C-code 289 cubic inch V8, power steering, automatic transmission. Attractive color combination. Very clean and solid car. Never hit or wrecked. Runs and drives very well with recent service. A fun Mustang for not a lot of cash!

Ford’s versatile Mustang has been a lot of things to a lot of people over the years, and that’s probably why it remains one of the most popular collector cars of all time. They’re easy to drive, easy to fix, and universally loved. Nobody sees a Mustang like this 1965 coupe and says, “Nah, I don’t like that.” The fact that they were inexpensive and fast certainly helped sales, but it also meant that a great many early Mustangs were abused, neglected, and just plain used up, so you have to look pretty carefully at the car you’re buying to see where its history might have taken a turn for the worse. This one seems to have lived a good, clean life where it was always loved. Code Y Silver Blue always looks right on a Mustang, giving it a more sophisticated look than its price would suggest. And if you take the time to look it over, you’ll see nice bodywork with straight panels, good alignment, and an attractive shine to the older paint job that looks like someone cared about doing a good job. There are a few chips and signs of use, but nothing serious that takes away from the car’s honest look. The chrome and stainless trim is in good condition, the glass is clear, and it has never been wrecked or disassembled so it feels robust going down the road. This really is a nice little car.

The interior wears recent seat covers that look right, as well as new matching door panels and reproduction carpets. The seats are firm and comfortable, and there’s a custom center console that includes some storage and a pair of cup holders—a great addition. The three-spoke steering wheel is in excellent condition and it frames a set of 1965 gauges, with the wide speedometer and auxiliary gauges in round pods at each end. There’s also a newer Kenwood AM/FM/cassette stereo head unit in the original radio’s slot, but nothing was cut or modified to make it fit, which is nice. It’s worth noting that this car originally carried a 3-speed manual transmission, but it was converted to a C4 3-speed automatic when the owner decided it would be easier to drive (the original 3-speed manual parts are included with the car). The back seat is in equally nice condition, and it appears that much of the rubber weatherstripping was replaced at some point in the not-too-distant past. There’s also an excellent headliner overhead. The trunk is correctly finished with a plaid mat and full-sized spare tire that might just be the original.

The 289 cubic inch V8 is a C-code, which includes a 2-barrel carburetor under the big air cleaner and about 200 horsepower on tap. It’s smooth and torquey but not fussy or peaky, and it pulls the lightweight coupe around with genuine enthusiasm. It’s finished in Ford Blue paint with gold tinwork, and you can see a lot of recent work, including a fresh water pump, new radiator, and recent tune-up parts. It starts easily and runs great, and given that the hardware proved itself decades ago, you should never think twice about getting in and hitting the road. The 289 is linked to the aforementioned C4 3-speed automatic transmission and it shifts like it should. You’ll note the extremely solid undercarriage, which is due to a lifetime away from winter weather, and it carries a great-sounding dual exhaust probably adds a few horsepower over the C-code’s original single exhaust. The torque boxes are solid (the beauty of a C-code car is that it’s not really powerful enough to hurt anything), the seam under the rockers still shows its original spot welds, and the floors are in excellent condition. 2.80 gears in the rear axle mean this is a great driver that feels equally at home around town or cruising the interstate. Traditional 14-inch steel wheels with wire hubcaps are exactly the right choice and carry 205/70/14 Goodyear radials of indeterminate age.

Extras include the 3-speed manual transmission, bellhousing, flywheel, clutch and other parts removed when the automatic transmission was installed. There’s also a spare radiator and some other small items.

If you love Mustangs, this one will make you smile. It drives well, it’s affordable, and there’s a lot more than the asking price wrapped up in it. The car works like it should and the fact that it has lived such an easy life is only a bonus. Time to start having fun. Call today!

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