On April 17, 1964, Ford changed the automotive world forever when it introduced a new model at the New York World’s Fair. This was not just a new model, but seemingly a new category of car: the pony car. This was not a personal luxury car like the Thunderbird, or even a muscle car, but instead more of a GT that offered performance, a striking design, and was affordable. Ford originally thought it would sell around 100,000 Mustangs, but the Mustang became the most impactful vehicle launch since the 1927 Model A, with 400,000 cars sold in its first year. More amazing is that the one-millionth Mustang was sold within two years of its launch. Our Pick of the Day is in celebration of the Mustang’s birthday, a 1965 Ford Mustang fastback listed on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Bloomington, Illinois.
The first-generation Mustang fastback is my single favorite pony car of all time, and one of my personal favorite car designs ever. From every angle, the car looks perfect, with a sporty, balanced, and almost European vibe. In fact, Mustangs were seen in the James Bond films “Goldfinger” and “Thunderball” as it was one of the hottest cars of the 1960s.
This specific 1965 fastback is described by the seller as a factory C-code Mustang painted in its original Poppy Red hue, paired with a flawless white interior. The car is said to have undergone a comprehensive restoration with exceptional attention to detail; since completion, it has covered less then 1,500 miles. Looking at the photos, I would agree that this restoration looks like it was extremely well done.
The exterior of this Mustang appears flawless, with the Poppy Red paint looking to be in show condition per the photos. All the brightwork looks just as good as the paint, with no flaws to be seen. The car rides on correct Ford styled steel wheels.
The interior is also excellent, with the white seats, door cards, and carpets all looking great. This Mustang is optioned with one of my favorite Mustang interior features, the Rally Pac instrument cluster that adds a tachometer and a clock around the steering column. To me, this makes the view of the dash behind the wheel look all the more sporting as I feel that all true GT cars need to have a tachometer. Add the manual gearbox with the center console and the interior becomes all the nicer.
Under the hood lies a correct Ford 289ci V-8 that features upgraded Edelbrock aluminum heads, Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold with a four-barrel carburetor, Edelbrock aluminum valve covers, and Edelbrock air cleaner. These modifications only work to make the already good 289 so much better, with better-than-stock performance.
The underside also speaks to the quality of the restoration. It is nothing short of spotless, and looks to have been very well taken care of since.
You should not be put off by the $64,995 asking price as I am sure the restoration cost much more. I cannot think of a better way to celebrate the Mustang’s 62nd birthday than to add one to your garage. This 1965 Ford Mustang fastback is truly a great example of the model that many consider the best of the breed. What a good way to ring in the Mustang’s birthday!
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
