Very clean 1965 Mustang convertible. 73,000 original miles. C-code 289/4-speed. Two owners from new, one repaint, working power convertible top. Runs and drives extremely well, very tight, lots of fun. A wonderful Mustang that’s ready to enjoy.

Code J Rangoon Red is the right red on a Mustang. Vivid and bright without being too orange, it suits the Mustang’s energetic personality just right. Wearing just one repaint done in the 1990s, this pretty convertible remains in fantastic condition throughout. It has never been used in winter weather, so the original sheetmetal is laser-straight and with zero signs of accident damage in its past, it fits together quite well. The trim was removed when the car was repainted and much of the rubber was replaced, so it looks great with none of the signs of a cut-rate job that you see in many Mustangs. The doors close with a solid sound, not a rattle, and it feels sturdy going down the road. The chrome bumpers are original and in excellent shape, and all the emblems look right. And it comes by those ‘289’ badges on the front fenders honestly, as this is a factory C-code V8 car.

The standard black interior shows quite well thanks to nice original carpets and door panels, plus new seat covers on the front buckets. No signs of UV damage, so this convertible has always been stored indoors, and even the dash pad is free of cracks. The three-spoke steering wheel isn’t cracked and all the gauges are fully operational. Perhaps most importantly, there’s a 4-speed shifter on the transmission tunnel and it’s a lot of fun to run it through the gears. Other notable options include a power convertible top, AM radio, and a somewhat rare remote driver’s side mirror. And yes, that’s a plaque from March 1966 when the car was used in the Autumn Leaf Rallye—this car has been a toy from the very beginning. The white convertible top is in good shape with a clear rear window, and it powers down quickly thanks to a new pump, cylinders, and lines. There’s also a matching black boot as well as a fully finished trunk with new mat and full-sized spare tire with cover.

The C-code 289 cubic inch V8 carries a 2-barrel carburetor and makes a nice, round 200 horsepower and about 280 lb-ft. of torque. That makes this red ragtop feel energetic at any speed and it makes all kinds of great V8 sounds. The engine bay is nicely detailed with a correct black block and head, gold valve covers and air cleaner, and correct parts like the yellow-top coil, factory-style plug wires, and correct tower hose clamps on Ford script hoses. There’s also a new fuel pump, rebuilt carburetor, and a fresh water pump, so it’s ready to enjoy. It fires up easily, idles nicely, and pulls the Mustang around with genuine enthusiasm. The 4-speed shifts nicely and with 3.00 gears out back, it’s a comfortable cruiser even at modern highway speeds. The underside is unrestored but completely solid, with no issues in the floors, rockers, and the torque boxes are in excellent condition—even the original spotwelds are visible on the rocker seam. The steering and brakes are unassisted, but the steering is remarkably light and the factory brakes are effective. C-code cars used a single exhaust, but this one has a comfortable V8 burble that quiets down on the cruise. Factory 14-inch wheels and hubcaps carry 195/75/14 whitewall radials.

Early Mustangs are still the universal hobby car—beloved everywhere, easy to drive, inexpensive to own, they just do everything well. This one offers great colors, a torquey V8, a shift-it-yourself transmission, and a zero-issues backstory. If you’re looking for fun, a Mustang is a great choice. Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.