• ‘289’ (cu. in.) 4.7-litre, 2x barrel (twin-carb) V8 engine

• 4-speed, manual floor shift

• Currently rides on crossply tyres

• 4x all-weather radials on Minilite alloys included

• Nebraska USA heritage plates included

• Fully restored in 1982 (USA)

• Reams of paperwork (USA & UK)

• car was kept by the first owner in Nebraska until the early 2000s

Eugene Bordinat, Ford’s vice-president of design at the time, gave design teams several goals for the design of the Mustang: It would seat four, have bucket seats and a floor mounted shifter, weigh no more than 2,500 pounds (1,100 kg) and be no more than 180 inches (5 metres) in length, sell for less than $2,500 and have multiple power, comfort, and luxury options.

The first-generation Ford Mustang was manufactured by Ford from March 1964 until 1973. The introduction of the Mustang created a new class of automobile known as the ‘pony car’. The Mustang’s styling, with its long hood and short rear deck, proved wildly popular.

It was initially introduced on April 17, 1964 as a Hardtop and Convertible with sales of the Fastback version commencing in August, 1964. At the time of its introduction, the Mustang, sharing its platform with the Ford Falcon, was slotted into a compact car segment.

The V8 model Mustangs were identified with a badge on the front fender that spelled out the engine's cubic inch displacement (‘260’ or ‘289’) over a wide ‘V’.

As detailed on the original Bill of Sale, the car was sold by Sample Hart Motor Co in Omaha, Nebraska, on 14th May, 1965 for the princely sum of $2,868.60. It was enjoyed by the owners until sometime in the early 2000s when the car was sold on.

The records give details of the comprehensive renovation in the early eighties when it seems the car went from a daily driver to a fair-weather/special occasion car. In 2001, the car was put on USA historical plates (included in sale).

In August, 2004, the car was shipped over to the UK on the instructions of the first UK owner who put it through all the usual registration processes, had it undersealed and put in on the road and, as far as is known, drove it once.

The current owner acquired the car in April, 2005. During the intervening years, the car has been kept in an insulated garage with a dehumidifier. Where possible, the car has not been driven in the wet and not during wintery (salty road) conditions.

It was the owner’s intention to keep the car but, aside from a few trips to nearby Goodwood Motor Circuit for several Goodwood Breakfast Club meetings and a handful of Goodwood Revival gatherings, the car has been rarely driven. ‘Miss Ivy Green’ (as referred to by the present owner) now needs to go to a home where she can be more appreciated on a regular basis.

This classic Mustang Fastback comes with an extraordinary volume of original paperwork, dating back to the original USA bill of sale in 1965. A novel item is the original owner’s handbook and pressed metal warranty card. Spot the error on the cover, if you can.

Its restoration in the early 1980’s yielded a raft of intricately-detailed paperwork and the current owner has retained a series of invoices for all work carried out during his tenure. Being exempt, there is no requirement for a current MOT for this car. There are, however, copies of previous MOTs up to 2018.

There is also an original key-fob and a new set of spare keys issued by Sample Hart Motor Co in Omaha, Nebraska at the time of sale in 1965.

The interior is in good, clean condition, considering the 40 years since its early-80’s refurb. The door cards are in good order as are the carpets. The spartan switchgear is all said to be working except the water temperature gauge and the chromed base plate on the shifter needs re-affixing to the body. 

Both manual window winders are in perfect working order, as are the two door handles. Both door under-sills are in healthy condition, too.

The boot is in tidy condition and a wheel-jack, handle and a full-sized spare wheel are present, c/w whitewall tyre.

The car still wears the olive green colour as was factory-painted and, while not up to concourse standard, is in very presentable condition throughout the exterior. The brightwork is in good order too, as are the Mustang emblems and badges.

Without the aid of power-assisted steering and with a delicate clutch, repositioning the car for the photography proved to be challenging, but rewarding nonetheless as the V8 fired up to a burbling idle.

Since acquiring the car, the current owner has replaced the clutch assembly and, due to an on-going judder on take-up, the flywheel was balanced and skimmed. Although reduced, a small amount of judder remains whilst engaging the clutch.

The gearbox was rebuilt with new bearings and rings and a new floor mounted shifter fitted. Various bearings and engine mounts have been replaced, but, like most Detroit metalwork, it is very little trouble. The owner reports the temperature gauge is not working (they rarely do, it seems and could be the sender unit), and the RH catch on the folding rear seat back has snapped flush with the seat so the seat back cannot be folded. It needs to be fiddled out and replaced.

The owner advises that spare parts are usually available and anything run-of-the-mill may be acquired off the shelf at US Automotive (in Bedford, England) and everything else is just a UPS delivery away from Auto Krafters  or any one of several Ford/Mustang specialists in the USA.

The car has NOT been modified to run on unleaded, so takes ‘premium unleaded (95 RON) fuel with a prior dose of Castrol lead-replacement additive and octane booster.

When one thinks of American cars, the Ford Mustang is among the first that spring to mind. It’s been around since 1964 and has gone through six generations that spawned all sorts of models and trims. It comes with an incredibly vast history and it’s one of America’s greatest automotive legends.

However, it’s these mid-60’s Mustangs that bring the romance of American open-road motoring as the world entered the space-age. The original ‘pony car’, the Mustang became one of the most important nameplates in Ford's heritage, and the 1965 fastback in particular was an inspiration for many generations of car-enthusiasts.

There is little doubt that ‘Miss Ivy Green’ will be a worthy addition to any new home willing to look after her and keep her in the manner to which she has become accustomed over the past fifty-odd years.