1966 Ford Mustang

Finished in its original colour of Sahara Beige, this 1966 Ford Mustang arrived in the UK in 2015 – and ‘KRH 106D’ arrived with a good history too, which means we know it was built in Dearborn and supplied to its first owner by Jerry Hays Ford Inc. of Independence in Missouri.

This sort of detail was important to the couple; as her husband used to say, “You can change anything on a car except its history!” and we suspect they were attracted to the romance of owning a classic Mustang after driving the length of Route 66 in a modern one.

As for this first generation 289 Mustang, it was ordered with the Rally Pac, power steering, power roof, a centre console, and Luxury seats that incorporate mustang ponies embossed on them.

It arrived here in 2015 after being sourced by Gateway Classics, a firm many of you will be familiar with. They found it for a chap in Oxford, and the seller has a letter saying the first UK owner didn’t use it much – and never in the rain.

The 97,000 miles shown on the odometer is, the seller tells us, believed to be genuine and they’re only the Ford’s 4th keeper too, which is remarkable for a car that’s creeping up on its 60th birthday.

Almost as remarkable as its condition, which, after some initial “minor renovation” when they bought it, is still very original and unmodified. Mind you, it has been kept in a dehumidified and heated garage alongside their Jaguar XK150, which we are also selling. 
 

Sahara Beige (paint code H) is not an obvious colour for the Mustang, but it is one that makes a very positive first impression – and that impression only grows stronger the more time you spend with it.

Not least because it elevates it above the herd. It reeks of Old Money too, and is authentic in the same way Frank Bullitt’s green one was; this is a car that was bought to be enjoyed, not to show off in.

As a result, it makes even more of an impression on passersby, and the seller tells us that she and her husband enjoyed many conversations about it over the years.

A large part of its appeal to complete strangers must have been its condition, which is notable; with good shutlines, great panel alignment, and no significant dents, scrapes, or ripples, it’s a real survivor – but then the history file suggests it’s always led something of a charmed life among folk who appreciated what they’d got and treated it accordingly.

It may have had paint at some time, but if it has it has been done very well as we can’t see any significant flaws in the way it was applied, either by Ford or at any later stage if it has been refreshed; what we can say with certainty is that it has been kept very nicely polished over the years, and presents very well indeed.

The lamp lenses are bright and free of damage, the badges are shiny and nicely preserved, and the chromework is excellent, with hardly any tarnishing or pitting.

The black-and-chrome wheels are free of damage, and they’re shod with whitewall Hankook Kinergy ST tyres in 195/75R14. The chrome wheel nuts are very good, as are the centre caps; even the valve covers feature the pony logo.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

The roof rises and falls at the touch of a button thanks to the original owner ponying up for the power roof.

It’s in a good condition too; while it might be a little grubby in places, it is completely free of rips, tears, and other damage. The plastic rear screen is also clear and free of cracks.

The Mustang also comes with a matching cover for the furled roof, which helps tidy up the Mustang’s profile when the roof is down. The rear window can also be unzipped.

Other nice touches include a retaining wire for the beautifully designed fuel filler cap, a Mustang Owners Club sticker in the windscreen, chrome trims around the front foglamps, and tailpipes that poke out from chrome-rimmed apertures in the rear bodywork – and, of course, they align beautifully.

As for flaws, there are a few light chips at the trailing edge of the nearside rear wing, and the boot doesn’t align as neatly on the offside as it does the nearside. That’s it. 
 

The Parchment and Palamino (trim code F9) is as wonderfully quirky as the coachwork – and every bit as well preserved.

The Luxury seats had sufficient showroom appeal to persuade the car’s first owner to write an even bigger cheque, and that appeal hasn’t waned; even 59 years later they still have enormous charm thanks to a simple design, hefty chrome hardware, and those wonderful embossed wild ponies.

Not forgetting their condition, which is as remarkably good as everything else we’ve mentioned. Free of cracks and rips, they’ve weathered six decades with impressive aplomb and are still free of anything even close to a significant crease; say what you like about pleather but there’s no doubting its resilience.

The faux wood trim is also excellent, and its use extends to the transmission tunnel, glovebox, and door handles as well as the dashboard.

The carpets are also beyond criticism, as are the door cards and rear quarter trim panels.

The dashboard places the speedometer directly in the driver’s line of sight, with fuel and oil gauges to the left, with an ammeter and a coolant temperature gauge to the right.

The Rally Pac brings a tachometer and a clock mounted to the steering column, with the former reading up to 6,000rpm and the latter incorporating 24-hour markings.

Other Easter eggs include a nicely labelled brake pedal, front seats that pivot inwards to facilitate entry and egress to the rear seat, a neatly integrated radio, and the factory labels inside the glovebox.

The boot still features its plaid lining, and plays host to a full-size spare wheel, jack, and toolkit. The tyre fitted to the steel wheel is a brand-new Uniroyal, and the boot lid still has the instructional label stuck to it.  

As for flaws, the deep-dish wheel has a crack in its rim, but once that’s sorted, you’d be the proud owner of one of the nicest steering wheels of any era. 
 

The small-block 289 cu in engine bursts into life with enthusiasm, and if the  4.7-litre V8 is a bit loud isn’t that exactly what you want from your mid-sixties muscle convertible?

The seller tells us that it “never let us down” and was a firm favourite at events like the Goodwood Revival, where they appreciated the huge boot that provided plenty of space for their luggage.

It was, she tells us, her husband’s pride and joy and holds so many precious memories that she’d be reluctant to sell it if she didn’t live in an area with so many tight country lanes.

As for the cosmetics, the engine bay has been as exquisitely detailed as everywhere else. The blue air filter casing, engine block, and rocker covers set the scene, with smaller details like the FoMoCo washer fluid reservoir and coolant hoses demonstrating that no corners have been cut in maintaining it.

It’s workmanlike too, with the top of the front dampers peeping into the engine bay and very good labelling throughout. Pop the bonnet in any company and stand back and enjoy the inevitable compliments.

The battery dates to 2017, so we wouldn’t be surprised if that needs changing but that’s about all we can spot in the engine bay that’ll need your attention.

The underside has been as well maintained as everything else we’ve mentioned, and while we don’t have any recent online MoT history to guide us, what we’ve inspected seems solid and free of structural rot. 

Whilst driving the car for photography we noted that the ignition barrel is quite worn, so much so that we're not now trying to start it. Upon removing the barrel it is evident to that this has happened previously, as the barrel itself is showing signs of old glue residue. A new barrel has been ordered and will be fitted prior to collection.  Please see pictures of the old one at the bottom of the photo gallery.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the marker for being an imported car, and the history file includes the importation paperwork and some old MoT certificates.

More importantly it still has the original paperwork from Jerry Hays Ford, the supplying dealer, as well as the Owner Card, Firestone Wheel Alignment Policy document, the warranty for the tires and battery, and even some maintenance invoices dating back to 1970.

The Mustang also comes with a few spares, a Glovebox Guide to resources for owners of American cars in the UK, and a Haynes repair manual.

It doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies… 
 

Whereas many Mustangs have been “improved’ over the years until they resemble Elvis during his Vegas years, this is the OG; Elvis as he was, slim-hipped, understated, and as sexy as hell.

Largely original too and given it’s an early car – and the earliest iteration of any model usually draws the greatest attention – we expect this one to attract an awful lot of committed bidders.

Even so, you might be surprised to learn that our estimate is only between £25,000 and £30,000, which might make this one surprisingly affordable. 

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.