Vehicle Description
West Coast Classics are proud to present a very striking example of
this rare special factory order 1966 Ford Mustang 'High Country
Special' 289 V8 Convertible which was recently restored and
repainted in it's very striking original 'Aspen Gold' color paint
with its beautiful 'Black with Black Trim' original factory
specification interior and which was originally delivered to 'Phil
Long Ford' of Denver, CO and built on 7/15/1966. This is one of the
333 'High Country Special' (HCS) cars built and delivered
exclusively to Colorado Ford dealerships in 1966 with reportedly
only 30 convertibles in 3 colors. Marketed by Ford as unique
Mustangs built exclusively for "High Country People"! Specially
ordered, specially built, and specially painted in one of only 3
colors (Aspen Gold, Columbine Blue or Timberline Green) with no
original color identification on the trim tags, and available as a
Hardtop, Convertible and one 2+2 Fastback! This is reportedly one
of only 50 such cars delivered to 'Phil Long Ford' of Denver, CO
and one of 23 convertibles, only 5 of which are found to be 'Aspen
Gold' Convertible's in the registry. This 1966 High Country Special
Convertible is thus one very rare pony.333 High Country Mustangs
were sold in 1966. The offer was a modest success, and Ford was
encouraged to up production to 416 the following year and in the
final year of production, 1968, a total of 251 High Country
Mustangs rolled off the assembly line. Today, the High Country
Mustang is most remarkable for the argument it made for the
viability of future limited editions, and the role it played in the
history of the later and somewhat better-known California
Special.Produced from 1966-68 as a special promotion vehicle for
Colorado-area Ford dealers. The California Special GT/CS's story
and the HCS's are intertwined, and some historians will argue,
begins not in the Golden State, but in the Rockies, where one of
the first-if not the first-regional Mustang limited editions was
created in 1966. Despite a strong national case of Mustang fever,
sales slowdowns were occurring in certain markets during the lines
second full year of production. Whether the drop was due to
over-saturation or a slowing economy was not important to Thurlo
Newell of the Denver-area district office, who took delivery in
July of 333 High Country Specials from the San Jose Ford plant.The
HCS cars, distributed through 100 Denver dealers, were available
with any 66 power-train and body style in one of three special
colors: Aspen Gold, Columbine Blue, or Timberline Green. Receiving
dealers installed shield-shaped brass plaques to the HCS front
fenders that featured a horse galloping across high mountain tops.
Because there were no exact specifications for placement of the
badge, restorers have documented cars where the plaque sits above
and ahead of the Tri-bar running horse. On some, the plaque rests
above the Mustang lettering.Two years before the GT/California
Specials mid-1968 introduction, Ford built their, first limited
edition Mustang model for sale exclusively in one geographic
region, The 1966 High Country Specials were built at Fords San Jose
plant for sale only in Colorado, Wyoming; and parts of western
Nebraska, These 333 rarities arrived in Denver on July 18, 1966 via
a special chartered Denver amp; Rio Grande Western train that
carried nothing else on that trip.Train buffs and Mustang
enthusiasts alike would undoubtedly have enjoyed seeing three
diesel locomotives pulling the 22 tri-level railcars loaded with
nothing but Mustangs, mostly hardtops, a mere handful of
convertibles, and only one fastback, over the Rockies. And what a
sight it must have been, for each of these Mustangs was painted in
one of three new and unique colors, Aspen Gold, Columbine Blue, or
Timberline Green, that were not available on any other Mustang that
year.In addition to being cloaked in one of the three exclusive
High Country Special colors, the exteriors featured brass and
enameled High Country Special badges which were later affixed to
both front fenders by the individual dealerships. Each of the 100
or so dealerships in the Denver DSO (District Sales Office) region
was free to position the badge wherever they wished, and surviving
examples of these rare ponies have been seen with the badges
mounted directly above the running horse emblem, above and to the
left of the horse, and centered directly over the, MUSTANG script
on the fender, wire wheel covers were optional, and the 1966 High
Country Specials came with a equipped with a variety of standard
and optional drivetrains.The uniqueness of the promotion must have
created strong sales because in 1967, Denver dealers raised the
order to 416 units (Kevin Marti). Similar to the year before, the
High Country Special could be ordered with any Mustang power-train
and body style. Aspen Gold, Columbine Blue, and Timberline Green
were the only available colors, although the green of 1967 was a
slightly different mix than before. The Aspen Gold, MX708815,
Dupont #93-96705, Ditzler (PPG) #81434 was used on International
Trucks from 1952 to 63 as Yellow.In 1968, Denver's success with the
High Country Specials inspired Ford to design and produce 4,118
copies of a limited edition coupe for its West Coast dealers. Based
on Carroll Shelby's Little Red 67 show car hardtop, the GT/CS was
an attractive combination of Mustang GT and GT350/500 parts. Of the
4,118 units produced 251 were High Country Specials.In the summer
of 66, exactly 333 High Country Special Mustangs, in coupe,
convertible, and fastback form (one example only), arrived in
Denver, Colorado, on a 23 car freight train. Special brass badges
affixed to the front fenders provided identification. This
particular car is very rare being an 'Aspen Gold' convertible,
reportedly one of only 5 built, and which has optional equipment
including the C4 automatic transmission, 2.8:1 rear axle ratio, 289
V8 engine, console, chrome luggage rack, remote side mirror, deluxe
seat belts and power brakes. The High Country Specials were devised
by Thurlo Newell of Fords Denver zone office, and came to market
two years before the better-known California Specials. This
particular example has obviously been very well preserved and
maintained and the car drives beautifully with no mechanical issues
whatsoever. It has reportedly always been garaged and lived in
Colorado under long time ownership for it's whole life! It must be
seen and driven to be fully appreciated - a very striking example
which turns heads wherever she goes! The engine is extremely strong
and responsive with excellent oil pressure and no oil leaks and
which sounds absolutely magnificent, the transmission shifts
smoothly through the gears and the engine temperature always
remains cool. In summary this is one very fine and striking super
rare 1966 Ford Mustang 'High Country Special' 289 V8 Convertible
for the Mustang enthusiast and a great daily driver for any
American classic car lover. A beautiful example of this
increasingly collectible and one of the most desirable classic
Mustangs ever in turn-key ready daily driving, daily head-turning,
and daily appreciating condition!Data plate reads:
76A-26-15G-510241-6-6
