Mustangs are still affordable fun, even with a V8. This 1966 Ford Mustang coupe is like that, offering a sweet-running small block V8, some nice options, and a fairly comprehensive makeover that elevates it to another level. It's not a show car, but it’s exactly the right car for someone who likes to drive their vintage hardware and cruise to local shows.

This car was owned and restored by the Little Old Lady from Pasadena—literally. She restored it to match one she had back in the 1960s, right down to the handsome color combination, and they did some quality work on an already nice California car. She restored it to drive, so that’s what she did, but now that she’s moved back east to live with her family, she’s found that she doesn’t have much use for the pretty little coupe. And that means it’s your opportunity to get a good one at a very pleasing price.

According to the door tag, code Z Sauterne Gold is this car's original color, but when it was restored a few years ago, they went with code Y Silver Blue, which is the color of her car back in the ‘60s. With so many of them being bright red or plain old white, suddenly this icy blue coupe starts to look pretty appealing. The finish is quite nice, although it's not a showpiece, but that's beside the point because driving is what this car is all about. You’ll also note that it’s two-stage urethane, so it should look this good forever with just a modicum of care, and it does shine up quite nicely. The trim was also refreshed or replaced during the restoration, and both bumpers, the stainless window surrounds, and other bright parts were either polished or replaced. Up front, the grille was swapped out for a Shelby-style billet piece that cleans up the front end, and it does come by those ‘289’ emblems honestly, although they’re not quite telling the whole story (more on that in a moment). There’s also a fresh white vinyl top that really pops against the Silver Blue bodywork, another detail added to better match the car of her youth. It sure looks great!

A black interior shows extremely well with well-defined seat covers that are better than most of the reproductions on the market. The detailing proves that even the basic Mustangs were stylish transportation you could be proud of, and any V8-powered pony car is guaranteed fun on the road. The gauges appear to be original and in good condition, and we love the beautiful 3-spoke steering wheel and aftermarket armrest between the seats, both of which really make it a pleasure to drive. A digital AM/FM head unit has been installed but the instrument panel has not been modified to accommodate it, so if you want to go back to the original it will be easy, and it powers speakers on the rear package shelf. Nice carpets, a taut headliner, and even retractable shoulder belts (a mandatory option in California) all help to make this a car you will look forward to driving. The trunk is finished better than expected with a correct plaid mat, and it includes a matching cover for the spare tire.

Experts will check the VIN and confirm that this is an original C-code car, which means a 2-barrel 289 cubic inch V8. However, it was upgraded during the rebuild a few years ago and the block was replaced with a late-model 5.0 (302). The look is identical to the original 289 and if I hadn’t told you, you’d never know the difference. There’s a roller cam inside that helps build torque and nobody ever complains about a few extra cubes. Still topped with a 2-barrel carburetor, it makes great noises and its bubbly, bouncy idle unwinds into a wonderful V8 roar as speed increases, mostly thanks to a recent dual exhaust system. There's plenty of eye candy, including Ford Blue engine enamel, chrome valve covers and air cleaner, and there’s a new radiator up front. Underneath, it is as solid as you’d expect for a California car, and the C4 3-speed automatic transmission and 8-inch rear end with 2.80 gears inside are ideal dance partners, letting the torquey V8 do its thing without getting too busy on the highway. The floors are shockingly clean, so you know this car has never spent a day anyplace there’s snow, which is what you want in your next Mustang. Power steering is also a nice find in an early Mustang, and you’ll note that the system has been rebuilt, there are new suspension bushings, fresh lines and hoses, and numerous other fresh parts underneath. 14-inch steel wheels with traditional Mustang hubcaps are the right choice and carry look racy and carry 205/75/14 whitewall radials.

This is a great-running Mustang coupe with a lot of recent work and a strong engine. Affordable, clean, V8 Mustangs are still around, and you couldn’t duplicate this one for the money. Call today!