1966 Ford Mustang Coupe

Description

First generation Mustangs are still one of the very best ways to get into the old car hobby for not a lot of cash. This 1966 Mustang Coupe is one of those cars that everyone will love, parts are available just about everywhere, and for the money you just won't be able to find a more iconic car to put in your garage.

Dark Blue is not this pony's original color (it was originally Ivy Green Metallic), but for Mustang fans it's an absolute favorite. Understated yet bold, it looks bright and clean on this affordable coupe. It was repainted a few years ago and is showing a few signs of age, but then again, a Mustang with some character lines can be extremely appealing. Nothing about the original design has been changed, so everywhere you go people will tell you what an awesome car this is and how much they love the color. Panel fit is good all around, and all the doors shut nice and firm. Shiny chrome bumpers, the simplified 1966 grille and running pony emblem, and those instantly-recognizable taillights all give this Mustang a familiar look that will win its share of admirers.

The show continues inside with original-style seats and pleated seat covers, clean door panels, and simple black carpets. However, there's also a fat three-spoke wood steering wheel framing the original gauges, all of which present very nicely inside the tidy interior. Down low there there's a factory-style under-dash A/C system (the system needs to be hooked up) along with a console between the seats that houses a Hurst shifter. You'll note that the shifter now shows five gears instead of four thanks to the Borg Warner T5 that lies beneath, but the fit is so natural you'd think the factory built it that way. An AM/FM/iPod compatible stereo has been stuffed into the original AM radio's location and there's still a stock back seat so your friends can come along, too. The trunk is detailed to stock specs with a plaid mat and full-sized spare, another nod to originality that makes this car special.

The T-code 200 cubic inch inline-six should not be overlooked by enthusiasts, and there's a growing group of guys who recognize these sturdy engines as more than just inexpensive alternatives to V8s. Wearing Ford Blue paint and most of its original equipment, it's a nice runner with an unobtrusive demeanor. It hasn't been modified during its 50 years of life and there are plenty of signs of conscientious maintenance over the years. One important thing to note is that service access on the six is unbeatable and parts are insanely inexpensive and easy to replace, so keeping this one in top mechanical condition should be a breeze. It has enough guts to feel energetic, and power delivery is silky smooth. The T5 5-speed manual transmission means that driving this one anywhere is as easy as turning the key and highway-friendly gears out back promise a nice compromise between performance and cruising ability. The underside is just as solid as you'd hope, even for an affordable Mustang, and the single exhaust system has more than just a slight six- cylinder grumble to it, thanks to longtube headers that feed a modern muffler. Finishing off the look, It rolls on modern 14-inch steel wheels with spoked hubcaps, wrapped in a set on 185/75/14 radials.

This is a very affordable early Mustang with an eager personality and plenty of gusto. Don't overlook it because of what it isn't, embrace it for what it is: a cool old Mustang that's incredibly fun to drive. Call today!