Vehicle Description
1966 Ford Mustang GT Convertible
Born Oct. 15, 1924, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to Italian
immigrants, Lee Iacocca went to work for the Ford Motor Co as an
engineer after finishing college. Not long afterward, he switched
to Ford's marketing and sales side. Iacocca quickly rose through
the ranks and was made Ford president in 1964. During his tenure,
he championed the highly successful Mustang but clashed with Ford
chief Henry Ford II, who fired him in 1978 after 32 years with the
company. He took over struggling Chrysler, now part of Fiat
Chrysler Automobiles, a few months later and brought the automaker
back from the brink of bankruptcy by going to Washington in 1979
and persuading the federal government to guarantee $1.2 billion in
loans to the company. He closed plants and cut the workforce and
wages at all levels, including his own salary to $1 a year. When
the company rebounded, he made $20 million.
For consignment, an example of the Iacocca brainchild in the flesh
here in the Hallowed Halls of Classic Auto Mall. It is a K code GT
version which features the standard 289ci V8 but with upgraded
pistons, cylinder heads, carburetor, camshaft and connecting rods.
The engine is rated at 271hp and also features a special clutch,
driveshaft and differential to handle the extra horses for this
pony. The beneficiary of a concours restoration and a centerfold
feature car in the March 2016 issue of Mustang Monthly
magazine.
Exterior
A respray of factory Candy Apple Red covers the exterior of this
car. It has been expertly applied and its A-1 as to looks overall
of this paint as it covers the exterior steel panels which are
straight and rust free. The galloping horse leads the way in a bit
of a different grille bar with fog lights. Directly above is a long
pony hood, which is actually where the pony car got its name, long
hood, short rear deck, 2 doors equals pony car. GT and 289 High
Performance badging and all brite-work is present and accounted for
and show as very shiny. The hockey stick cove, a white convertible
top, triple V tail lighting and rear roll pan backup lights wrapped
by deep shiny bezels are truly classic on this Gen 1 car. Also
giving it away as a K code car is the rear gas cap which has a GT
in its center. On the rockers is a triple white stripe top to help
accent and go with the white top that has a clear plastic rear
window. 14-inch factory chromed Styled Steel wheels, all highly
polished, are wrapped in dual thin red line walled rubber on all 4
corners. This car harkens back to what it would have looked like in
the showroom when it caught your eye and you just had to have it,
just like the other 607,568 folks that had the same attraction.
Although only the ones in the know would have the knowledge to get
the K code GT.
Interior
A D5 special order interior, matching the warranty and buck tag,
all looking much like the original with the white vinyl low back
bomber styled buckets. These make their appearance in tuck and roll
inserts and smooth bolsters and are excellent. They float in a sea
of perfectly preserved red carpeting. The hinge and edges of these
buckets are trimmed in chrome. Moving the backs forward reveals a
rear bench also appearing pristine in white with red seat belts.
The red carpeted hump runs through the buckets and then disappears
under the dash. On the way is the T styled chromed shift lever. The
dash is sporting a red padded topper with a white steel bottom. In
the middle are the gauges with the original instrument cluster of 5
round gauges and lower knobs and temperature levers. All this
menagerie sits between very clean and nicely restored door panels
which have short vinyl panels with more tuck and roll, shiny cranks
and actuators, and an armrest. I'd say as close to perfection as
one can get.
Drivetrain
The original blue painted Ford 289ci V8 is within the simple black
painted engine bay. This blue block and blue valve cover engine has
the correct Autolite 4100 4-barrel carburetor with a chrome open
sided air cleaner covering complete with the correct high
performance sticker. On the back of this V8 mill is a C-servo C4
3-speed automatic. The rear axle is a Ford 9 and is in a 3.89 gear
ratio form, a change out from the factory spec 3.50's. Our
consignor states that this engine has been completely rebuilt
during the late restoration process and presents as the rest of the
car as concours. Right down to the FoMoCo window washer bag hanging
on the drivers side of the bay, things are looking good and shiny
with supple hoses and wiring and FoMoCo badged hoses!
Undercarriage
Show quality underneath so have a mirror available to make sure
everyone sees this as well. Totally rust and dirt free and all like
new for the gas tank, exhaust, and suspension which is leaf springs
in back and coil springs in front. The stamped floor pans are
perfectly painted and the dual exhaust is an H pipe version snaking
its way back from the engine to the rear of the car. Just a
beautiful presentation. Front disc braking is in with rear drum
braking, and as mentioned the beefed up suspension, and quick ratio
steering.
Drive-Ability
A quick starter, good runner and smooth automatic shifting, this
car handled our test track with flying colors, or at least candy
apple red! All in all a wonderful drive, albeit with the top up
thanks to a chilly January day, but not without its frowns. During
my tenure behind the wheel I noted the horn not beeping and the
brake and tail lights not illuminating. However, the rear signal
markers did function.
Overall a turn key car, concours condition and a GT K code drop top
to boot. A great color combination, well maintained, and a fun car
to drive. Year 2 of the ubiquitous Mustang, which everyone had to
have at one point in their life.. Is your time now? 600K people
couldn't be wrong could they?
6T08K120844
6-1966
T-Metuchen, NJ Assy Plant
08-Mustang Convertible
K-289ci V8 Hi Performance 4bb 271hp
120844-Sequential Unit Number
WARRANTY TAG
BODY 76A-Mustang Convertible, Standard Buckets
COLOR T-Candy Apple Red
TRIM D5-Red & White Standard Vinyl
DATE 05K-October 5th
DSO 26-Washington
AXLE 5-Ford 9" 3.50 Conventional
TRANS 6-C4 Automatic
BUCK TAG
C/O-Customer Ordered
114-Rotation Number
17-Welding Bay
J28-September 28th
6T08K 20844-Serial Number
76A-Mustang Convertible, Standard Buckets
T-Candyapple Red
DS-Standard Red & White Vinyl
RM-Remote Mirror
PIO-Performance Option Image
HP-High Performance Emblems
TOP C-White Top
TINT-Tinted Glass
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our
showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just
1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The
website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888)
227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come
see the vehicle in person.
