1965 Mustang value?

[JonW]

I found out about a 1965 Mustang for sale here locally, and now the SO is all excited. She loves them. Frankly, I don't care for them, so I don't know that much about them. I haven't seen it yet, we go tomorrow night to look at it.

What I do know is that it's a 289 automatic, hardtop, 120K miles (supposedly actual), no a/c. Engine and trans have been rebuilt. The current owner bought it with 60K miles, right after the engine and trans rebuild. It's a repaint, of course, and is supposedly in overall good condition. The color is turquoise.

Any ideas what it's worth? The asking price is $5000.

[Raudermaster]

$5k sounds about right Jon. Yea, they're rare cars but with that many miles and just your standard rebuild done to the trans and engine that's probably all that it's worth. I've seen full, beautiful restored one's done and yet all the people have asked for them is $10k tops with at least $15-20k invested in them. I'm sure you could haggle them down to $42-4500 for it.

[ROB502]

I gave $3500. for a 66 hard top A/C automatic 289 with 90k miles. It needs paint and some work but I drove it home. It just feels loose and the drum brakes get some time to get used to. Baby blue with blue interior.

[RoyLPita]

Is the engine a "C" or "A" code?

[JonW]

Is the engine a "C" or "A" code?

How do I tell, and is there a difference in value?

[RoyLPita]

The "C" code is a 2 barrel set up and the "A" code is the 4 barrel. There could be an increase for it but I have no idea on how much. Either of these codes are in the VIN.

[O's Fan Rich]

www.vintage-mustang.com
That's a place that I've been know to hang around at. Good info.

[Wags]

I'll have a '68 soon that I will probably be selling. It's being shipped from Louisiana on Friday. My grandfather bought it new in '67. He passed in '68, and my aunt kept it, and was driving it up until 3 weeks ago. She just turned 85, and knows I like cars, so she's done driving, and gave it to me. I have not seen it since back in '79, when I was down there for a visit. It was in pretty good shape then, but who knows now. It is completely, 100% still original. She thinks she had the clutch replaced "sometime in the '80's", but can't remember. She says the only thing that doesn't work is the "thing that goes to the F when you put gas in it." No power anything, 3spd on the floor. I can't remember if it even has a radio in it. My grandfather always wanted a sports car, so he bought the Mustang. It is the copper kind of gold color with a white bucket interior. It has a straight 6 in it. I asked if she ever had it rebuilt, but she can't remember. She says she will send all of the paperwork with the title. I'll let ya know what it's like when I get it!

[SID210SA]

My Dad had a Blue 69 with a 289 in it....it didn't look all that but it hauled a**!!! It had 4 head lights and the horn was around the inside of the steering wheel....not in the center like all others....that was the first and last car I had ever seen that had a horn like that.

[Raudermaster]

The 289's kicked butt.

[Vortex]

For cars 5K and less, I think the main thing Id be worried about is the body and any rust/bondo issues or severe mechanical problems. Bodywork is the most expensive thing in a restoration so if you can find a straight, rust free car that runs for less then 5K its probably a good deal.

[Billzstangin66]

I have a '66 coupe, there not that expensive and everything for them is available and cheap!
I got mine for free but would expect this to be $4-6,000- because its (tahoe) turquoise... depending on the condition.

[Lgaruti]

check the floor and cowl for rust thru. If there are holes 5K is too much. Everything else is pretty much an easy fix.

[sailsmen]

I like Mustangs. The old cars are fun for occasional driving, but can't compare to a modern vehicle.

A friend bought and early 60's w/ a modded 351 for his wife. Looked completely original and in restored condition. Sold it after a year, just not practical for everyday driving.

My father got a blue 1965 Mustang for work and I remember the excitment when he first brought it home.

[JonW]

I looked at the car last night. To begin with, the paint job was a Scheib. I couldn't find any evidence of rust-through on the body, but there were a couple of bondo places here and there. The undercarriage, however, had a lot of very heavy, pitted rust everywhere. The firewall had some serious rust where the brake resevoir mounts. Even the metal pieces in the interior, like the metal bracket that holds the choke lever, were completely rusted.

The interior was pretty rough, the dash was REAL rough. The engine was a 289 2bbl. So, there's not a whole lot to talk about as far as value.

I took a pass on it.

[Lgaruti]

Jon, Sounds like you made the right decision!