Take one classic early Ford Mustang, in this case a 1966 coupe, add bright red paint and a beautiful tan interior, cold A/C, plus one 302 cubic inch V8 with a manual gearbox, and you get the world's most beloved pony car. And despite their soaring popularity, stock Mustangs like this one remain extremely affordable ways to own A-list rides.
Ignore the Magnum 500 wheels for a moment and what you have here is a nicely restored, highly stock Mustang, a great contrast to all the resto-mods and Shelby clones that you're likely to see at car shows. The purity of the Mustang's shape still grabs attention after all these years, and rendered in code J Rangoon Red, it cuts a brilliant profile everywhere it goes (the original color was Skylight Blue). The driver-quality paint job is exactly the right color, no metallic and a great shine compliments of modern urethane technology, and the body hails from the warm, sunny south so it's not some kind of rust bucket. We talk about it all the time, but panel alignment is critical on a car like the Mustang, whose body lines cross from panel to panel and if it isn't right, it definitely shows. There's also a lot of bright chrome that's in great shape, correct pony corral in the grille, and those famous 3-element taillights that are still foremost in designers' minds today. Oh, and don't be fooled by the '289' badges on the fenders; although this is an original C-code 289 car, it now packs a rumbling 302.
This Mustang keeps it clean inside, too, where a freshly restored tan bucket seat interior remains almost entirely stock, just like the exterior. With an aftermarket center console, it's a handsome, sporting place and it's easy to see why the Mustang was so popular with millions of buyers in its first few years. It sports an optional wood-rimmed steering wheel along with a modern take on the vintage dealer-installed under-dash A/C unit, which blows cold. The remainder of the gauges look original and still show crisp markings and clear lenses, and the original AM radio remains in the center of the dash, although the real entertainment comes from an AM/FM/CD head unit neatly installed on the passenger's side. Open the deck lid and you'll find a nicely finished trunk that includes a reproduction trunk mat in the original plaid pattern along with a spare tire with a matching cover.
As I mentioned, the original 289 is gone, replaced by a later 302 cubic inch V8, although you'd have to look at the numbers to spot it. The engine has been warmed-over, adding a few horsepower and giving this mild-mannered Mustang a serious shot of muscle. With a 4-barrel intake and matching carburetor, it feels potent with a big hit of low-end torque. They kept it very stock-looking to enhance the illusion, including a stock air cleaner with reproduction '289' decal and Ford Blue engine paint. The modern A/C compressor is the lone giveaway, but that's OK given how much better it works. Stock exhaust manifolds feed a pair of modest mufflers, giving this coupe a great voice, and if the door tag is to be believed, there's an easy-cruising 2.80 gearset in the rear end. Just boat the only obvious modification are those shiny Magnum 500 wheels wearing white-letter radials.
Resto-mod? Clean stocker with a few speed parts? Sleeper? Whatever you want to call this Mustang, there's no denying its appeal. Call today!