1965 FIA Ford Mustang Notchback 289ci Historic Touring/Road Car

• From 37-year ownership in California including original registration
• Imported in 2002 and built by Steve Smith of Vibration Free Bicester as an endurance racer (six year build)
• 289ci (4727cc) V8, 396bhp, massive spec (details below)
• Competed in the Spa 6-Hours and the Nürburgring Oldtimer Grand Prix
• Engine refreshed in 2009 and little use since
• Smartly presented and well-detailed history file (build and life story)
• Retains complete interior, UK-registered and MOT valid until December 2021
• Brand spanking new ten year FIA HTP (CT10). Expires 31/12/2030
• Outstanding quality and condition, on the button, ready to go and simply glorious

There can’t have been many 17 year-olds that woke up on the morning of their 17th Birthday to find a shiny new Ford Mustang parked on the drive, but Kim Lee of 1560 Parrot Street in San Diego, California certainly did. It was a 1965 Mustang Hardtop finished in Honey Gold with a ‘Black Luxury’ interior and powered by a 2-valve, 289ci V8. He obviously appreciated the gift as he was to retain the car until 2002 covering over 77,000 miles in his beloved Mustang. Pleasingly, the original US Registration Document and Owner’s Manual remain with the car secure in the fascinating History File.

Substantially rust-free, as are most California cars, the Mustang was imported into the UK in 2002 by Steve Smith of ‘Vibration Free’ as the basis for creating a competition car suitable for historic endurance racing and comprehensive details of the build and preparation are in the file. The bodyshell was fully stripped and seam-welded prior to being delivered to Andy Robinson Race Cars for an FIA specification roll-cage to be welded in. It was then carefully prepared and superbly finished in Guardsman Blue Metallic with white 'Daytona' stripes a colour scheme originally used on the 1965 racing debut of the Daytona Cobra Coupé.

The 289ci (4,727cc) V8 engine was built to the correct FIA specification and is currently rated at 396bhp. It has an all-steel billet bottom-end with forged racing pistons, MLS head gaskets, Tim Adams camshafts and valve train. The fuel system incorporates an 80-litre foam-filled tank that feeds the Holley mechanical fuel pump and Holley Performance 650 double-pumper carburettor through braided hoses. To keep everything cool there is a high-capacity, five-row, copper radiator with remote header and bleeds to the rear of heads, electric fan and new heater matrix. Power is fed to the rear wheels through a Borg & Beck clutch assembly and a four-speed gearbox with a Hurst shifter to the Andy Robinson rear axle with 3.55:1 Gripper differential. At an engine speed of 6,500 rpm, this relates to a top speed of 145mph sitting on a set of Minilite 15" alloys shod with Avon Sport 205/70/R15 tyres.

The remit was always for the car to be kept UK road-legal and was built as an Historic Endurance Competition Touring Car with FIA Appendix ‘K’ regulations in mind so consequently the car’s interior was restored with its original Deluxe interior with Pony upholstery, rear seats, radio, centre console, interior lights, and has had new wool carpets fitted. It also boasts tinted windows, a functioning heater, and remotely operated wing mirror. Everything works as intended, right down to the interior lights. To bring the car up to race spec, it’s fitted with Willans five-point harnesses, a hand-held fire extinguisher and Racetech oil temperature, oil pressure, water pressure and fuel gauges replace the standard items in the original “Rally Pac” mounting. Twin ‘Lamda’ gauges run off sensors fitted to the downpipe of each bank of cylinders.

It took six years to build this car and, we understand, it was used for its designed purpose for a few years taking part in the Spa 6-Hours, lapping the circuit in 3 minutes 9 seconds, the Nürburgring Oldtimer Grand Prix and other events. We believe that the engine was refreshed after the 2009 Spa meeting with new bearings, rings and gaskets.

​​​​​​​Within the history file is a list of the car's equipment at this point;

Suspension lowered, uprated and Poly-bushed with double adjustable shock absorbers
Heavy-duty front spindles and bearings
Shelby castor-kit and front anti-roll bar
Kelsey Hayes four-pot brake callipers with short distance pistons to accept long-distance pads
Brake linings and pads to competition specification
Andy Robinson rear axle with 3.55:1 Gripper differential
Four-speed gearbox with Hurst shifter
Borg & Beck clutch assembly
FIA-compliant competition specification engine, dynamometer tested at 396bhp
80-litre foam-filled fuel tank
Five-row high-capacity copper radiator with remote header tank
Electric cooling fan
Hi-po cast-iron exhaust manifolds
3" twin stainless steel exhaust system with crossover and effective silencers
Willans five-point harnesses (x2)
Hand-held fire extinguisher
Racetech gauge pack
Twin Lambda gauges
35psi oil pressure warning light
Quad PIAA driving lights

It seems that ABW 140C was used on the road in the intervening years and there are regular MOTs up until 28/06/2016@ 82,640 miles prior to being purchased by our vendor in April 2019. Within the informative file are 13 invoices from PT Classics of Maldon, Essex dated between August ’19 up until 21/12/2020, totalling £20,823 clearly detailing the attention that this car has received in our vendor’s ownership. These invoices are professionally presented and essential reading for any prospective purchaser. It was freshly MOT’d on the 15th of December but, more importantly, the car’s brand spanking new FIA Historic Technical Passport arrived a few days later. Dated 18/12/20 and valid until 31/12/30, the Mustang qualifies as a Competition Touring Car (CT10), Period F; 1962-1965.

It appears that no expense has been spared by our vendor returning this car to sparkling health. It is simply glorious, no other word will do. A UK, road registered, FIA Mustang that’s on the button with a long MOT and 10-year HTP is probably as good as it gets and this well-prepared example in iconic colours should provide a Classic Touring Car enthusiast with endless fun until the time comes when we are all told to stop running around in petrol-powered cars.