1966 Ford Mustang

While many would argue that their Mustang is the best, there is no denying that this Cherry Red, four-on-the-floor convertible offering is one of the most instantly-recognisable specifications, and looks as if it has just rolled off the set of a big-time Hollywood blockbuster.

Imported into the UK during 1973 by a friend of the famed Mustang dealer Bill Shepherd, the vehicle was restored before being sold to the current vendor by Bill on behalf of the previous owner.

Having been used as a weekend ‘fun’ car and for the occasional wedding, this Mustang has never let the vendor down and has proven to be mechanically excellent throughout their ownership, remaining ‘on the button’ ready for the next owner to enjoy.

Generally speaking, the external condition of this ‘pony car’ is absolutely astounding, and is sure to be a real head-turner no matter where it goes. The lines are all wonderfully straight with even shut lines, and no obvious bodywork issues that we could see during our thorough visual inspection.

That’s not to say it’s entirely perfect; There are a few areas of paint bubbling here-and-there, along with a few more notable marks and stone chips, all of which have been photographed and are available to see in the extensive gallery below.

The wheels are in very good, presentable condition as they sit, though we would recommend a refurbishment to bring them back to their best.

One of the benefits of this Mustang is the power-folding soft-top, and on this example it looks to be in excellent condition and free from any rips or tears, with only minor discolouration noticeable around the base of the plastic rear window.

All the correct badges and icons are present and correct, while keen-eyed viewers will note that the standard exhaust system has been upgraded to a Longlife performance item, which offers a raucous tone at higher RPMs while remaining civil and refined at idle.

Inside, the story is very much the same, with the cabin being in fantastic condition throughout, shrugging off its age and mileage with ease.

The low-backed leather seats and their embossed ‘mustang’ design are all in excellent shape, with no signs of any rips or tears to the material. While there are no issues with the covers, the rear section of the driver’s seat appears to have separated from the frame, though this shouldn’t be too difficult to rectify.

Elsewhere there are a few very minor issues - the tops of the door cards are showing some age-related wear, while the rear driver’s side window winder handle falls off the spline with ease. Some of the chrome switchgear is also exhibiting a typical age-related patina, though this only adds to the story of the vehicle rather than detracting from the overall condition.

As far as we could tell, all the switches and gauges work as they should with no warning lights present on the dashboard. Importantly, the power-folding soft-top is also working perfectly in our experience, with the included tonneau cover for the folded roof being in excellent condition.

Looking underneath, everything looks to be nice and solid, with no real signs of any worries or issues that we can see. This is backed up by a lovely sparkling clean MOT history between 2013 and 2017. Of course, this Mustang is now exempt from mandatory MOT testing on account of its age, though we’d always recommend MOT’ing your classics for peace of mind.

Under the bonnet, the 4.7-litre Ford V8 engine is in excellent visual condition, and takes up a surprisingly small amount of space within the expansive bay.

The block and ancillaries all look to be in great shape, with plenty of chrome detailing which is also in very good condition. From what we can see, there are no fluid leaks or misting to worry about, nor that the vendor is aware of.

Plenty of classics are described as ‘on the button’ but this Mustang really is something else. There is virtually no labour when starting the vehicle, with the initial V8 roar very quickly settling into a smooth idle with a typical V8 burble in the background.

The four-speed manual transmission feels a little slack in its action, though this would be easily rectified with new bushes and perhaps a linkage, and for 94,000 miles a little ‘play’ is to be expected. The transmission itself is wonderfully engaging, with a notable click when your chosen gear is selected. The engine pulls very well throughout the range that we experienced during our short test drive, while the gate for reverse works exactly as intended.

There is certainly no doubting the attention-grabbing nature of this Mustang. Even just driving around the industrial estate where The Market HQ is located, the ‘Stang turned heads wherever it went - whether you’re into cars or not, everyone loves a Mustang!

Unfortunately there is no paperwork available for this car, however, the seller is currently in the process of obtaining a new V5.

The seller has recently moved house and unfortunately all paperwork was lost during the move. This car is described as being one of the best he has ever owned, and it is a great shame that the history has been lost. 

Without a doubt, the Mustang is one of the most iconic cars to ever grace the roads of the world. Not only that, but the first-generation model is one of the best-known and - in our opinion - one of the best-looking, meaning this ’66 Cherry Red example ticks plenty of boxes.

In excellent condition throughout and having clearly been cosseted throughout its lifetime, we’re confident that this Mustang will reach in the region of £20,000 - £25,000 and will undoubtedly provide many more smiles-per-mile for the next owner.

Go on, buy yourself the iconic pony car you’ve always dreamed of!

Viewing is always encouraged. The car is located at our Abingdon headquarters; we are open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’