1965 Ford Mustang

Description

The wonderful thing about vintage Mustangs is their interchangeability. Not only do you get a wide variety of performance and styling parts you can use to customize your pony, but thanks to the long-running small block V8, upgrades can come from the factory as well as the aftermarket. Dig this 1965 Mustang coupe, a nice-looking cruiser with a fuel-injected 5.0-liter heart that feels anything but old.

But before we talk about the hardware, take a look at how pretty this coupe is. Perhaps also borrowing from a late-model color pallet, the right metallic burgundy paint looks right on the old coupe's bodywork. Perhaps a descendant of Candyapple Red or Vintage Burgundy, it has a great shine and an inviting look that doesn't hide the Mustang's identity behind excessive flash. Instead, it shows off straight sheetmetal, good gaps, and a lot of love that went into the build. Clearly someone was thinking carefully about this car as it was going together, and they kept it simple; heck, there aren't even any ubiquitous '289' badges on the front fenders! No fake GT equipment, either, but they did add a power antenna on the rear deck that is a neat detail and just about the only non-OEM piece. Bright chrome trim is all quite nice, given that the aftermarket is full of replacement stuff, and the whole car has a very polished look.

The tan interior features bucket seats with headrests that look a little modern but quite appropriate, as well as an aftermarket center console that is a critical missing part of the early Mustang's equipment list. The original instrument panel is full of stock gauges in good condition, all of which work with the modern EFI motor's sending units. A/C has been discreetly added under the dash and thanks to modern Mustang components, it's easy to service. A wood-rimmed wheel is always a welcome addition, and modern conveniences like power windows and an AM/FM/iPod-compatible stereo head unit mean that you can drive it every day without feeling like you're in an antique. The trunk is neatly finished with a reproduction mat, matching styled steel wheel, and full-sized spare tire.

Since the modern 5.0 liter EFI V8 is just a Windsor-based 302, it slides right between the '65's shock towers without a lot of hassles. Torquey, smooth, and virtually bulletproof, the rebuilt 5.0 works as well here as it did back in the early '90s when it was powering a Fox-body pony. Keeping as many OEM components as possible means it's reliable and easy to service with over-the-counter parts, and thanks to Ford's wonderful EEC-IV engine management system, it starts instantly and idles smoothly every time, regardless of the weather. And you'll never get tired of watching the jaws drop when you pop the hood at a show and everyone sees that familiar long-runner intake. A freshly rebuilt 3-speed automatic transmission is a nice complement to the injected V8 and it powers the original rear end with highway-friendly gears inside. A custom dual exhaust system was fabricated for the new motor and it has that familiar 5.0 bark. Power front disc brakes and power steering mean it's easy to drive anywhere, and handsome styled steel wheels are always the right choice on your vintage Mustang.

Given the price of the conversion and the quality of the paint and interior, we have to call this car a screaming bargain. And like most Mustangs here at Streetside Classics, we doubt it'll last long. Call today!