27-Years-Owned 1966 Ford Mustang Convertible 289

This 1966 Ford Mustang convertible was sold new by Barnes-Kotler Ford of Brooklyn, New York, to an Avis Rent-a-Car location in Plainview, New York. The car was refurbished around 1992, and the seller bought it in 1998. Powered by a 289ci V8 paired with a three-speed automatic transmission, the vehicle is finished in Vintage Burgundy with a black soft top over black vinyl upholstery. The engine has been bored .020″ over and modified with an Edelbrock four-barrel carburetor, Cobra-branded valve covers, a PerTronix ignition coil, an aluminum radiator, and an auxiliary electric cooling fan. A GT-style rear valance and dual exhaust system have been adapted, and the car also features styled steel 14″ wheels, power steering, front bucket seats, and a Pioneer stereo. The seller tells us that the vehicle was recently brought out of 15 years of dry storage, and the brakes need work and an engine mount may require replacement. The front suspension and the steering were rebuilt in mid-2025, and the brakes were overhauled. The tires were replaced, the PerTronix ignition was installed, and the oil was changed in preparation for the sale. This C-code Mustang is now offered in Rhode Island with manufacturer’s literature and Connecticut registration in the seller’s name.

Finished from the factory in Vintage Burgundy (X), the car was repainted in lacquer in the mid-1990s, according to the seller. The power-retractable black convertible top was replaced under current ownership. A GT-style rear valance has been adapted, and it encompasses dual exhaust outlets. “289” badges have been added, and other features include chrome bumpers, bright trim, a driver-side mirror, rocker-panel moldings, reverse lights, and a black top boot. The seller notes that the paint is cracked behind the convertible top, touched-up chips are found on multiple panels, the middle portion of the hood is wavy from metal shrinkage, and the finish exhibits various other imperfections. Bubbling paint is evident in the lower-front corners of the doors.

Styled steel 14″ wheels are mounted with 205/70 BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires; the wheels are reproduction items manufactured in 1992, the seller tells us, and the tires were replaced in preparation for the sale. The power-steering system was rebuilt with components from Lares Corporation in mid-2025, and the front suspension was overhauled around the same time using components from Moog Suspension Parts. The suspension has been updated with a 1″ front sway bar, heavy-duty rear springs, and KYB Gas-A-Just shocks all around. The four-wheel drum brakes were overhauled in October 2025, although the seller states that they may not be suitable for regular use at highway speeds.

The cabin features front bucket seats and a rear bench that have been retrimmed in black vinyl. A Bluetooth-compatible Pioneer CD head unit mounted below the dash is wired to Boston Acoustics 4″ speakers located under a central speaker grate; an aftermarket Mustang-branded AM/FM/eight-track stereo installed in the dashboard has been disconnected. Appointments include lap belts, a cabin heater, vent windows, sun visors, black carpeting, and floor mats.

The three-spoke steering wheel frames a 140-mph speedometer and gauges for fuel level, oil pressure, amperage, and coolant temperature. The five-digit odometer shows 20k miles; approximately 30k miles have been added under current ownership, and true mileage is unknown.

The 289ci V8 was rebuilt around 1999 and bored .020″ over, the seller states. The engine has been modified with the following components:

• Cast-iron four-barrel intake manifold
• Edelbrock Performer 1406 four-barrel carburetor
• K&N open-element air cleaner
• Cobra-branded finned valve covers
• All Classic Parts three-row aluminum radiator
• Flex-A-Lite electric pusher fan with automatic control
• Fan shroud
• PerTronix Flame-Thrower ignition coil
• Dual exhaust system

The PerTronix ignition was installed in preparation for the sale, and the oil was changed. The seller attributes a failed engine mount as the likely cause of a vibration coming from the front passenger side of the car that occurs when it is accelerating between approximately 20 and 40 mph.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through a C4 three-speed automatic transmission and a rear axle with 2.80:1 gears.

The warranty number is consistent with a 1966 Mustang convertible that was built in Metuchen, New Jersey, and equipped with a 289ci V8. Decoding the trim tag reveals the following information:

• Body 76A – Mustang convertible with standard interior
• Color X – Vintage Burgundy paint
• Trim 26 – Black vinyl upholstery with black trim
• Date 10M – December 10, 1965, build date
• DSO 13 – New York, New York, district sales office
• Axle 6 – 2.80:1 conventional rear-axle ratio
• Trans 6 – C-4 automatic transmission

A page in the owner’s manual shows that Barnes-Kotler Ford sold the vehicle to Avis Rent-a-Car on December 14, 1965.

The car is being sold on its Connecticut registration, which serves as the ownership document in Connecticut.