Where would we be without the Ford Mustang? I won’t say that the Mustang invented the kind of performance we now refer to as “muscle cars” but there’s little doubt that it was a big splash of gasoline on the embers of performance that were quietly heating up in the early ‘60s. Ford (Lee Iacocca in particular) understood that image mattered, but performance would sell cars, so the Mustang got V8 power from the start. Shortly thereafter, as the performance wars heated up, the GT was born, grouping popular options with a sporty attitude and V8 power into one of the most enduring pony cars of all time: the Mustang GT.

The 2+2 or fastback is arguably the purest iteration of the GT, as if the body style was introduced just so it could go fast. And in the world of early Mustangs, the fastback is one of those rare instances where a solid-roof car is worth arguably more than a convertible, simply because out of 607,568 Mustangs built in 1966, only 35,698 were 2+2s. Now, that may seem like a lot, but in the Mustang world, that’s pretty scarce and they’re possibly even more popular today than they were back then.

It is with all that in mind that we proudly present this gorgeous 1966 Mustang GT fastback. It was discovered in a barn in Tennessee in the late ‘80s and while it was tired, it was complete and there was no question that it was a real GT. It was given a high-grade restoration at that time and in 1990, it scored 385/400 points in MCA competition. Since then, it’s been driven about 2400 miles so it’s still in excellent overall condition with no notable issues. The doors fit well, the hood lines up like it should, and the paint is single-stage so it has a correct look that simply glows on the sporty Mustang shape. There are almost no signs that it has been driven, save for a small chip on the leading edge of one of the headlight buckets, but in glancing through the judging sheets, I note that it has been there since shortly after the car was completed. Chrome and stainless is excellent, all of it refinished or replaced when the car was restored and still in excellent shape. Correct GT details include the fog lamps in the grille, trumpet tailpipes through the rear valence, and white stripes along the rockers, plus the requisite GT emblems on the front fenders. All the weather stripping was new when the car was restored, too, and it seals up well and the doors close with a reassuring solidity that is unusual in a vintage Mustang.

The black deluxe “Pony” interior is also correct for this car, and it’s really the best possible choice. Fully loaded with options like a center console, air conditioning, Rally Pac, and a remote driver’s side mirror, this is one well-outfitted pony car. The upholstery, carpets, and door panels were brand new when the car was restored and with just over 2400 miles since then, it’s still in excellent condition. The steering wheel is a nice match to the instrument panel, glove box door, and center console woodgraining, which was part of the Deluxe interior group. All the gauges are fully functional, including the tach, and the Rally Pac clock keeps excellent time. A factory AM radio lives in the dash and still pulls in whatever passes for entertainment on AM radio these days, and both the heat and A/C work as they should. The fold-down rear seat makes the fastback Mustang one of the most practical performance cars you can own and speaking of the trunk, it’s correctly outfitted with a reproduction mat, jack bag, and full-sized spare with matching styled steel wheel.

GTs got the A-code 289 cubic inch V8 as standard equipment. Thanks to a 4-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust, it’s rated at a fairly robust 225 horsepower and makes the lightweight 2+2 a lot of fun to drive. There’s no way to conclusively identify “matching numbers” in an early Mustang like this, but it is a correct 289 that’s been rebuilt to stock specs and detailed for show. When it was first being judged, it wore a correct air cleaner and valve covers, but once it retired from concours competition, it was treated to a Cobra dress-up kit, which is still on it today. The big oval air cleaner and matching finned valve covers look great under the hood and offer a racy contrast to the Ford Blue block. All the little stuff is correct, including a reproduction wiring harness, Autolite 4100 4-barrel carburetor, and a yellow-top ignition coil and reproduction wires. Experts will probably spot the oversized aluminum radiator up front, but it’s been painted satin black to blend in and the extra capacity is definitely welcome with the hot small block engine. Other noteworthy goodies include power steering and front disc brakes, which were standard on the GT.

The engine is linked to a C4 3-speed automatic transmission, which makes this GT a definite ‘grand touring’ car that’s comfortable around town and wonderful on the highway, especially with 3.00 gears out back. The chassis is in good order, although it’s no longer detailed for show. The front suspension feels tight, the brakes are reassuring (even without power assist, which wasn’t available with disc brakes in 1966), and the car goes exactly where you point it without drama. The dual exhaust system has a great V8 rumble without being too noisy, although it hangs a little lower than I think it should, so if you want to pick nits, that’s about the only one on this car. As I said, there are no signs of panel replacements or structural issues, and while everything has been given a light dusting of undercoating, there’s nothing hidden. Gorgeous styled steel wheels look right and carry brand new 205/70/14 blackwall radials, which have less than 100 miles on them.

Documentation includes an album of restoration photos, some receipts, judging score sheets from Mustang Club of America competition, and an article from the October 1990 issue of “Mustang Monthly” magazine.

This car lit up our Facebook page the minute it was posted and there’s no doubt that America is still crazy about the Mustang. Finding a clean, well-sorted fastback like this, not to mention a GT with all the desirable options, is no easy task. The only cars nicer than this arrive at shows in trailers, but given how well this one drives, taking it off the road would be a real shame. One of the nicest early Mustangs we’ve ever seen!