Pony Project: 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback
This 1965 Mustang has been owned by the seller since 2001 and stored since. The seller bought the car as a project, but it doesn’t sound like he did much besides source a replacement fender for it. If you’re in the market for a less-than-easy restoration project, this Mustang, for sale here on eBay in Hugo, Minnesota, just might be the horse you should be betting on.
This Mustang was originally equipped with an inline 6-cylinder engine, displacing either 2.8 or 3.3 liters, depending on if it’s an early ’65 (1964 1/2) or late ’65 model. I can’t figure it out from the provided photos, but perhaps one of our readers can? Either way, it’s going to be less potent than the V8 option, but at least it’s backed up by a manual transmission.
The seller says that the car was previously restored in the 1970’s using galvanized metal, tar and brazing rod. Based on the seller’s use of quotes around the word ‘restored,’ I’m guessing he’s using the term very loosely. Judging by the provided interior photos, the seller’s claim that mice have been partying in the interior seems entirely credible. Shots of the body show plenty of rust. No matter how you look at the car, I don’t think there’s any way around it needing lots of work to get it back on the road.
Under the hood, there are some obvious parts missing, like spark plug wires and the exhaust manifold, so the car’s new owner will have their work cut out for them here, too. These first-generation Mustang fastbacks are great looking cars, but this one will need a lot of work to get to driver-status. With bidding already over $4,000 after just two days, it doesn’t look like this car will go cheap. Is this car worth the investment to become the horse you can ride out on?
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Comments
Something tells me that an already finished or tidy original example with a V8 would be better buying, but I am happy to be corrected on that.
The fun is in the work on a car like this. Anybody can buy a car.
Six banger and four bolt wheels and geared wrong rear snd means swapping disc brake conv on front with stronger towers ,sub frame connectors and nine bolt rear end and T6 trannie tied to a 390 and green paint with no side mirror and bullet rims will make this sprint pony run the derby 🐎 fast
Roll bar and professional race seat belts optional !!! 😎
Fastbacks bring top dollar if restored to original condition but the inline 6 will be a minus but still worthy of a restoration if you have the welding and mechanical skills rather than paying someone else to do the work.
It would not make any sense to restore this car to its original 6cyl configuration. A 5 lug conversion all the way around with new suspension and a powerful V8 and 5spd and possibly a Shelby clone and this would bring way more money than in original form.
The hood lip does seem to have the 64.5 flange on it, but that could have been changed. Not that being a 64.5 versus a 65 makes much difference value wise.
I don’t think there were any 64 1/2 fastbacks.
Didn’t the fastback come out later in the ’65 year?
no 64 and a half I have one
I paid $10,000 for mine two years ago, about $2000 to sort it mechanically. I get more thumbs up from this car that any other in the stable, it’s a fun cruiser. I might upgrade to a V8 at some point.
The Blue valve cover indicates a 200 cu.in.six. 170 cu.in.six had a yellow valve cover, if memory serves me correctly, don’t remember what color 144 was, but I doubt that engine was used in Mustang
They never had a 144 in the mustang…
I just can’t freaking stand it! Darnit cars did not come in liters back then cubic inches! Let’s get it right!
Just for my education! Why did we go from cubic inches to liters anyway! I must have missed something on my way through life! Lol
I seem to recall that somewhere around 1965 the GTO had an emblem marked as LITRE for the engine. I do know for a fact that the 1967 Cougar with the S code 390 and without the GT option had an emblem marked with 6.5 LITRE on it. So there was at least some limited use of the litre dating back to the mid 1960s for US cars.
The fastback was first available in the 65 model year. The coupe and convertibles were the only options for a 64 1/2 or early production Mustang.
I would find a 289 2v for this…with a toploader, and 5 lugs all the way around…and just drive it.
This Pony sold for 6400 and change which is actually pretty reasonable compared to what I have seen lately only because it is a fastback. Yeah sure you can trick out with a V8 and 5 lug wheels if ya wanna. I would leave the 200 with a 3 speed. Like I have in my 66 Coupe. The only difficult thing to find at a reasonable price is a functional 3 speed manual tranny. That took me 8 months to find one that would work. Other than that everything else is available repro or used. To each his own though.