wore standard black crinkle finish upholstery, but during the restoration it received an upgrade to the Décor Group, which is also known as the Pony Interior. Complete with a center console, the T-5's interior is exactly what Americans received when they ordered their new Mustangs, which is certainly a good thing. Woodgrained appliques on the 5-gauge dash (another part of the GT equipment group), glove box lid, and center console add warmth to the all-black upholstery and this car carries the accessory Rally-Pac mounted on the steering column. There's an original AM radio in the dash, running horse logo floor mats, and a bright white convertible top with a black boot. The trunk is also correctly finished with a reproduction mat and spare tire cover.

All evidence points to this being the car's original A-code 4-barrel 289 cubic inch V8. Unlike later engines, the block and heads in 1965 were painted black with gold tin work, so the engine bay is low-key and functional. The engine runs well, channeling its torque through a 4-speed manual gearbox to a set of 3.00 gears out back, so it's a very comfortable cruiser. Little details like the hose clamps and washer fluid bag were accurately reproduced, and power steering is a desirable option on an early pony car like this. Interesting styled steel wheels that are just a little different from the usual Mustang pieces and carry unique T-5 center caps instead of running horse emblems, and for the final authentic touch, it rides on 6.95-14 bias-ply tires.

So this one has all the charm of a regular Mustang with the added bonus of a unique story to tell. Call today!