For Sale: 1966 Ford Mustang in Ft Worth, Texas

Like a lot of affordable collector cars, the early Mustangs are seeing consistent upticks in their values year after year, making this 1966 Ford Mustang convertible a smart buy today: it simply won't be this affordable forever. It's also nicely finished with an easy-to-own six-cylinder engine and a smooth-shifting automatic transmission, making it one of the smartest collectable icons you can own.

Bright red Mustangs are a staple of the old car community, but nobody ever seems to get tired of them. This particular finish looks like a good approximation of Signal Flare Red, but whatever it's called, it looks great on the handsome convertible bodywork. Clearly a lot more than the asking price was pumped into the project and they seem to have started with a decent car, so it was relatively easy to make it look so good. It's not perfect, but if you want a Mustang to drive, this one has the right look and a no-worries attitude that doesn't mind a little rain. Fortunately, it hasn't been covered in stripes or fake badges and keeps its honest entry-level look that was probably a lot more common in the late-60s than it is today. The chrome and other bright pieces are in good shape, and you will likely discover like all Mustang owners eventually do, that everyone is your friend when you drive a vintage Mustang no matter what's living under the hood.

The bright white and red Pony interior is quite nicely turned out, with relatively recent seat covers on the low-back buckets that duplicate the originals in pattern and materials. The three-spoke steering wheel is standard Mustang-issue and looks sporty with as the anchor of the interior, while the instrument panel offers a complete array of GT-spec gauges that became standard equipment in 1966. The red carpets are very nice and really upgrade the appeal of the Mustang's interior, and the matching red dashpad looks to be a very recent addition. An AM/FM/cassette radio lives in the dash, but no cutting was required for the installation, and the shifter for the automatic transmission is just a short reach away. It includes a white convertible top that's in good condition, as well as a matching white boot to keep it clean-looking with the top down. Pop the trunk and you'll see it actually quite spacious and shows off very solid pans, further proof that this little Pony has always been well cared for.

The engine is a nice-running 170 cubic inch inline-six, which really was the heart of the Mustang lineup for the early years and it's nice to see that it hasn't been "upgraded" to a V8, because the Sprint 170 is a fun engine in its own right. A bright orange valve cover and a black snorkel air cleaner add some zip to the under-hood area, and all the major components are in excellent shape and ready to enjoy. It still exhales into a single exhaust system with transverse muffler, and the undercarriage is in good shape with plenty of evidence of a good life in a car-friendly climate, although it's mostly original. The 3-speed automatic transmission shifts nicely and with highway gears out back, it has plenty of punch around town but cruises happily at modern highway speeds. 14-inch steel wheels with classic Mustang wheel covers wear handsome 195/75/14 whitewall radials.

The Mustang still represents a lot of affordable fun, so if you're looking for and affordable yet popular way into the hobby, this handsome little convertible is an excellent choice. Call today!