About to buy a 66, need help...

"Cancer" and surface rust are two diferent problems and are often found in old Mustangs. Of more concern is cowl rust that allows water to leak onto the carpets and cause other problems including MORE rust.

To test for cowl rust, run a garden hose into the cowl vent (between the windshield and the hood) and watch where the water goes. If it runs into the passenger compartment and onto the carpet, you have cowl rust. Dificult and expensive to repair.

As to the interior, if is complete with all the Pony features and the data plate (driver;s side door) shows a "B"as 66B, it is likely an original "Pony" interior. If the interior shows some wear, it is even more likely original. If the proper door and kick panels, door and window handles are missing or the interior is like new" chances are it has been redone from a "standard" interior.

$6K should buy a pretty nice car with good, but not excellent cosmetics and there should be no obvious mechanical needs. Tires, brakes and suspension, etc. should be excellent but not exceptional.

See ALL of the "Timeless Wisdoms" (below).

check to see if the drivers door has a data plate. If it does copy all the info and see how it matches against the car, ie color code, trans type. VIN on the data plate should match the vin on the dash. If the data plate is gone, or the info doesnt match the car, then most likely the door came from a junkyard car and is not original. Keep in mind most 35 year old cars have gone thru changes and are not totally original. Yet the sellers always claim they are. Buyer Beware. Check this website for the codes and see how the match against your car. The engine casting number is located on the block near the starter.

http://www.mustangdecoder.com/cgi-bin/decoder.pl

or

http://www.mustangsandmore.com/ubb/FordTechData.html