From the Classifieds: 1965 Ford Mustang

The first Ford Mustangs to go on sale in Australia were more show ponies than pony cars.

Imported in limited numbers from the US in 1965 and converted to right-hand drive at Ford’s Homebush plant in NSW as part of a drive by Ford Australia to promote the upcoming XR Falcon, the hardtop Mustang coupes, compared with what was to come in following years, were pretty mild.

Driven by Ford’s 289 cubic-inch Windsor V8 feeding through a three-speed auto gearbox, the five-seat Mustang coupe was used to preview what was to be Australia’s first V8-powered Falcon – and the first Falcon GT.

The decision to go for a V8 Mustang, rather than one of
the six-cylinder options, was pretty much a no-brainer. It underlined what was then the Mustang’s basic essence as an ‘affordable’ coupe, which was less a sports car than a neat, compact and attractive adaptation of a sensible family sedan: In this case, the Ford Falcon.

Though its origins were humble, the Mustang’s persona was more individual than, say, the also two-door hardtop Falcon that was released locally in the same year.

The Mustang showed the first signs of the things that would come to identify the pony car genre: A long bonnet, short tailed look that sat mid-way between two-door two-seat sportsters such as GM’s fiberglass-bodied Chevrolet Corvette and the Mustang’s more-expensive stablemate, the ever-expanding Ford Thunderbird.

The same elements created pony cars such as Chevrolet’s Camaro, the Chrysler Valiant-based Plymouth Barracuda, Dodge’s Challenger and even the Rambler Javelin that was sold here in the 1960s and 1970s.

Because it was essentially a re-imagined Falcon, the original Mustang was put together from a readily-accessible parts bin and the first cars to come here used some existing components from locally-built Fords such as the Falcon steering box.

In addition to the 289 Windsor V8, the local cars came with front disc brakes, heavy-duty suspension and an interior that avoided family connotations with a full-length centre console and padding on the instrument panel and sun visors. There were no alloy wheels though, just regular wheel trims.

The limited-build Australian Mustang was tagged at $2895 in 1965, just $755 more than a standard-spec XM Falcon.

Despite their conservative specifications, the original Australian Mustangs are prized property today and are as scarce as hen’s teeth.

The good thing is that there’s any number of original models that have been imported into Australia, some converted to right-hand drive and most in the sort of condition you’d expect of any committed Mustang aficionado.

Prices tend towards affordable and fluctuate minimally, with $60,000 tending to represent the high end.

This pale blue 1965 coupe based in Corrimal NSW and offered for private sale at $59,500 is a good example of the breed.

It’s still left-hand drive, but shows a low-for-age speedo reading of 48,000 miles and has been kept in original condition to the point that the original seat-instalment papers are still tucked behind the rear seat.

The 1965 Ford Mustang coupe comes with a roadworthy certificate and is registered until October 2020. The stated price is negotiable.

With the Mustang’s recent market resurgence as a backdrop, any well-presented version of the original model would at the very least be a reasonably sound investment.

See previous carsales From the Classifieds