1966 Ford Mustang

Description

With all the merely "pleasant" 1966 Mustangs around, it's nice to see one that walks with some swagger. Dig the stance, the slick gray paint, the great-running 289 V8, a quick-shifting 4-speed gearbox, and the fresh custom interior that's sporty and all-day comfortable. The only thing it doesn't have is a pack of Luckys rolled up in its shirt sleeve, because the attitude is perfect.

Dark Gray Metallic always looks fantastic on vintage metal, but on this car, it's really more of a disguise. A low-profile coupe with serious blasting powder under the hood doesn't really need to advertise too much with obnoxious loud paint. Since most guys won't expect much of a fight from an early Mustang Pony, it's easy to take advantage of them once you stand on the gas pedal in this street brawler. Of course, that doesn't mean the bodywork isn't straight, because it certainly is, and it's obvious that considerable time and effort were invested in the paint booth getting the finish to sparkle. It's been enjoyed out on the road since it was completed so it's not a perfect trailer queen, but it does have a wonderful shine and deep luster that still knows how to turn heads. And if you wanted to restore some former glory and go chase a trophy or two at your local car show, a professional buff-and-polish would kick it up that extra notch. Clearly the builders were thinking carefully about curb appeal when this car was coming together, and slick additions like the air dam below the front bumper, the subtle hood scoop, and the bright exhaust tips that exit from under the rear bumper really separate this beauty from the crowd. It also carries a nice batch of shiny chrome, including sparkling new bumpers fore and aft, bright trim-work around the crystal-clear glass, a classic 'galloping stallion' front grille, and great-looking original badging on the front fenders. Out back, you get a sporty gas-cap and bright red taillights to match the crystal-clear headlights up front, and the flashy wheels complement the livery perfectly.

More significant investment happened inside, where a pair of sporty buckets anchor the super-clean, fully restored, two-tone vinyl cabin. Red-on-gray (and those gray inserts have a carbon fiber look) is an awesome color combination that works perfectly on this vintage Mustang, and the matching door panel inserts, plush carpets, taut headliner, and fresh dash pad really dress things up inside. A highly desirable center console splits the front seats, housing a storage cubby up top complete with cup holders, and a Hurst shifter with a cue-ball knob that manages the 4-speed gearbox below. Other smart options include a stock steering wheel, a rare under-dash factory A/C box, and a retro-style AM/FM stereo that feeds upgraded speakers inside the cabin. Factory gauges work in concert with an Equus auxiliary tachometer unit to keep an eye on the small block up ahead, and the chrome shifter practically taunts the driver to go out and bang through the gears and scare the neighborhood. Out back, the trunk is fully finished in correct plaid mats, and it includes a full-sized spare tire assembly.

No early Mustang is complete without a 289 under the hood, and the snarky small block that powers this pony has a few upgrades that make it a blast on the street. Up top, there's an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor, a stock-style intake manifold and ignition system, and with the beautiful lope this small block has at idle, it's obvious it's been homed in for battle. Chrome valve covers and a chrome open air cleaner dress things up under the engine bay, as does the Ford Blue on the engine itself, which really helps it pop from the satin black engine bay. That excellent soundtrack is punctuated thanks to the H-pipe exhaust and chambered mufflers, while the quick-shifting 4-speed manual transmission is exactly what you want in a vintage street fighter like this, spinning what appears to be the original rear end. It drives beautifully with the help of a front sway bar and fresh shocks, and it stops with authority thanks to a thoughtfully added power front disc with cross-drilled rotor upgrade. Killer 15-inch Vision wheels look great and wear 205/60/15 performance radials with plenty of tread left.

Fast fun in a universally loved shell, and a gorgeous restoration backed up with build receipts and photos. It's hard to make a mistake with an awesome early Mustang like this. Call today!