A 1965 Ford Mustang rotting away on someone’s property is fighting for a second chance, promising a complete package that paves the way for an easy restoration.
The car is far from a perfect-10 project, though it still seems to check most boxes for a solid candidate. It has an engine, it’s all there, and the rust hasn’t yet turned it into a rust bucket. At least, that’s what I can tell from the shared photos, as the owner didn’t share more specifics, leaving the photos to speak for themselves.
The two-door Mustang made its way to Craigslist to look for a new owner, and the seller says the vehicle comes with everything in place. In plain English, nothing big should be missing, though that’s debatable, and the best way to tell if the information is correct is to inspect the car thoroughly in person.
It’s hard to tell from the photos if the car exhibits major rust problems, but I wouldn’t expect the undersides to be clean. A Mustang sitting outside for years typically has heavy rust issues, so you should assume the floors need replacements.
The under-the-hood part will probably make many people walk away, though it makes sense considering the selling price (more on this in a minute).
The Mustang comes with a six-cylinder engine, but the seller didn’t share more specifics. As a result, you should also assume the engine is not running, though you should hope that the six-cylinder at least turns over by hand. A seized engine is worth nothing on a project car, so if you must bring your engine to restore the car, the restoration costs could be much higher.
The 1965 Mustang was available with a 200 six-cylinder unit rated at 120 horsepower. The new mill was supposed to replace the 170 offered on the 1964 1/2 Mustang and produced 105 horsepower. It was the base unit on the new Mustang, though the car was also available with several V8s, all variations of the 289. The top unit for this model year was the 289 HiPo, which produced 270 horsepower.
Finding a new home for this Mustang should be an easy job, but the car seems to have a hard time convincing a buyer to take it home. The listing went live on Craigslist several weeks ago, and now the owner says they’re also interested in other reasonable offers. The negotiations start at $3,000, with the car currently parked and waiting for a new home in Cicero, New York.
The seller didn’t share more specifics, but you’ll probably need a trailer to take it home, especially as the Mustang doesn’t look road-worthy after the long tenure on the side of the road.