Non-Running Pony Project: 1966 Ford Mustang
The 1966 model year was a banner one for the hot new Ford Mustang. 607,000 units were produced in ‘66, a record that wouldn’t be beaten. A lot of them came equipped with a 200 cubic inch inline-6 and an automatic transmission – like the seller’s car and a green one that I owned back in the day. The seller bought it about three years ago to restore, but never got around to it. It looks like a great foundation to work from. Located in Lawndale, California, this Ford is available here on eBay. The starting bid is just $1.00, and the seller says the reserve isn’t crazy.
Styling is no doubt what attracted buyers to the Mustang, which would find nearly 1.3 million buyers from the Spring of 1964 to the end of the 1966 run. The long hood/short deck look would soon be emulated by almost every other U.S. automaker. Its nearest competition didn’t arrive until 1967, the Chevrolet Camaro, which only mustered about half of the Mustang’s sales in its first year. This vehicle looks to be a fairly common Mustang in terms of equipment, except perhaps for the center armrest/cup holder that looks to have been added later.
These cars were economical based on the standards of the day. My Mustang I-6 usually delivered 20 mpg around town and 25 on the road, better than what any of the 289 V8s would have done. The seller bought this sporty econobox in 2021, put a cover over it, and it’s sat ever since. Apparently, the six-banger had issues when he/she bought it as we’re told it will need repairing or replacing (so perhaps the undescribed issue is terminal?).
The body here looks good overall, and the white paint may be original (or not). The red interior looks fairly nice and may be the last place you’ll need to put much time or money into. The odometer reads 51,000 miles, which is more likely as opposed to 151,000. As long as you can live within a V8 under the hood, this could be a fun car one day soon.
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Comments
Last time the seller ran this car through eBay the high bid was $5,100 but did not meet reserve. At least the seller added several pictures before he relisted it, that’s more effort than most sellers. The high bid last time wasn’t bad for a non-running 6 cylinder coupe, if bidding reaches that this time it might be a good idea to take it.
Steve R
The auction ended 10/28/2024 with a high bid of $6,450, but did not meet reserve.
Steve R
Fresh fuel & a new fuel filter – see if it starts & runs. Then new ignition parts.
Last used in the rain?
Did the factory spray red paint over a black dash pad when a red interior was ordered?
Great aftmkt console fitted here.
nope someone sprayed the whole dash. probably after replacing the pad. and you are right, that console was done nicely
I contend there are thousands of first gen Mustangs in Barn Find condition “out there”, most prominently the 64 1/2-66 model years. Especially base coupes like this. Add their easy parts availability, familiarity, simplicity, etc., even those in decent condition are not very expensive and a good entry into the hobby. Fastbacks and hi-po models, well they are a different story.
The famous “six and the single girl” advertising was primarily simply because Ford couldn’t keep up with demand for the 289. So six cylinder equipped cars are common.
My son has a ‘66 Mustang. Originally a 6 cylinder 3 speed car. Now 289/4speed.
Consistent 24 mpg on the road.
It has the 6cyl and unlike a lot of people I prefer it to the hot rid V8 I think it would just make a nice cruiser or fair weather daily driver.
Any old car is nice,but if you can’t do the labor on them yourself then expect to pay a lot to have a shop do it, if you can even find one to work on old cars.Parts are expensive now.I’m spending 3 k on my 66’…half is labor.
Couple things on this one. This car appears to be one of the “millionth mustang” Sprint 200 cars. The first clue is the lack of side ornamentation, which originally would have included a c-shaped pin stripe. That was called the exterior decor option which could be ordered on any car but was standard on the sprint 200 special package, but what makes me think it is the special Sprint 200 car is the air cleaner and oil breather. The 1966 sprint 200 package cars were the only ones to have the “silver/chrome” air cleaner and breather. And they are obviously factory parts as an aftermarket air cleaner wouldn’t look like that