How long does it take for a neglected classic to become a rust bucket? Well, it pretty much depends on where it’s parked. Full exposure to the elements will ruin it in just a few years, while a barn would provide better cover and prolong its life.
However, long-term barn storage is far from ideal. These wooden buildings aren’t fully insulated, and they rarely have solid floors, so cars tend to deteriorate rather significantly in 10 to 20 years. Moreover, barn-kept vehicles often become homes to rodents, which build nests inside the cabin and under the hood.
But while most barn finds emerge back into the light as rigs that are way too expensive to restore, some manage to soldier on through more than four decades of neglect with minor damage. The 1966 Ford Mustang Convertible you see here is one of those very lucky cars.
Discovered by YouTube’s “Life’s Endeavors,” this first-generation Mustang was parked and walled in a barn in 1979. There’s no info on why it was retired so early, but it sat there until the owner had to move and clear the estate. All told, this pony hasn’t seen daylight in about 44 years.
That’s long enough to turn a steel classic into a pile of junk, but this Mustang somehow managed to survive without significant rust issues. The exterior is pretty much rust-free at first glance, while the soft top is still in one piece.
Once out of the barn, the Mustang got a much-deserved cleaning that revealed an Antique Bronze paint that still shines. And yes, that’s the original paint that was applied a whopping 57 years ago as of 2023. The interior, on the other hand, was packed with rat nests. And all the moisture caused by the rodent infestation left a few rust holes under the carpets.
Fortunately, floor panels are easy to repair. And given that the exterior is in good shape, this Mustang won’t require a massive cash injection to become road-worthy again. The inline-six engine under the hood will probably need a rebuild to run again, though.
But is this Mustang one of those ponies we don’t see very often? Well, the nameplate moved a whopping 607,568 units in 1966, so the answer would be no. However, the soft top makes it rarer than the average 1966 Mustang because only 72,119 cars left the assembly line like this.
I guess the color and the base engine would narrow that figure significantly, but this Mustang still wouldn’t become a scarce classic. Even so, it’s a noteworthy find that hopefully will become someone’s labor of love.