Sixty years after Ford first created the ponycar category, the Mustang will be the lone survivor of the section it started.
This example was made in Ford's Metuchen, New Jersey factory on October 9, 1965 and transported for original sale within the New York, New York sales district. It has had the same Tucson Arizona owner since 2014 - 10 years!
Many of the 1966 Mustang body panels are identical to the Mustang 1965 panels, with minor changes to the headlamp bezels and the hood. .....
The front grille now featured horizontal chrome bars with the running horse emblem front and center. On the side of the car, the faux air scoops were updated, the gas cap changed and all Mustangs received padded sun visors. It's no wonder that even Mustang enthusiasts are challenged to spot the subtle differences between '65 and '66 production.
Looking sharp in the factory-correct Springtime Yellow paint, this lovely convertible has been sympathetically restored to correct factory specifications. The panel fit is excellent, the paint looks great and even the Parchment soft top is clean and tight. Examine this one closely, as it is just as solid underneath - not cleaned and detailed, but more like honest, proper condition - showing the care it has always received. Fuel gauge is inop. All the chrome and trim fits properly and looks great and the overall visual impression is nothing short of top drawer. Factory wheels with newer radial tires and factory caps finish off the highly authentic look and the stance of the car is level and correct, just like it did in 1966.
Pop the hood and a very clean and correct 289 V-8 shows just like a new vehicle with one exception. The stock two-barrel carb has been upgraded to a Holley four-barrel unit. It fires right up, idles smoothly and will cruise all day at modern highway speeds. The car's Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission shifts on a faux woodgrain console, is backed up by 2.80:1 gearing and this pony is nicely equipped with power steering, power brakes, vintage air-conditioning and a power-assisted soft top. The bucket seats are clean, the carpets look great and all the gauges in the classic dashboard also look sharp and work well. There is very little to do here but turn the key and enjoy some fine open-top motoring.
Popular options included several versions of the 289 V-8 and a Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission - just like the car offered here. The Pony interior included embossed seat backs, a five-cluster instrument panel and walnut-style steering wheel and center console. This car also has a JVC AM/FM stereo with cassette deck.
The 1966 Mustang debuted with moderate trim changes including a new grille, side ornamentation, wheel covers and gas cap. Ford's new C4 “Cruise-O-Matic” three-speed automatic transmission became available.
Many new paint and interior color options were available, as well as an AM/eight-track sound system, and one of the first AM/FM mono automobile radios. The 1966 model year cars discontinued the Falcon instrument cluster, while the previously optional round gauges and padded sun visors became standard equipment. The Mustang would become the best-selling convertible in 1966, with 72,119 sold, beating the number two Impala by almost 2:1.
The 1965 and 1966 Mustangs are differentiated by variations in the exterior, despite the similar design. These variations include the cove molding on the rear quarter panels behind the doors. From August 1964 production, the molding was a single vertical piece of chrome, while for 1966 models, the molding was smaller in height and had three horizontal bars extending forward from the design, resembling an “E.” The front intake grilles and ornaments were also different. The 1965 front grille used a “honeycomb” pattern, while the 1966 version was a “slotted” style. While both model years used the “Horse and Corral” emblem on the grille, the 1965s had four bars extending from each side of the corral, while these bars were removed for the 1966s.
Droptop competition to this Mustang in 1966 included Chevrolet's Chevy II, Ford's own Falcon Sprint and Plymouth's Valiant.
If you're a Mustang fan or a Ford fan, this '66 convertible is not one to miss. Stop by MotoeXotica Classic Cars today to see it for yourself.
VIN: 6T08C123666
This car is currently located at our facility in St. Louis, Missouri. Current mileage on the odometer shows 9,589 miles. It is sold as is, where is, on a clean and clear, mileage exempt title. GET OUT AND DRIVE!!!
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