Saturday, January 25, 2014

What did I get for the money

One day a friend of mine saw this on his way to local speed shop nearby where we live. He soon noticed that he had found something I had searched for a long time and called me. Once I saw the car I knew he had it right and I would be the next owner of it. 


First encounters with the Snowback

Where is she from

The production of Fastbacks started somewhere in mid-August of '64 so this one is "one of the firsts of a kind".  Ford produced 77.079 Fastbacks in total for model year 1965. How many of them were 225 hp A-codes with 4 speed, is unknown.
 

VIN and door data plate decoded

 

Year:51965
Plant:FDearborn, MI
Body Series:92+2 Fastback
Engine:A289 4v V8
Unit:329***329***
Body:63A2+2 Fastback, Standard Interior
Color:YSilver Blue Metallic
Trim:D2White Crinkle Vinyl with Blue Appointments, Standard Interior
Date:21KOctober 21, 1964
D.S.O:23Philadelphia
Axle:A3.00:1, Limited-Slip
Trans:54-Speed Manual

The seller has had the car since the spring of 2009 but never had the time start working with the project. He had the car shipped by his business associate located in Florida, but actually this car has lived most of it's life in the north-east area in the America. Originally delivered to Philadelphia, but according to the Title the last owner had registered the vehicle in 1983 in a small town in New Jersey. The defrost panel in the rear windows was not a option in 1965, but might have been useful in Philadelphia and New Jersey winter. 

Note the reg.plate on the 5-window coupé
A new hood is not included in the deal
In overall the car looks straight. No signs of collisions.

The price with options when new

 
The original Bill of Sale might have looked something like this:


MUSTANG 63A  2+2 FASTBACK $   2 589,00
289-cid/225-hp V-8 $      158,48
Four-Speed Manual-V-8 Engines $      184,02
Limited Slip Differential $        41,60
Visibility Group $        35,83
      Remote Control Mirror
      Day/Nite Mirror
      2-speed Electric Wipers and Washers
Accent Group (63A) $        13,90
      Body side paint stripe
      Rocker panel moulding
Radio-Push Button and Antenna $        57,51
Back-Up Lamps $        10,47
Total $ 3 090,81
 


The trunk floor is in very bad shape.

Fold-down rear seat

The 302 (?) needs to be overhauled

A glimpse of Silver Blue in the cowl area

Summary


Obviously this car has been bought new by a person with sporty driving attitude. Four-barrel V8, 4-speed gearbox and limited slip rear end are the hard evidence that this car has never been a Secretary's Mustang.  In addition, there are remainders of hooks in the bottom of the floor for the side exhaust pipes.

At some point the original 289 probably gave up and the owner found a donor car, most likely a '68, from which he pulled the 302, the seats and the rims. So far I have not been able to verify the casting date of the engine. It is said to be a 302, and the Power by Ford valve covers support this as well,  but you never know. It currently has a carb which looks like Autolite 2100 , the factory carb for 200 hp. 302-2V.

There is a lot of rust in the trunk bottom area, in the engine compartment aprons, in the outer parts of the firewall and in floor pans. The rear parts of the rear frame rails need attention. 

The good news is that the front frame rails and extensions are in pretty good shape. The bottom areas of the doors are quite good and the rockers seem solid. Also, the good news is the amount of replacement sheet metal included in the deal. Altogether they're worth almost $2.000.

For the X.xxx EUR I paid for this, I got a project car with good history and origins and a lot of potential. I still haven't decided how to call her, or him, as this one looks like a bad-to-the-bone tough guy of the neighborhood.

Snowback at home in my parents' garage

The sheet metal which came along


SHERMAN Part # 46540EL LH Toe board floor pan $          53,89
SHERMAN Part # 46540ER RH Toe board floor pan $          53,89
PAN TRUNK FLOOR DROP-OFF LH $          29,95
SHERMAN Part # 46562L LH Trunk filler $          37,79
SHERMAN Part # 46562R RH Trunk filler $          37,79
RR INR WHLHSE LH 64-70 MUSTANG $          62,50
RR INR WHLHSE RH 64-70 MUSTANG $          62,50
RR OTR WHLHSE LH 64-66 MUSTANG $          56,95
RR OTR WHLHSE RH 64-66 MUSTANG $          56,95
TRUNK LID 64-66 MUSTANG FASTBA $         142,99
QTR PNL SKIN LH 64-66 MUSTANG $          69,00
QTR PNL SKIN RH 64-66 MUSTANG $          69,00
BATTERY TRAY 64-66 MUSTANG $          17,11
Splash shield, front, left $            8,50
FLR PAN FULL LH 64-70 MUSTANG $          42,50
FLR PAN FULL RH 64-70 MUSTANG $          42,50

The sheet metal included in the deal but will (hopefully) come later


FRONT FENDER APRON, RH, CANADIAN MADE   $          27,95
REAR FENDER APRON, LH, CANADIAN MADE   $          33,75
REAR FENDER APRON, RH, CANADIAN MADE   $          33,75
FENDER, FRONT, RH, ORIGINAL FORD TOOLING   $         374,95
SHIELD FENDER SPLASH FRONT  $            8,50
SHIELD, FENDER SPLASH, REAR, RH, REPRO   $          13,25
SHIELD, FENDER SPLASH, REAR, LH, REPRO   $          13,25
PANEL, OUTER PARTIAL FIREWALL, LH  $          40,25
PANEL, OUTER PARTIAL FIREWALL, RH  $          40,25
PANEL, TRUNK FLOOR FRONT, replacement  $          23,95
PAN, TRUNK FLOOR, RH, REPRO  $          29,95
COWL PATCH, PARTIAL INNER, CANADIAN MADE,   $          60,50
COWL PATCH, PARTIAL INNER, CANADIAN MADE,   $          60,50
TORQUE BOX OUTER SECTION RH  $          23,35
TORQUE BOX OUTER SECTION LH  $          23,35