I want to pull the trigger... BUT...

[JonT]

I have found the Mustang that I've been looking for. It's a 1966 hardtop. I love all the features (Mustang A/C and Pony Interior) and although a few parts look like they are straight from 1966 (a little rust here and there on the undercarriage), it seems to drive very well and look very nice. I've checked it for Bondo and there appears to be very little. The engine is rebuilt and has 22K miles since the rebuild.

Here are a few questions for you experts -

1) The car needs a cowl cover OR some sort of factory defect repair that I understand is commonplace with 66, 67 and 68 models. How much would this "tweak" cost, roughly?

2) The undercarriage looks ok, aside from a little bit of rust from obvious age - is this something I should worry about? It's nothing huge, just a little bit spotty.

3) If I were to buy this car for around $10K, would I be spending that much more on it in the long run on maintenance alone. To better put it, how expensive is it to maintain one of these cars over a few years time?

4) If I'm self-declared "mechanically challenged" (somewhat), but really want to learn about automobile mechanics, is this a car that is easy to learn on? I want to learn about how the engine works, and I have a good idea about combustion and engine function, but little applied knowledge...

Any and all answers will be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks in advance!!!

 

[65fastback2+2]

Pictures and a vin and dataplate would help.

1. Is the cowl leaking?

2. If its just spotty, sorta like surface rust, you are ok. Check it thoroughly though, maybe people have the frame rusted through where the front of the rear leaf springs bolt in.

3. Depending on how mechanically sound the car is, yes and no. I owned a restored 65 fastback, super condition, and in a year, I still spend $1500 on maintenance.

4. Fairly easy to learn on, and we'll help you. Im 19. Ive done complete suspension to mine, 2 motors (roller motor conversion), fiberglass frontend, and now im considering painting it myself. These old cars have alot of space to work on em, so learning on em requires less patience than learning on a new car.

hope that helps

 

[Tubo(2-bo)]

The classic Mustang is a perfect car to learn auto mechanics on. THEY ARE VERY BASIC. In all the systems, as you add "upgrades" is ususally when the complexity grows. Learn as you go, the cars are easy to maintain. You have a "friend" who can give advice when needed.
To repair a cleaking cowl can be a little expensive, when done properly, and not a learners first project. A little more advanced.

 

[JonT]

Thanks, you guys. That gives me a little more confidence.

 

[Cbarton]

VERY IMPORTANT! Find out if the cowl is leaking. I wouldn't touch it if it is.

Chris

Thanks, you guys. That gives me a little more confidence.

 

[bnickel]

yeah the cowl repair can easily cost a couple grand, it's pretty difficult and if i remember right there are around 180 spot welds you have to cut out and then reweld after the repair is made. it's also the main support structure of the entire unibody, especially the front of the car, we have all seen pics of cars where the cowl was so thoroughly rusted that car literally split in two

 

[gjz30075]

Obviously from the previous posts, you've discovered that your #1 point (how appropo) is the most important to understand. The cowl isn't so much a factory defect, ie, it was the technology of the time, but very prone to rust due to the design, as much of the car is. However, the leaky cowl will accelerate rust elsewhere. You need to pour water down the cowl and make certain the water doesn't enter the car. If it does, you have several options. The best one is to walk away and look for another car. If you decide to buy the car, the cheapest fix is to get a cover for the cowl, sold at many Mustang vendors. The most expensive is to repair it properly and it is a major job, several thousand dollars worth, if you can find someone who can do it. Good luck.

 

[MrBobMarley]

Just by the desription, 10k seems about 5-6k too much for that coupe.

Old stangs are awesome, I've had one since I was 17. I'm 21 now and still going. Lots to learn and have fun with man.

 

[geostang351]

I agree, 10K is too much. More like 5K. Don't get caught on a shiny paint job for his selling point

 

[JonT]

10K too much? I'm seeing cars like this one, but in worse condition, in classifieds all over the place for 12K and up. I had my mechanic look at the car yesterday and he said it was definitely worth the price. He's rebuilt a '67 and is currently working on a '68, and has done me right many times in the past, so I trust him completely.

 

[krash kendall]

I don't think you will find anyone on this site who will support a price of 10K for a '66 coupe without some pictures to evaluate. Nobody here likes to see anyone else taken in on a bad deal.

 

[1320stang]

Also, what part of the country are you in? That has a lot to do with pricing and rust.

 

[84convertablegt]

I don't think you will find anyone on this site who will support a price of 10K for a '66 coupe without some pictures to evaluate. Nobody here likes to see anyone else taken in on a bad deal.

ditto. i agree with krash.
trust me, i got raped on my 65, if only id had the sense or known about stangnet before i bought it. i agree that 10k could be a good price, but could is the key. a 500 dollar maaco paint job can be deceiving, especially to those of us who get real excited when we see a car we want, and are sometimes blind to the obvious problems like 3 inches of fiberglass oozing out of the floor pan (one of my horrors)

 

[Jester67]

One of my favorite quote “ A little bondo and a little pant will make a Mustang what it ant : SD” or something like that .