Ford Mustangs have always been popular, that shouldn’t be a surprise. They are a cornerstone of the hobby and represent an almost universal appeal that most old cars just can’t manage. Everybody who sees a vintage Mustang not only knows what it is, but they probably realize that they want one. So if you’re one of those people who has loved Mustangs for years or that person on the outside looking in, this fantastic 1966 Mustang coupe is a fantastic opportunity. One, it’s reasonably priced. Two, it has a V8 and a manual transmission, so it’s a blast to drive. And three, someone spent a mammoth pile of money restoring it to a level that few coupes ever receive. If you want one of the nicest Mustangs we’ve ever seen, this lovely little coupe more than delivers in every way that matters.

They went by the book when this car was restored in 2014, and that meant keeping the code Y Silver Blue color it wore originally. Of course, it’s now far, far nicer than it was in 1966 when it was delivered to Warren Wooten Ford in Cocoa, Florida. Paint and bodywork were professionally restored by Bonnell’s Rod Shop in Pennsylvania (look them up) and their work is absolutely beautiful. The car retains all its original sheetmetal and since it lived most of its life in Florida, rust was a non-issue when the time for restoration came. The doors close with the kind of precision that we’ve never seen on a Mustang, let alone such an affordable one, the trunk fits beautifully, and everything lines up at least as good as the factory did it. Most of the stainless trim was replaced, along with many of the emblems, so it looks bright and crisp, and the bumpers were re-chromed to look their best. And yes, it comes by those ‘289’ emblems honestly, as this is a factory C-code car.

The interior was likewise completely restored and again, they did it by the book. Many restorers add upgrades that weren’t there when the car was new, but this one carries a set of beautifully re-covered buckets with two-tone blue vinyl seat covers. Interestingly enough, this car was originally ordered with a bench seat, but according to the original invoice it was removed and replaced with buckets before delivery to the first owner. The matching door panels add a bit of contrast and the carpets are new throughout. The steering wheel is black instead of blue, but we’re not positive that the factory wouldn’t have done it that way. All 1966 Mustangs received the GT-style instrument panel with a large central speedometer and smaller auxiliary gauges, and they all work, including the troublesome ammeter. That’s a 3-speed manual transmission which makes this car fun to drive and energetic around town, and with light clutch action anyone can handle it. The only real deviation from stock is a modern digital AM/FM/cassette stereo with speakers on the rear parcel shelf, and that’s a nice upgrade for a car that’s going to be driven. It’s worth noting that most of the glass is new and all the rubber weather-stripping has been replaced, so the car seals up well and feels extremely tight going down the road. There’s also a layer of sound-deadening and insulation under the carpets, so it stays comfortable and quiet inside—this is by far the quietest Mustang we’ve ever driven. The trunk is correctly outfitted with a reproduction plaid mat as well as a full-sized spare tire with matching cover.

The C-code 289 cubic inch V8 under the hood is the car’s original powerplant and has been rebuilt to stock specs. With a 2-barrel carburetor, it still makes 200 horsepower and feels quite torquey around town, yet it’s silky smooth and just hums along almost imperceptibly at speed. A coat of Ford Blue paint makes it look very correct, and little details like the open-element air cleaner, reproduction hoses, and correct hardware certainly help. It’s not at all fussy, usually starting on the first turn of the key and idling smoothly even when it’s cold. A lot of that is thanks to an electronic ignition inside the stock distributor, but someone surely spent a great deal of time tuning the carburetor to get it just right. You’ll understand once you experience it—this one is better than most. On the road it pulls with enthusiasm, but this Mustang’s job wasn’t to shred tires but rather to be quick, comfortable, and stylish transportation and that’s what it does best today. It has no bad habits, it’s quite quick around town, and you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised by the fuel economy if you take it easy on the throttle. This really is a collector car that does everything well.

The aforementioned 3-speed manual transmission helps with the fun-to-drive quotient and with towering 2.80 gears out back, it’s a laid-back cruiser that uses the engine’s ample torque to get things moving. The suspension was fully rebuilt so it feels tight and precise, not loose and sloppy, and the brakes are plenty powerful even without power assist. Everything just works the way you’d expect. There’s a fresh exhaust system underneath, which includes a set of resonators out back that keep it nice and quiet without totally stifling the V8 soundtrack and the upgrade to dual exhaust probably adds a few horsepower, too. New 15-inch styled steel wheels are an inch larger than stock but they sure look great, especially wrapped in brand new 215/75/15 whitewall radials.

This car is heavily documented with the original invoice, the original owner’s loan paperwork, owner’s manuals, title work, and tons of receipts for service over the last 50 years. There’s also a nice display board showing all the interesting documentation, original keys, and a detailed ownership history, including a senator. It’s incredibly rare for a standard Mustang coupe to have been so carefully documented over the years, yet here it is.

You can buy a cheaper Mustang coupe, but you won’t find a better one and you definitely get what you pay for. The quality speaks for itself and the investment in time and money to bring this car to its current condition had to be substantial. It runs and drives beautifully, and that’s where you’ll really fall in love, but it’s also cosmetically excellent in every way, making this a car you’ll be proud to show when you’re not driving it. A fantastic car that’s still much more affordable than almost anything else this well restored. Call today!