’66 Mustang GT Convertible VIN 6R09A188999

This is a factory GT 4 speed convertible. Originally finished in Emberglo metallic with a parchment pony interior. Options include power steering and console. I have print photos taken during restoration which show the car’s original colors, GT stripe, trumpet exhaust, etc. The door warranty tag is a replacement but is done with all of the car’s original codes. The left front inner apron was replaced so there is no VIN visible; I pulled the right fender and verified the stamped VIN there.

Paint quality is average to fair, it has been touched up / spotted in here and there, some scratches, etc. The photos make the paint appear better than it actually is. The body outer metal is generally original except for the left rear quarter and lower rear valence, damaged in a parking lot accident in 1995. I have print photos of this damage. The top is new in 2005, a high quality Robbins, professionally installed. The top is manually operated.

This was a California car all its life, until I bought it in Scotts Valley, CA (just outside of San Jose) in the summer of 2004. I have receipts for maintenance / repairs by the first known owner dating back to 1978. My seller got the car in about 1980; I have a California registration issued in his name 7/20/80. He, his brother and father had a “fix up and sell” Mustang business in the ‘80’s. They did two convertibles for themselves, one each for him and his brother to drive in high school. They redid this car in 1987/88 and it was painted in late in 1990. I have many of the receipts for parts and sub-letted labor at that time.

The owner used the car less and less into the ‘90’s as he became older and family considerations took over. The final straw was in 1995 when it failed the CA emissions test and he parked it (see mechanical work description). It sat from 1995 to 2004. It has blue / yellow CA plates #027ZZY, which are from the ‘70’s – early ‘80’s. I suspect that the original black / yellow plates expired, as the car sat unregistered for several years before / during “restoration” and the state DMV compelled the issue of new tags. I have been told that CALTRANS wants these old tags retired and replaced whenever possible, so if an owner lets the registration lapse for some time, they won’t “re-up” the old tag, you have to get a new one. A repair receipt dated 1/27/79 for the first owner shows a mileage of 98,643 and tag #SFC427, which was probably the original “black plate”. The car is presently on a 1996 issued full California title, not a “pink slip”. Mileage is now around 137,000.

This GT needed a lot of mechanical work when I got it, due to it sitting for such an extended period and from previous amateur or production repair shop work. The engine is a replacement block 302 but retains the original ’66 dated 4 bbl Autolite carb and intake.  It had poor compression and we found 4 burned valves. I had the heads pulled and the machine shop do a full rebuild on them. Also installed a new water pump, replaced the rear main seal and oil pan gasket, tuned the engine and set up the carb for proper choke operation. Distributor is a rebuilder’s replacement in 1990. The exhaust system is the original style and in good condition.

A new radiator had been installed shortly before I bought the car.  Elsewhere, I rebuilt the brakes (new lining and wheel cylinders installed  on rear), had the power steering system rebuilt by Rode in Ohio (A specialist rebuilder of Ford power steering systems), and replaced both upper ball joints and one lower control arm. The shifter and entire clutch linkage were rebuilt, including rebushing the pedal support under the dash. I also had the driveshaft balanced to stop a vibration. All lights, signals, horn etc are in working order and the car has passed Pennsylvania state safety inspection. All of the instruments and radio work. Tire are radials, four matched and in good condition. The spare is on a matching styled steel wheel. The car now runs and drives very well.

Original red 1966 seat belts have been installed since the photos were taken. The interior is showing signs of wear but is in generally good condition. I have no photos of the trunk interior, but it has not been detailed. The car also needs an engine compartment clean and detail, as you can see from the photos.

That’s about it. I have this GT priced at $24,500. I have about $5000 in parts/upgrades/repairs, plus the shipping east from CA at around $1000. So, this is like buying your typical “redone” California car for high ‘teens. Not a bad value really, since you don’t have to fly to the west coast to find and buy one – I already did that for you.

Description prepared by Bill Collins on 2/27/06