1965 Ford Mustang 289 'Hi-Po' K Code

With performance to raise a smile when in the mood, and enough space for the family when required, some say the Ford Mustang created its own industry sector by offering an affordable sports car for the daily commute. The second of two models, the Coupé was marketed as the hardtop version of the convertible, and is today known as the Notchback. The sportier looking Fastback was launched in early 1965, clearly defining the Mustang range and into Mustang genesis for the line of tuned Ford Mustangs that followed, was the early production 289 High Performance (Hi-Po) Mustang. This was the car that Carroll Shelby took and rebadged as the GT350.

Records show that just 466 1965 K-Code cars were built at the Ford Dearborn factory in Illinois, many destined for Shelby's Los Angeles workshops. The example offered here is a 19th February 1965-registered Ford Mustang K-code Hi-Po finished to the most exacting standards. Possibly the finest early correct example available worldwide, and all tuned Mustangs, even today, can trace their DNA back to this car. Purchased in the United States in 2011, the restoration was carried out by renowned Mustang expert and MCA judge, Denis Frances Restos of Danville Virginia.

It was subject to a bare-metal rotisserie restoration with the brief to make it as close as possible to the factory production line cars, including, remarkably, factory overspray detail and crayon marks. Finished in Caspian Blue with a black interior and fitted with Carlite factory-tint glass, it is incredibly faithful to the original specification and even retains its original door plate. It's fitted with it's original V8 289 Hi-Po engine as used in the Shelby GT350. This was rebuilt at the same time as the restoration at a cost of $7,000, and travelled just 300 miles in 2014.

The 4-speed 'top-loader' manual gearbox was also rebuilt at the same time. The full specification includes black Decor seats, 9" differential, front discs with dual master cylinder, date-correct seat belts and new correct steel wheels. It also sports reproduced Arvinode exhausts. This Mustang really is as good as it gets, and has caught the eye of two previous vendors of ours, the first whilst on a plinth at the Silverstone Auctions NEC Classic Motor Show Sale in 2014.

Prior to being sold by us last year, the Mustang had been rightly displayed on the Pride of Ownership stand at the Classic Motor Show. Our 2022 sale vendor had added a spare wheel with cover, fitted a period correct radio with modern electrics, prop shaft seals and passenger side window regulator, with the works carried out by noted specialist Bill Shepherd Mustang at a cost of £2,358. The car's current owner has kept the car in a heated garage since purchase, and is thinning his collection out on a 'last in-first out' basis.

Presented to auction with a history file that includes recent receipts, V5C, Owner's Manuals, a book entitled The 289 Mustang High Performance Mustang Story and an odometer reading of 20,987 miles at the time of cataloguing.