• Comprehensively restored inside and out

 • Rally-Pac option

 • 289 cu in small block V8

 • Restoration photos

 • UK Registered

The Ford Mustang's popularity cannot be overstated; it was conceived amid a period of American social change, and its appeal was bolstered by a period of economic growth. Ford, by creating a new class of car, known as the Pony car, offered the public a perfect allrounder; a luxurious, economical (for the time) performance coupe for the aspirational customer. The Mustang remained largely unchanged for its first 4 years of production, with the 1966 model often being recognised as the favoured model year. Customers could personalise their new Mustang, choosing from at least 70 potential options. A masterclass in Ford's clever marketing, which resulted in record sales and accounted for a quarter of Ford US sales that year.

This 1966 model was built as a base model hardtop coupe and is powered by a powerful 289 cu in (4.7-litre) small-block V8. With the addition of the rare 'Rally-Pac' factory option that combines the clock and tachometer affixed to the steering column, the car has been fully restored to retain all of the '66 model year specific detail. The car is registered for use in the UK and is ready to stop people in their tracks.

 • Photographic record of the restoration

 • V5 and Nova included

Imported into the UK last year, this 1966 car was one of a pair imported by the owner. It comes with its V5 and NOVA certificate to confirm it has cleared tax and import duty requirement. The car was restored from the ground up in the United States, with two photo books documenting the process. This includes a bare metal respray, after replacement panels and rust removal. 

The 289 cubic inch engine and 4-speed transmission have been rebuilt, along with the brakes and suspension. The interior too has been refitted but retains much of its original dashboard jewellery. The exterior chrome trim is correct for this model, with most of the original brightwork having seen replating.

The current owner has a passion for older cars and was captivated by the striking purposeful handsome styling of the Mustang and its intoxicating V8 power, but has admitted that the car isn’t being used as much as it should be, as he balances other projects and priorities. 

 • Fully retrimmed interior

 • Seats are as new

 • Original dials and controls

The interior has been restored to a high standard, with no argument in terms of the quality of work carried out. The seats have clearly been professionally retrimmed, as a result, retain a good firmness and betray the age of the car. The carpets are in good shape, with no signs of dampness throughout. It also comes with a pair of Mustang motif front mats.

The dashboard is in excellent shape, with no cracks or wear on the top of the facia, with minor age-related wear noted on the lower sections. The bezels on the five dial cluster instruments are in good shape, including the neat ‘Rally-pac’ steering column-mounted clock and tachometer. The dials, controls and switches have been well preserved and all are said to work. The offside hand operated front window and rear glass mechanisms require a knack to lower and raise, and may need investigation but do operate. The steering wheel and Hurst labelled gear lever are in very good shape, with just the rubber gaiter displaying a tear.

The headlining is clear from damage or rips and the door cards are free from scuffs and are well mounted on the doors. The attention to details runs through the car which also includes the boot floor cover that matches the jack and spare wheel jackets. 

 • Body subject to full bare metal respray

 • High-quality paint finish

 • Magnum 500 alloy wheels

The car's structure is in excellent shape, with very little in terms of drawbacks to point out. The floor pan is solid, with a visual check on the suspension mounts, chassis rails, outer sills, inner wings or the engine bay all looking intact. Similarly, as expected for a car that has seen a high level of restoration, the scuttle plate and windscreen area, boot and passenger door wells, tailgate panels and wings are all in good shape. The Mustang like many cars of the era suffered from decades of neglect and rust, so the photo-documented restoration should put any potential buyer's mind at ease. 

The only noteworthy issue was the observation of minor blemishes spotted under the nearside door. The body panels have been well placed, with evidence of even panel gaps throughout. The car is free from panel damage, with the exception of a minor (but treatable) dent noted on the offside rear wing, otherwise, the presentation is in excellent shape. The off-side passenger door is a little stiff, but all opens and close without too much effort. 

The bonnet and boot springs and hinges are well up to their task. What can we say about the striking yellow paint? It has been well applied, and there is no evidence of uneven coverage, runs or mismatched colouring. It retains a deep shine throughout, with no damage other than a small chip observed on the off-side headlamp trim.

The trim including the chrome work and bumpers is in great shape, with not much more than a little age noted on the sill items. The car was originally restored with a colour-coded Mustang horse and corral emblem, but the owner has also included an original unpainted item ready to be fitted. The grille has been painted black to keep with the black and yellow colour scheme, which, combined with the decent vinyl roof, really helps set the car apart. The badging, fuel cap and three forward-thrusting bars are all the correct items for the ’66 model year.

The glass is in good shape and has a black tint applied to it, but according to the owner the interior visibility is not compromised at all. The glass is free from any damage. The lights, lenses and backup rear lamps are all clean and all are free from damage. The Magnum 500 alloy wheels are in excellent shape, with no wear or signs of road damage. The BF Goodrich tyres are all around 10 years old, but display even wear and all are well within the legal limits. 

 • Rebuilt 289 cu in V8 Engine and gearbox

 • Suspension and brakes overhauled

The engine and 4-speed gearbox, along with much of the running gear have been subject to a rebuild and is believed to have not covered too many miles since then. The car starts up every time without hesitation, firing up those eight pistons like clockwork. During a short drive, it ran well on the day with no observations of leaks, misfiring or unwanted noises. The oil pressure remained stable with no issues noted in terms of the engine coolant. 

The V8 burble is noticeable around town but is surprisingly suppressed at lower speeds, the owner has pointed out that the heavy steering and clutch are typical characteristics of the car, but soon become easier to manage as the car picks up pace. At town speeds, no vibrations were noted on the steering wheel as the car braked, with no squeals or juddering evident while the brakes were applied. The ride was balanced, with no knocking or thuds noted from the suspension and no substantial grinding coming from the differential. 

The engine ran smoothly throughout, with no excessive exhaust smoke other than the usual cold engine condensation. The visual condition of the 289 cu in V8 block is aligned to its rebuilt status, with the engine presenting itself like an ideal candidate to be shown off at a show, with the blue block contrasting neatly with the yellow ancillaries and piping. The exhaust is in excellent condition, with no signs of leaks at all. These well-proven and robust Mustang blocks, in addition to their reputation for ease of servicing and maintenance, are just one of the many benefits of owning one of these cars. 

Noted for their comfortable and easy driving experience, the Mustang's sturdy power plants and good parts availability also help make it a surprisingly easy car to live with, making these striking cars a lot of sense as weekend classics. 

The Mustang spawned a slew of knockoffs, but as is so frequently the case, the original is the one that counts. This car is the real deal as an out-of-the-box restored icon with lots of pulling power. Accept no imitations!