1965 Ford Mustang Fastback 2+2 Coupe

Description

Ford General Manager Lee Iacocca chose “Mustang” over the planned name “Cougar” because “it had the excitement of wide-open spaces.” It was a great call; Ford’s pony captured the imagination of the buying public like no automobile before or since. Unveiled on 17 April 1964 in Hardtop and Convertible versions — with the Fastback 2+2 body arriving in August 1964 — it was simply the greatest new car launch in history.

Iacocca’s brainchild was a brilliant combination of humble Ford Falcon underpinnings with a long-hood, short deck coupe. The car was based around a strong, lightweight unibody with multiple bracing, minimal brightwork, and a European style recessed sporty grille that still looks just right. Iacocca’s aim was a car that cost $2,500, weighed 2,500 pounds, and could carry four people, and he accomplished that; the base six-cylinder hardtop coupe with a three-speed manual gearbox cost $2,320 and weighed 2,449 pounds. More power and more room cost more, of course, but even then, the V8-powered Fastback came in at a reasonably priced $2,639 and 2,943 pounds.

This 1965 Mustang Hardtop Fastback 2+2, powered by a 289 cu-in V8, was originally equipped with a three-speed manual transmission, but it was swapped for a four-speed gearbox while undergoing a full restoration in the late 1990s/early 2000s.

Highlights 

• First-year 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback 2+2 Coupe 

• Finished in Vintage Burgundy paint over White Crinkle Vinyl interior 

• Powered by a 289 cu-in V8 rated at 225 horsepower and 305 lb-ft of torque

• Service performed 3 June 2024 included: 

  • New water pump 

  • New valve covers and gaskets 

  • Fresh antifreeze and oil 

  • Parking brake adjustment 

• Full rotisserie restoration in the late 1990s/early 2000s included: 

  • Rebuilt 289 four-barrel V8 engine (74,000 original miles but was rebuilt at 65,000 miles) 

  • Steel valve seals installed for unleaded fuel 

  • Transmission swap from three-speed manual to new four-speed manual 

  • Clutch upgraded 

  • New GT exhaust 

  • All hoses, bushings, and bolts replaced 

  • New leaf springs, shocks, universal joints, rear shackles, adjustable rear air suspension 

  • Upgraded to four-wheel disc brakes 

  • New gas tank 

  • 10 coats of exterior paint (primer plus five base/five clear) 

  • Hand-sanded and rubbed out 

  • Polyurethane undercoating 

  • New reproduction valance front and back 

  • New Ford bumpers front and back 

  • New gas cap, taillight lens, headlights 

  • New exterior chrome items including door handles and emblems 

  • Scott Drake Legendary Wheels 17-inch alloy rims

  • New upholstery, door panels, dash pad, carpet, sound deadener (carpet underlay) replaced to original factory condition 

  • New headliner, kick panels, and trim 

  • All interior metal was repainted and clear coated 

  • Interior chrome refinished or replaced 

  • New reproduction data tag with all original information 

  • All new weather stripping for doors, windows, and trunk 

  • New trunk pad 

• The chassis number (5F09C384677) decodes as: 

  • 5 – 1965 model year 

  • F – Dearborn, Michigan, assembly plant 

  • 09 – Two-door fastback 

  • C – 289 cu-in, two-barrel carb V8 

  • 384677 – Sequential production number

• Ford trim plate decodes as: 

  • Body: 63A – Two-door fastback with standard bucket seats 

  • Color: X – Vintage Burgundy 

  • Trim: D6 – White Crinkle Vinyl 

  • Build date: 30M – 30 December 1964 

  • DSO: 55 – St. Louis district 

  • Axle: 1 – 3.0 gear ratio 

  • Transmission: 1 – Three-speed manual 

Features 

• AutoMeter Sport-Comp Tachometer mounted on steering column 

• Bucket seats 

• Seat belts 

• Wood, three-spoke steering wheel with Mustang logo  

• Dash instrumentation: 

  • 120 mph speedometer/odometer 

  • Battery 

  • Oil pressure 

  • Coolant temperature 

  • Fuel level 

• Manual windows 

• Vent windows 

• Push-button door locks 

• Courtesy lights 

• Mustang floor mats 

• Fold-down 2+2 seats offer expanded rear storage  

• Falken Ziex 225/45R17 94W tires 

• Wheelbase: 108 inches 

• Length: 181.6 inches 

• Width: 68.2 inches 

• Height: 51.2 inches 

• Weight: 2,943 pounds 

• Fuel tank: 13.3 gallons 

• Original MSRP: $2,639 ($26,373 today) 

Known Imperfections 

• Paint chips on driver’s front fender near hood, otherwise this 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback 2+2 Coupe is presented in fine restored condition with no known imperfections at the time of cataloging 

 Included 

• Spare tire 

• Jack 

• Owner’s manual 

• Restoration binder with photos. parts list, and owner history since new 

• Second set of full-back Procar white leather seats for front 

• Car show trophies 

Ownership History

This six-owner 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback was built 30 December 1964 and delivered to its original owner the following month, and he drove the car as a secondary vehicle until 1995 (61,600 miles). The Mustang's second owner, a car collector, commissioned an 18-month rotisserie restoration, taking it down to bare metal and acid washed the frame. The restoration was witnessed by the president of the Illinois Mustang Association, who wrote a letter for the restoration binder stating, “The attention to detail is exceptional. The quality of the restoration appears substantially better than average.” The Mustang’s third owner, from Canada, bought it as a show car in 1997 with 63,055 miles on the odometer and kept it until 2001, when he was forced to sell it due to health issues. The fourth owner showed the car for 14 years before selling it (with 70,727 miles on the clock) to a Mustang collector who already had eight pony cars. The consignor, a car collector who lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, purchased it in 2021 and keeps it on a lift when he isn’t driving it.

Additional Notes

Lot is being sold/offered with an international document, and it will be the buyer's responsibility to obtain a U.S. title.