You have Lee Iacocca assistant GM and chief engineer Donald N. Frey to thank for the T-5 project, and he supervised the development of the first generation Mustangs in a stunning 18 months.
While you know it as the Mustang, the T-5 prototype was a two-seat, mid-mounted engine roadster that sprang from the original 1962 Ford Mustang I two-seater concept car. That project evolved into the 1963 Mustang II four-seater concept car, and Ford used it to test how the public would react to the first production Mustang.
The ultimate Mustang was originally based on the platform of the compact, second-generation North American Ford Falcon.
One of the resulting vehicles was the one shown here, a 1965 Mustang GT Coupe powered by a 289ci, A-code V8 paired with a five-speed manual transmission.
The owner says the car was refurbished in 2015, and the project included a full repaint, the rebuilding of the engine, the replacement of all exterior trim, reupholstery of the interior, and the installation of a Tremec transmission to replace the original 4-speed ZF.
Fresh equipment includes 14″ steel wheels, a classic white side stripe, a Rally-Pac style tachometer, and a push-button AM radio. This example should move along rather nicely with additional features like a Pertonix electronic ignition system and reproduction Hi-PO exhaust manifolds, an aluminum
radiator, and 3.55:1 rear gearing.
This Coupe was refinished in two-stage Vintage Burgundy and includes fresh chrome bumpers and window surrounds and dual side mirrors.
Equipped with disc brakes up front, drums in the rear, and a Kelsey Hayes proportional valve, the work completed during the refresh includes lowering the ride height, installing a Monte Carlo bar, and replacing the brake lines, parking brake cable, shocks, suspension bushings, upper and lower control arms, end links, wheel bearings and axle bearings.
Reupholstered black vinyl bucket seats and a replacement dashboard, door panels, and carpeting means the interior is fine indeed.
A three-spoke steering wheel and a 140-mph speedometer, Rally-Pac style tachometer and analog clock, and gauges for fuel, oil pressure, amperage, and coolant temperature are part of the package as well.The odo shows 55k miles, but the seller says the total mileage is unknown.
This Mustang features an ‘A-code’ 289 ci V8 with a 1965 stamping date. The seller says it was bored over 0.030″ and rebuilt using replacement pistons, valves, valve springs, valve seats, hardened pushrods, roller-tip rockers, and a double roller timing chain.
Fuel is supplied by an Autolite 4100 4-V carburetor and a rebuilt Carter fuel pump.According to Bring a Trailer, you’ve got just under a week to bid on this excellent example of the Mustang and the current price is north of $13,000 USD.