Vehicle Description
In pretty much every corner of the world, vintage Mustangs like
this super tidy 1965 coupe are seeing a lot of new cultural
awareness. Almost as widely recognizable as the VW Beetle, these
early Mustangs are the epitome of vintage motoring, with car fans
from all over the globe dreaming of owning their very own 1st
generation Pony. If you're a first-timer looking for a dialed-in
classic to begin your collector car journey, or a seasoned
collector looking to add to the stable, this handsome driver-grade
coupe has a lot to offer.
Code J Rangoon Red was one of the most popular color choices on the
menu in 1965, and the restorers of this '65 coupe did a great job
laying down a slick-looking, driver-quality finish on that original
sheetmetal. Bright and sporty, it matches this Mustang's
personality perfectly but doesn't seem to be trying too hard, and
even though it's not without its imperfections, the car has a
killer look that's further enhanced by the black stripes running
down the center of the car. It retains that classic Mustang look
that really embodies what most of these cars actually looked like
in 1965, but has a little added punch that turns heads out in the
streets today. No spoilers, no scoops, and not dressed up like a
fake GT, but rather a clean, conservative, and eminently stylish
Pony that's ready for just about any situation. The bodywork is
pretty well done, with decent gaps, good panel alignment, and a
trunk lid that fits better than most cars at this price point.
Modern paint probably makes it deeper and shinier than it ever was
back in the '60s, and a wet sand and buff would likely wake it up
even more. Bright chrome bumpers are in good shape and enhance the
familiar Mustang shape, and the slightly modified front grille give
this '65 a special look.
Some color combinations just work better than others, and you
simply can't go wrong with red-on-red. This is the standard
interior, which pleated vinyl bucket seats that are in great shape
and wear like iron, matched by the rear bench that barely looks
used. The interior seems to be composed of both original and NOS
replacement parts, but what's important is that the stock look was
retained with only light patina and wear found in mostly
inconspicuous places. The deep-dish, 3-spoke steering wheel is
period-appropriate and has a Mustang horn button, and just ahead of
it are all the original gauges in the wide Falcon-style instrument
panel. Unbelievably, the original AM radio is still in the dash,
but it's out of commission so that might be a good place to start
the upgrades, and that's something the aftermarket is really good
at. There's also a factory-style under-dash A/C unit in the cab,
and irrelevant of whether it's an original factory unit or not,
it's been upgraded with R134a hardware and is blowing ice cold
today! Plush red carpets are the correct pile and loop for the era,
and a modern dog-leg shifter was neatly swapped in to manage the
5-speed manual transmission below. The red headliner above is taut,
the dash pad is free of cracks, and the door panels at the flanks
give the cabin a very complete feel, while out back the trunk is
finished with correct plaid mats and carries a space-saver spare
for emergencies.
Don't scoff at Ford's T-code 200 cubic inch inline-six, which is
smooth and torquey, a perfect fit for your affordable Mustang. The
bright orange engine fires on command, runs like a sewing machine,
and remains almost completely stock. Up top there's a correct
orange air cleaner that's been painted to match the valve cover, as
well as a 2-barrel carburetor underneath. The big aluminum radiator
up front keeps it cool effortlessly and a stock exhaust manifold
feeds a dual exhaust system with chambered mufflers that sound just
right. A 5-speed manual transmission is obviously not the original
specification but certainly a welcomed upgrade, shifting smoothly
as it managed the rigors of the modern road. There are newer shocks
underneath, which make a very noticeable improvement to the agile
little coupe's road manners, and a fresh gas tank and beefed-up
rear end help clean things up for the very solid undercarriage.
Flashy Center Line bullet-hole alloys are fitted with 15-inch
blackwall radials for a classic performance look.
If you've been sitting on the sidelines during all the Mustang
celebrations, it's time to get into the game. This car is clean,
fun, and affordable, and with great support from the clubs and the
aftermarket, it remains on every collector's wish list. Call
today!
