1966 Ford Mustang Fastback K-Code �€" GT350 Tribute with 289 V8 and
4-Speed Manual Why This Car Is Special The 1966 Ford Mustang
Fastback is one of the most recognizable shapes in American
automotive history, and the K-Code variant sits at the top of the
production-engine food chain for that model year. The 'K'
designation in the VIN identifies this car as a factory High
Performance 289 car �€" the 271-horsepower solid-lifter version of
Ford's small-block V8 that required a higher compression ratio, a
stronger bottom end, and a more aggressive camshaft than the
standard 289 offerings. Ford built K-Code Mustangs in relatively
small numbers compared to total Mustang production, and the
fastback body style �€" referred to internally by Ford as the '2+2'
�€" makes this combination more sought after than a K-Code coupe or
convertible. The fastback roofline wasn't just a styling exercise.
It gave the car a lower drag coefficient and a more aggressive
stance that the standard notchback simply couldn't match. This
particular 1966 Ford Mustang Fastback has been built out as a
Shelby GT350 tribute, wearing the correct GT350 side stripes, hood
scoop, and badging associated with the cars Carroll Shelby's team
was producing at the Los Angeles Airport facility during this era.
The actual 1966 Shelby GT350 was based on the fastback body with a
K-Code engine, which means this car starts from exactly the right
foundation. Shelby produced 2,378 GT350s for the 1966 model year,
and the genuine cars have climbed well out of reach for many
buyers. A well-executed tribute on a legitimate K-Code fastback
represents a real alternative �€" you get the correct bones, the
correct body style, and the correct engine family, dressed in the
look that made the GT350 famous. Features List - 289ci K-Code High
Performance V8 Engine - 4-Speed Manual Transmission - Edelbrock
Intake Manifold and Air Cleaner - Shelby GT350 Exterior Badging -
Shelby American Dash Plate - Wood-Rim GT350 Steering Wheel -
Dash-Mounted Tachometer - GT350 Side Stripes - Functional Hood
Scoop - Chrome Wheels - Black Vinyl Interior - Chrome Bumpers Front
and Rear - Manual Windows - Performance Radiator - Fastback (2+2)
Body Style Mechanical The heart of this 1966 Ford Mustang Fastback
is the 289 cubic inch K-Code V8. From the factory, the High
Performance 289 was rated at 271 horsepower at 6,000 rpm �€"
figures that were taken seriously in 1966 and still respectable
today. The K-Code engine differed from the standard 289 in
meaningful ways: it used a solid-lifter camshaft, stronger
connecting rods, a higher 10.5:1 compression ratio, a larger
carburetor, and a higher-revving nature than any other small-block
option Ford offered in the Mustang. It's the same basic engine
architecture that underpinned the genuine GT350, which Carroll
Shelby's team modified further with a Paxton supercharger option
and other upgrades for the street and track versions. This car has
been fitted with an Edelbrock intake manifold and matching
Edelbrock air cleaner �€" a well-regarded combination that improves
airflow over the factory cast iron intake and complements the
engine's high-rpm character. The Edelbrock name has been associated
with Ford small-block performance since the early days of hot
rodding, and their intake manifolds are a proven choice for this
application. Backing the engine is a 4-speed manual transmission,
which is the correct gearbox for a car wearing GT350 livery and the
only transmission that makes sense behind a K-Code engine. A
performance radiator has been installed to manage heat
appropriately for a small-block that prefers to be driven hard.
Interior Inside, the 1966 Ford Mustang Fastback presents a black
vinyl interior that is correct for the period and appropriate for
the GT350 tribute theme. The standout piece is the wood-rim GT350
steering wheel, which is an accurate reference to the
Shelby-specific equipment used on the genuine 1966 GT350. The
original Shelby cars received
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