You would imagine that, given the inevitable battery takeover of the muscle car segment, an icon like the 1965 Ford Mustang would have no trouble being restored once it gets some attention as a barn find. In reality, though, things are much more complicated, even for a car with a rather solid body like the one we see here.
This 1965 Mustang was recently brought to the Internet’s attention by being included in a massive auction. However, those interested in seeing the vehicle had to make their way through the apparently not-in-one-piece barn accommodating the pony.
An enthusiast known as Patina Pete, who runs the Iron City Garage restoration shop in Pennsilvanya, traveled to Ohio to attend the Kilgore auction that included the Mustang. And, in the video below, he seems surprised to come across the vehicle, which is probably mostly owed to the mix between the aspect of the car and how this appears to be almost buried.
And while the convertible stood out just enough to catch this experienced classic car rescuer’s eye, Pete didn’t bid on the vehicle and fear it wasn’t because he could’ve had fierce competition—here’s the man bringing a rusty Jeep Forward Control tiny truck under the spotlights.
You see, the problem with this car is that, despite its body reportedly still being in good condition, its less-than-stellar spec means most buyers will prefer to invest in more gifted automobiles.
Here’s the spec of the 1965 Mustang Convertible
Sure, this is no entry-level straight-six, but its 289 ci (4.7L) two-barrel carb V8 is nothing to write home about. This 225 hp motor was the standard engine for the Mustang GT, a derivative that was introduced for 1965, the second model year of the OG Mustang. And the three-speed automatic doesn’t exactly help.
Alas, the soft top is gone, and with this no longer protecting the interior, the cabin is not a pretty sight nowadays. Oh, and did we mention the locked engine and the unknown status of the underbody?
In other words, this ’65 Mustang Convertible is going to need a complete makeover. Of course, the financial side of such an operation depends on the desired result.
So while a serious restoration, but with nothing eccentric, will probably cost new Mustang money (the EcoBoost kicks off at around $28,000), there are always six-figure builds that capture everybody’s attention at SEMA and set auction prices through the roof—speaking of which, here’s how the Ringbrothers gave this 1966 Mustang Convertible a new lease on life last month.
