1965 Ford Mustang

2+2 Coupe

289 WE THINK

Automatic

5R09C150065

Clear

Gasoline

It seems that everything I sell on eBay comes with a back story. This one is great. Dare we say Barn Find? In December of 1996 a fellow drove his 1965 Mustang Fastback into his shop and started to change the motor with his teenage son; bonding time. The old one was burning oil and smoked so he purchased a "hot rod" engine from a junk yard to replace it. It is believed that the "new" engine is a 289. They took the old one out, sat the "new" one in, started / fastened a few bolts and stopped for the day. Now, eighteen years later, the teen age son is a father of two and the owner is a grandfather and, realizing he will never finish it, and not happy about the rust that has formed on his previously "beautiful car", and faced with some health issues, and because the son "does not have the time to mess with it", it is now available for purchase on eBay in an effort to find it a good home. There is a photo of it as found buried under nearly two decades of unfinished projects and storage. No one remembers what the engine was supposed to have internally, if they ever knew, just that it "had a big cam, you could hear it" and that it sounded great. I turned the engine over with a wrench, and it does turn free, so I guess it could be used but... The engine sports aluminum valve covers and a 4 barrel manifold and factory exhaust manifolds. The top of the motor has been covered, always, and there are rags stuffed into the carb intake ports and distributor hole. The car is / was V-8 / automatic with AC, and power steering. The trim tag says it should be smoke grey but it is now white. I did not wash it but photographed it just as found; dirty. The right door lock has been punched out and nobody knows why. Looks to me as if someone was trying to get in. The right door panel is off too and I suspect that someone did all of this to make a set of keys; just guessing. All of the glass is good but the windows are hard to crank and need some TLC and lubricant. The front seats are rough and the driver's seat has exploded. The back seat seems to be OK, no holes or exploding materials observed. The car had been kept inside for most of those years but "did spend a couple of winters outside under a tarp" and apparently during that time rust formed in all the usual places; lower back glass at the 1/4 panel (the worst with a hole through the metal- see photo), roof drip rails, bottom of both doors, and around the back glass; see photos. The dash is pristine and has never been cur or modified for later model radio. The radio is a factory A.M. This is a California car all the way originally built in San Jose and, we believe, lived here it's entire life. The owner / seller says he has "owned it for twenty-one or so years" and the title agrees. Consequently all of the underpan is original with no observed major rust. I repeat, all of the uni-body under panels are original with only minor surface rust, no holes or issues observed. Additionally I see no indication that any body panels have ever been worked or repaired and see no bondo; a good steel body. In one photo you will see the hood (good condition) and an air cleaner and radiator and another of the air compressor, an Autolite 4bl carburetor, distributor, power steering pump, fuel pump, alternator and battery tray (with a hole in it) all of which will come with the car. I know there are some brackets and bolts missing. Spare motor; You will also get what we believe to be the original motor. If you are purchasing at a distance and don't want that motor, OK, leave it and we deal with it. The pulleys on the crank are bent anyway; it rolled of of a pallet once. This engine also has 4bl manifold and chrome valve covers. I acquired some good (used) tires and installed them so it rolls around and will load on a trailer or transporter easily. I have a forklift and can load a flat bed without ramps, if needed. The old tires were absolutely trash. I have tried to illustrate the story with the photos but urge any questions before you bid. It is in a storage yard in Spring Valley California, a suburb of San Diego (91977) and is available for inspection by appointment as well, just ask. I can and will attach the hood for shipment to accommodate a distance buyer not personally picking it up. Must be paid for immediately. Thirty days to pick it up, $10 a day storage after that. Clear California title and in Non Op status so no fees are due. The opening bid is the reserve and is based upon an offer already received from a local Mustang shop. The car will sell even if no one bids here. It will not be re-listed. Please don't call and ask to end it early and sell it direct; NO, if you want it...place your bid.On Aug-16-14 at 13:20:23 PDT, seller added the following information: A couple of you have asked for the casting numbers on the block of the extra engine to determine the age etc. In gathering that information I discovered (have been told) that I have listed and described the wrong engine. There are two here and in fairness to everyone who has bid I am going to give the winner BOTH engines. Or at least the option of taking them if you want them; either one or both, winner decides. It is the consensus here that the engine I described with the damaged pulleys and chrome valve covers ( and 4bl Holley carburetor and Edelbrock aluminum manifold not previously described) is not from the subject fastback but a 1966 fastback long since gone. Both engines have the same casting number "C5AE 6015E" but this engines date code is "6E26" which I believe indeed makes it a May 26th 1966 build. Or at least that's what I think the Online decoder is telling me. The other engine, the one we believe actually came out of the car being sold here, bears the date code "4G16". Same casting number, different code. Which makes it a July 16th 1964 block, I think? So how did a July 1964 block get into a car built (I think) in October of 1965? Or am I reading these codes correctly? So, once again, here is the deal; take either one, both, or none, buyers option. I realize some of you trucking a distance may not be able to take the loose engines but once again let me assure you I will work with you to palatalize them or do whatever I can to make it work. And I have a forklift so nobody gets a hernia! The car has an engine in it so you are getting three engines! I have photos of the casting numbers from the two loose / spare engines which I will post if there is an option to add them here. If not contact me and I will attach / forward them accordingly.