1965 Ford Mustang Convertible

1965 Ford Mustang Convertible — 289 V8, 4-Speed, Rangoon Red Why This Car Is Special The 1965 Ford Mustang convertible is one of the most historically significant American cars ever built. Ford introduced the Mustang on April 17, 1964, and the public response was immediate and overwhelming — dealerships were mobbed, and Ford sold over 400,000 units in the first year alone. By the end of the 1965 model year, total Mustang production had surpassed 680,000 units across all body styles. The convertible, however, was always the more exclusive choice. Of the total 1965 Mustang production run, convertibles accounted for just over 101,000 units — a fraction of the hardcoupe numbers, and considerably rarer today in well-preserved condition. This specific car checks the boxes that separate a collectible 1965 Ford Mustang convertible from an ordinary one. It carries the 289 cubic inch V8, the 4-speed manual transmission, and Rangoon Red paint — one of Ford's most distinctive and desirable color offerings from this era. Rangoon Red was a factory color available on the 1965 Mustang, a deep, warm red with just enough orange undertone to set it apart from a flat candy red. Against the black convertible top and black vinyl interior, the contrast is sharp and period-correct. The VIN on this car confirms it was built as a convertible at the San Jose, California assembly plant — the 'F' in the fifth position of the VIN designating the San Jose facility, which was one of the primary Mustang production plants during the 1965 model year. The car was restored in 2010 and has received a substantial list of mechanical replacements since then, making it a driver-quality example that has been genuinely worked on rather than simply repainted and listed. Features List - 289ci V8 engine, rebuilt - 4-speed manual transmission, rebuilt - Power convertible top - New black convertible top - Rangoon Red exterior - Black vinyl interior - New seat covers, front bucket seats and rear seat - New carpet - New floor pans - Center console - Original Ford AM radio - Mustang Pony floor mats - Mustang spinner hubcaps - Whitewall tires - Chrome bumpers, front and rear - 289 fender badges - Chrome valve covers - Chrome air cleaner - New gas tank - New radiator - New brakes, drum brakes all four corners - Single exhaust - Coated undercarriage - Seat belts Mechanical Under the hood sits a rebuilt 289 cubic inch V8 — Ford's small-block workhorse that proved itself everywhere from American streets to European road courses. The 289 was introduced in 1963 and became the engine that defined the first-generation Mustang's performance character. In standard two-barrel form it produced 200 horsepower, and in the four-barrel configuration it made 225 horsepower. Paired here with a rebuilt 4-speed manual transmission, this is the combination most Mustang buyers of the era aspired to. The 4-speed setup adds a mechanical directness to the driving experience that an automatic simply cannot replicate, and it keeps the car in the conversation with the performance-oriented buyers who originally optioned the Mustang this way. The engine bay has been dressed with chrome valve covers and a chrome air cleaner, giving it a clean, finished appearance that complements the rebuild work done beneath. Supporting the drivetrain, the restoration included a new radiator and a new gas tank — two components that frequently cause reliability problems on unrestored examples of this age. The braking system has been fully replaced as well, with new drum brakes at all four corners. Drum brakes all around were standard equipment on the 1965 Mustang, and their replacement means this car stops as it should without the soft pedal and fade common to worn 60-year-old hardware. The undercarriage has been coated, which is visible in photos and confirms that the floor structure — including the new floor pans — has been properly sealed against future moisture intrusion. The exhaust exits through a peri