Fall is just around the corner and here's your opportunity to enjoy it in this beautiful 1966 Ford Mustang convertible!. This wonderful car resides in Vernon, Texas, birthplace of Roy Orbison! This beauty has the desirable color combination of Springtime Yellow exterior with a beautiful Parchment interior, and a camel colored canvas convertible top! It comes with a complete set of 5 Magnum wheels, all in very nice condition. The wheels are wrapped in a set of B.F Goodrich Control Plus radial tires having thin whitewalls, all with excellent tread. Under the hood, it is powered by the sought-after 289cid V8 engine. Power is transferred to the rear wheels by the Ford C4 automatic transmission. It has also been upgraded with Pertronix electronic ignition.
The car is very nicely optioned with the "Deluxe Pony" upholstery, power steering, power brakes, factory air conditioning, and a power convertible top. Also, two of the three "GT" options (grill mounted fog lights and chrome exhaust trumpets) have been added. It has been upgraded with a modern "Custom Autosound" model USA 740 AM/FM radio with RDS tuner, Blue Tooth capability, and VA display. Along with the radio, it has a new, matching 4"x10" dash speaker specifically matched to the radio. Both the original factory radio and speaker will be included in the sale. I'm uncertain about the original speaker, but the original radio is non-op.
I want to state up front that I am NOT a dealer. I'm a 75 year old car lover. I am an honest seller. I will tell you everything I know about the car, and stand behind every word. I have, or will, post numerous pictures showing the true condition of the car. My humble opinion is that the car is in overall excellent condition. However, people's opinion of condition varies from person to person. So please, do your due diligence. It is up to you, the potential buyer, to determine if this car is the right one for you. I not only accept inspections by you or a third party (by appointment), but I encourage them.
History
Below is the history of the car as given to me by the previous owner, and as a result of my own research and personal knowledge and experience as the current owner.
According to the serial number (now known as the VIN), The car was built in the Metuchen, New Jersey plant. It left the factory with the 200cid 6 cylinder engine (T code) under the hood. From this point in time until the previous owner acquired the car, my knowledge of the car's history is based on his information.. The owner previous to him had a complete restoration performed in approximately 2014. In 2015 the owner immediately prior to me purchasing the car, acquired the car in its restored, factory built condition. This gentleman was a retired business owner and a collector of vintage Fords. This Mustang was the "newest" Ford in his collection. After owning the car for about two years, he decided he wanted a little more "spunk". He commissioned his nephew, who was a mechanic (and the only person ever allowed to work on the car) to locate and install a 289 V8 engine.. The nephew was able to find a local (Bristol, TN) 1966 Mustang 2+2 Fastback with the 289 V8 and matching rear-end, and installed them in this car. He also replaced the radiator with a larger one to accommodate the larger engine. As part of this upgrade, he took the original C4 three-speed automatic transmission to a local transmission shop to be rebuilt. When alerted that the transmission was ready, he went for pickup. When he arrived, the shop owner told him that they had not only rebuilt it, but had also upgraded and converted it to a two-speed with a "mild" stall converter. When he questioned them as to why they had done this, he replied that they assumed since he was upgrading to a 289 engine, he would also want the upgraded performance built into the transmission. Turns out that, as some of you may know, many owners who like to do a little drag strip and street racing prefer this setup. The owner of the car found it somewhat amusing since he was in his early eighties at the time, and had never been one for racing. As the current owner, nearing my eighties, I also find it amusing. But in addition to amusing, I find it nostalgic. My very first car at the age of seventeen, was a Chevy Impala with a 327cid V8 engine and the famous GM Powerglide two-speed transmission. And this Mustang shifts just a smooth as the Powerglide did. As for extra performance....who knows? to me it feels like a smooth driving, smooth shifting, 1966 Mustang. All the above described changes took place in 2017, and according to the previous owner's son, the car was driven less than 600 miles until I purchased it two years ago.
As nice as the car was when I purchased, the fact that it was seldom driven was actually a bit of a negative. Any vintage car owners will tell you, the lack of regular driving can cause seals to dry-out, maybe a bearing to go flat. This, I suspect was the case for my Mustang. But don't be concerned, as I've spent my two years of ownership correcting all this. Not me, actually, but my trusted mechanic of the last 30+ years. Listed below are the upgrades during my ownership:
1. The rubber hose to the left rear wheel cylinder has been replaced with a steel line
2. The front right wheel cylinder has been replaced
3. The brake master cylinder has been replaced
4. The power steering slave cylinder has been replaced with new
5. The power steering lower control unit (valve) has been removed, sent out for professional rebuild, and reinstalled
6. The complete power steering pump and tank have been replaced with new
7. Both rear axle seals have been replaced with new
8. The A/C compressor and hoses (new at the time of the 2017 upgrades) have been replaced with new
9. Transmission pan gasket has been replaced with new
I consider all the above to be a result of limited driving time.
Also,
The radiator fan has been upgraded for more air flow. This has benefitted the A/C through our hot Texas summers.
Today:
.The car is a joy to drive. My wife and I enjoy regular drives in town and in the country outside our city limit. The car handles very well and rides very well. Keep in mind, this is a 1966 Mustang, originally designed on a Ford Falcon chassis. Suspension and steering has coma a long way over the last 60 years!. Nevertheless, this care should be compared to other 1966 Mustangs, not a modern car. Having said that, when considering the air conditioning, the same is true. This car is a convertible, not a coup. Convertibles are not "sealed", nor insulated as well as coups, so the A/C can't perform quite as well. But considering I live in Texas, where today's high is forecast to be 111 degrees, it still helps to keep you comfortable.
I hope I've provided the information you're looking for. The car looks great, runs great, and gets compliments everywhere we go. In fact, the car has won a couple of prizes from local car shows. We've entered it in tow shows, and won a prize in each of them.(see pictures). I've posted several pictures, but I have a ton more available. If there is a view of the car, including the undercarirage, you'd like to see, let me know and I'll add it to the listing. I believe the car is fairly priced. It's higher than a few that are out there, but its based on how its equipped and the overall great condition. It's also priced far less than those that have been customized. I'm open to offers, but please, no low-ball offers.
Thanks for looking!
