Vehicle Description
This is a restored but unmodified from new local one owner 1965
Mustang. Equipment includes 289 CID V8 engine, power steering and 3
speed automatic transmission. It is in excellent rust free
condition having been restored by its original owner after 30 years
of enjoyment. The owner's daughter is helping her father sell this
special car and has provided this information: DAD'S DICTATED
NOTES
Born in 1929 Pennington, Arkansas, we had a 1932 Ford Roadster with
a rumble seat and I liked the way the trunk opened up into a seat,
and the tire on the back.
The idea for the car: friend of mine in the military name Jack
Warbus and he said the 1946 Lincoln Continental had the
configuration I liked and they were prevalent in the Hudson Valley.
When I was in the Air Force, a lot of the officers were buying
frames for old cars and putting kit cars on them in airplane
hangers. When I saw, years later, when I saw the configuration, the
body style, of the Mustang, I was impressed by the way it looked
and I always envisioned having a car like that. I like the idea of
the capability of mounting a spare wheel on the back of the trunk
(exposed spare tire). Never did that but I liked the idea.
Mustang was the only car purchased new. Previously, I had owned
used 41 Chevy convertible, 49 Ford, 51 Ford and did the maintenance
on those cars. At the time I bought the Mustang, I had Pontiac
Safari station wagon and a 49 Ford.
It's the mid 1960s. The frenzy is all about how to obtain the
newest release by Ford of the 65 Mustang. This frenzy resulted in a
visit to Mills Ford of Anaheim. The wait to purchase was 6 months.
The cost was to be $3800. That alone was a big disappointment. Took
me several days to calm down from that experience. I was at home
renovating my back yard. I was using a pallet loaded with stone
that I was pulling with a 49 Ford on a 1/3 acre plot. Lots of dust
was being raised and it filtered next door to the neighbor, Mr.
Stebner. He came to the property line and started complaining about
the dust. I countered by complaining about Ford motor company not
having a 65 Mustang for purchase without a long delay and excessive
cost. It became apparent that he was more knowledgeable about Ford
as he was a district sales person for Phoenix and west. When I
explained I could not get the vehicle, that it was ludicrous to
promoted it without having it available, it was astounding. He
said, do you really want a Mustang, I said yes. He said what kind
do you want. I said I wanted a 65 coupe, stick shift, regular
brakes and regular steering. He said just hold your horses for a
month or two and we will see what will happen.
About a month later, I got a call from a dealer in Culver City, who
asked me to confirm name, rank and serial number because they had a
65 Mustang coupe waiting for me to pick it up. I went to Culver
City and it was indeed there except it had power steering, auto
transmission and it had power brakes. I complained to the
salesperson that it wasn't what I wanted. The guy says listen
buddy, do you want the car or not? I said yes. Your price will be
$2500. I left it there for detailing because there were key marks
around the ignition and door handle.
After a week, the vehicle was ready for pick up. I took the vehicle
from the lot and drove it home. When I got home, I had it parked in
the driveway. I went to get my wife and said look what I got. She
said, CF, that is a beautiful car, except, where do I carry these 3
kids (all under the age of 4). I convinced her there would be a
way.
Through the subsequent years, the car was used in routine daily
activities, such as driving to Rockwell in Anaheim, where I was an
aeronautical engineer working on the Minute Man Intercontinental
Ballistic Missile program, shopping, car rally. Only used for
driving around town, never long distances. When the children became
high school age, they used it to drive to Troy High School and
Fullerton High School. Took driving tests. Took to the dealer for
routine maintenance under factory warranty, then did the work
myself. My kids learned how to check the oil and change a tire in
that car.
As the years passed, all the children left for college and I
continued to drive the car until my retirement from Rockwell in
1989. After retirement, I wanted to restore it to its original
configuration and set about doing so in 1992.
Restoration
I had read numerous books about Mustang restoration and thought
this is no big deal. I noted the mileage on the car, which was
approx. 152,000 miles. I consulted with McCoy Mills Ford in
Fullerton about getting original Ford parts for the restoration. I
didn't want to use after market parts. McCoy Mills advised me that
would be possible in 99% of the project, which was encouraging. But
I checked availability at places like Larry's Mustang in Fullerton,
California Mustang, Mustang of Dallas, Mustang restoration in
Redlands, and most importantly a place in Ontario, CA, who had
obtained a license agreement with Ford Motor Co. to sell original
Mustang parts, which I used extensively.
The restoration included total dismantlement of the engine,
transmission, differential, rear end, all down to the bare bones of
the frame. Then the reverse procedure started.
Engine: Placentia Auto Parts took the original engine after trying
to convince me to replace with a LIKE engine. I refused because I
wanted the original engine rebuilt. So the engine in the car is
original and rebuilt.
Transmission: A C4 that was rebuilt by someplace in Cerritos
(check). Original transmission that is rebuilt.
Rear end axle/gear box: Refurbished by a rear end group near Rose
Drive and Kramer in Placentia.
Differential: I did myself with replacement parts from McCoy
Mills
Body of the car: Seat upholstery, carpet was purchased from McCoy
Mills and I did those myself.
Dashboard, radio, controls, Lights, chrome, grille, steering wheel:
Purchased from McCoy Mills, Larry's Mustang, California Mustang and
I replaced myself.
Head liner: place in Placentia installed it (no longer there)
Wheels: The original wheels looked old fashioned to me, so I
purchased wheels after market wheels from auto parts store on
Orangethorpe Ave in Fullerton and retained original rims.
The original paint was a serious question to me and I had inquired
at paint shops in Placentia, Anaheim, and priced to paint the car
was in excess of $3K and I declined. I was sitting in the driveway
one day a young man approached me to paint my car and he would give
me a good deal because he was just starting up. Allowed me to move
that car where it was repaired for $1800.
The car was completed in 1992 took 2 years. Eventually, I wasn't
able to drive the car because of my age. It was 1100 miles. Sense
of accomplishment that it was done. Enjoyed the detail that dressed
the car off, painting the valve covers gold and air cleaner gold,
etc.
Dual manifold. When I restored the car, I decided I didn't like the
placid sound of a single exhaust, so removed the manifold and
installed the dual manifold and eliminated the cross over pipe.
Two features I find most interesting are the grille and the gas
cap.
Grille is that one single bar with the Mustang in the center.
Gas cap because was not a standard slip turn. It's a bulky
masculine looking cap.
Low rate financing is available with rates as low as 3.5% APR with
approved credit. You can apply directly on our website
(www.lagunaclassiccars.com) by clicking on the "Fin...for more
information please contact the seller.
