Vehicle Description
Just when we thought all the affordable Mustang convertibles had
vanished, this handsome 1965 ragtop shows up on our doorstep. With
a silky smooth 200-inch six, a manual transmission, and a very
authentic look to it, this car neatly blurs the line between
survivor and restoration. And you just can't go wrong with an early
pony car, a car that makes everyone stop and watch as it goes
by.
The color is called Springtime Yellow and it is, indeed, this car's
original color. We don't see many this color, but it's a wonderful
contrast to the more familiar red, green, and black Mustangs that
fill our showrooms. It was likely repainted several years ago and
no, it's not perfect, but that's part of its charm and makes this a
Mustang you can drive without worries. In fact, it has a bit of a
survivor look, with an on honest appeal that we love to see on
stock Pony cars. The body panels line up well, and it's pretty
clear that the car has never been in a major accident or rusty. In
particular, the trunk lid fits very well, something that's often a
challenge, and the doors close with a reassuring sound that's often
absent on convertibles that have led a rough life. It wears that
iconic '65 grille with a galloping steed caught in the sights,
which is in our opinion the best-looking fascia Mustang has made to
date. The rest of the bright trim is solid, again not perfect but
straight with light patina so that it's hard to believe it's
anything but factory-issue.
The white interior continues the original look inside, including
comfortable bucket seats up front, black carpets below that add
contrast and cover up any dirt, and matching white door panels at
the flanks. And even little stuff like the dash pad and steering
wheel center cap look like they were born with the car and are in
great shape, so it all looks very apropos. A floor-mounted 3-speed
manual transmission splits the bucket seats, and it falls to the
hand easily just like the original 3-spoke steering wheel ahead of
the driver. The dash still boasts its original gauge with crisp
lenses and bright markings, and a stock AM radio remains in the
dash, although it's due for an upgrade if you're looking for a
little entertainment. But quite frankly we're surprised that you'd
even ask, because with quick drop of the manual convertible top,
the whole world is above your head in all of its open air glory -
and I could bet there's nothing on the radio can top the experience
of cruising a 1st generation Mustang with top down and the sun in
the sky. A matching tan boot cover seals things up neatly with the
top is down, and the trunk is decked-out in 100% stock form, with a
correct plaid mat and full-size spare tire.
You numbers guys have already deduced that this car originally
carried a T-code 6-cylinder from the factory, and a smooth 200
cubic inch inline-six is exactly what's under the hood today. The
legendary Ford straight six is impressively durable and very
economical, making this a hobby car that will never eat you out of
house and home. It doesn't give up much performance to the V8 with
the manual gearbox behind it, and its flat-out fun-as-can-be when
you're cycling through gear and listening that engine purr, with
the lightweight livery feeling downright frisky in the corners. It
certainly looks the way the factory would have done things,
complete with bright paint on the valve cover and snorkeled air
cleaner that really pops out from the satin black engine bay.
Underneath, it's unrestored but very solid and roadworthy, with no
signs of hacking or major rust, so no worries about getting in and
having some fun. Finally, those are likely the original wheel
covers and spinners sparkling in our pics, all wrapped in 175/70/13
Kumho whitewall radials that give it just the right look and
feel.
Look at the price, then look at the car. Convertible, turn-key
Mustangs like this don't come along very often, so give us a call
today!
