1965 Ford Mustang Convertible

Description

Just when we thought all the affordable Mustang convertibles had vanished, this handsome 1965 ragtop shows up on our doorstep. With a silky smooth 200-inch six, a manual transmission, and a very authentic look to it, this car neatly blurs the line between survivor and restoration. And you just can't go wrong with an early pony car, a car that makes everyone stop and watch as it goes by.

The color is called Springtime Yellow and it is, indeed, this car's original color. We don't see many this color, but it's a wonderful contrast to the more familiar red, green, and black Mustangs that fill our showrooms. It was likely repainted several years ago and no, it's not perfect, but that's part of its charm and makes this a Mustang you can drive without worries. In fact, it has a bit of a survivor look, with an on honest appeal that we love to see on stock Pony cars. The body panels line up well, and it's pretty clear that the car has never been in a major accident or rusty. In particular, the trunk lid fits very well, something that's often a challenge, and the doors close with a reassuring sound that's often absent on convertibles that have led a rough life. It wears that iconic '65 grille with a galloping steed caught in the sights, which is in our opinion the best-looking fascia Mustang has made to date. The rest of the bright trim is solid, again not perfect but straight with light patina so that it's hard to believe it's anything but factory-issue.

The white interior continues the original look inside, including comfortable bucket seats up front, black carpets below that add contrast and cover up any dirt, and matching white door panels at the flanks. And even little stuff like the dash pad and steering wheel center cap look like they were born with the car and are in great shape, so it all looks very apropos. A floor-mounted 3-speed manual transmission splits the bucket seats, and it falls to the hand easily just like the original 3-spoke steering wheel ahead of the driver. The dash still boasts its original gauge with crisp lenses and bright markings, and a stock AM radio remains in the dash, although it's due for an upgrade if you're looking for a little entertainment. But quite frankly we're surprised that you'd even ask, because with quick drop of the manual convertible top, the whole world is above your head in all of its open air glory – and I could bet there's nothing on the radio can top the experience of cruising a 1st generation Mustang with top down and the sun in the sky. A matching tan boot cover seals things up neatly with the top is down, and the trunk is decked-out in 100% stock form, with a correct plaid mat and full-size spare tire.

You numbers guys have already deduced that this car originally carried a T-code 6-cylinder from the factory, and a smooth 200 cubic inch inline-six is exactly what's under the hood today. The legendary Ford straight six is impressively durable and very economical, making this a hobby car that will never eat you out of house and home. It doesn't give up much performance to the V8 with the manual gearbox behind it, and its flat-out fun-as-can-be when you're cycling through gear and listening that engine purr, with the lightweight livery feeling downright frisky in the corners. It certainly looks the way the factory would have done things, complete with bright paint on the valve cover and snorkeled air cleaner that really pops out from the satin black engine bay. Underneath, it's unrestored but very solid and roadworthy, with no signs of hacking or major rust, so no worries about getting in and having some fun. Finally, those are likely the original wheel covers and spinners sparkling in our pics, all wrapped in 175/70/13 Kumho whitewall radials that give it just the right look and feel.

Look at the price, then look at the car. Convertible, turn-key Mustangs like this don't come along very often, so give us a call today!