Awesome. Congrats on finding your dream car. I too love the 65-66 Convertibles. I would definitely recommend having a qualified third party inspect and drive the vehicle. If they can send you videos, that would be great. With convertibles, I would particularly pay close attention to the floor pans and inner rockers for evidence of rust? Is the body all original or has any of its panels been replaced? I would look at the door gaps. Pull up the trunk matte. Have them put the car on a lift for a thorough inspection. How does the top frame look? Wide photographs can be deceiving, so be sure to request details. If the car has been restored, invoices and restoration photographs can go a long way to instilling confidence in a purchase. Best of luck!

 

How much is the car we are restoring a 64 Mustang that was in my father’s barn for 40 yrs. It was my car when I was dating my husband.

 

Welcome to the board!

I can't imagine buying a car without seeing it.

At least look into paying for an inspection from an independent company, familiar with Mustangs.

 

Most here will strongly advise against your decision to purchase one of these cars sight unseen. Including me. The old cliché...pics are worth a thousand words...well in person is worth a thousand pics in this case. Just don’t do it. At an absolute minimum, do as Iz suggested and pay a professional to inspect the car for you. Tell someone here where the car is located. Maybe a member is close that would inspect it for next to nothing.

 

Yep, over my years here I've read plenty of horror stories of people buying cars sight unseen. I believe there is one of a guy buying a very nice looking vert and when he got it found out it was all bondo and bailing wire holding it together. Basically the car was just a parts car and he had paid for a very nice driver.

 

Did you take the seller's word on the condition of the car? That's the worst thing you can do.
If you're afraid to travel (I'm not) pay for an inspection by someone local. You are setting yourself up to get seriously burned.

 

Find a car closer to home and check it out with a car buddy who can give critical advise about a 50 year old car. There are some good ones out there, and many cars to stay away from. If there is a Mustang show and cruise nights near you go check them out. You might find out the right car is just around the corner. Good luck

 

Please, stop right in your tracks....you must find and pay someone to inspect the car-and not someone the buyer recommends....if there is an internet ad posted, clue us in and you will be shocked at what the group sees and comments on..

 

Preferable someone who is licensed and bonded to inspect.

 

Covid will not last forever. There is always another car.

Also, unless it is a really special car, I don't see a reason to ship a mustang across the country. There are lots of them.

 

@classic kit someone here on VMF would probably be thrilled to go look at the car for you if you'd tell us the general area of the country the car is in . Some of us work for pizza and beer !

 

I will echo what everyone else has said. I personally have never had the guts to buy a vehicle without seeing it. If I was in your place I would find a professional to check it out even though it will cost you, what, a couple hundred dollars, it could save you many thousands. I have bought enough lemons even after checking them out my self. And at the time, I was a pro mechanic. Not seeing and driving the car, NO WAY.

 

Never trust the seller is a safe motto. If he's reputable he will welcome your due diligence. You could get lucky, but the odds are way against you.
There has to be a story behind someone buying a car sight unseen. Tell us more. Pictures? Is it a dealer?

 

I definitely agree with everyone else about buying site unseen. Convertibles require extra due diligence underneath due to rust.
Other areas to consider..
History on the car
Previous owners that you may talk to
Receipts, bill of sale, and other documentation
Pics, video's.
Confirmation that fender Vin matches door data plate.

Ron

 

With the VIN, what is important that the fender VIN matches the title. The door data plate has nothing to do with the "legality" of the VIN or car.

 

Don't let your exuberance outweigh what has been the best advice you will ever receive on buying one of these cars.

I'll just say ditto to what the crowd has already said.

Allen

 

Wow i'm overwhelmed by all of your thoughtful responses - thank you! I will absolutely hire a 3rd party to inspect before committing to anything

Here's the car in question, she's just outside of Minneapolis. I've been searching high and low for the past year and this is one of the only cars in my price range that fits my criteria: 289 Convertible, Tahoe Turquoise, Pony Interior, two tone paneling, wood inlay. I love it!

@myfirstcar66 @Mike the old grump @geicoman58 @Still workin' on my 66 @Maxum96 @cj428mach @awhtx @patrickstapler @Israel @image98

 

Wow i'm overwhelmed by all of your thoughtful responses - thank you! I will absolutely hire a 3rd party to inspect before committing to anything

Here's the car in question, she's just outside of Minneapolis. It's nearly identical to the '66 my grandmother used to drive so it has some sentimental draw for me

@myfirstcar66 @Mike the old grump @geicoman58 @Still workin' on my 66 @Maxum96 @cj428mach @awhtx @patrickstapler @Israel @image98
View attachment 778715

Where at outside of Minneapolis? I may know someone in the area that could take a look at it for you. If you'd prefer, feel free to private message me.

John

 

 

Missing R on hood. Pass side interior door handle messed up. LH door panel door pull insert not sitting properly. LH door latch screw--one seems to be messed up. Wrong colour blue on engine. Door mirrors look like them may interfere with vent windows.

 

My car's cousin!

 

David,

It does look like our cousin!

John

 

I'll agree with the previous comments but will throw y'all a curveball.

I bought my Fastback (and first Mustang) 9 years ago. I searched nationwide for almost a year for a '66 Fastback that fit my criteria. I wanted one of two colors, Tahoe Turquoise as a 1st choice and Emberglo as a 2nd choice. Also it had to have the matching "Pony" interior. Engine had to be a 289 with preferably a 4-speed. The car I found fit everything I was looking for with the exception it was an automatic. The car was in the greater Boston area, I was in South Dakota.

Correspondence with the (private) seller in my opinion was excellent. He answered every question I had and provided to me pictures/video of everything I asked for and more. I felt he was honest and truthful and a deal was struck. So, in a sense, I bought mine "sight unseen" having never laid eyes or hands on it in person but felt like I knew it inside and out. I arranged shipping and upon arrival to SD, I found a car that was exactly as described by the seller with no surprises.

Ask me now if I would do it that way again and I would tell you with what I know now, no way.
I'd spend the money to: A) Look at in person or B) Find someone in close proximity to the car's location to do an inspection for me.

This forum is a great resource. Utilize it to its fullest extent. There are so many members here that are more than happy to share their expertise and experiences and can guide you appropriately. I'm just thankful that I didn't have to share a horror story about my purchase.

John

 

My story is just like yours. I always swore I would never buy a car sight unseen. I had owned two other classic Mustangs including a GT/CS. Found this one in Mid-December. The seller could not have been more forthcoming. Problem was trying to fly to Miami 4 days before Christmas was expensive as only full fare first class seats were available for about $2,500. Bought it sight unseen. I was so pleased with it and still am. If I had gone down there and the seller was driving a harder bargain, I would have paid more for it.

Would I do it again? No way. A person could not get that lucky twice in one lifetime.

 

My opinion will differ slightly from the others. I'm doubting you got that for a bargain price, but to me it almost always comes down to price and available funds. Just don't commit more cash than you are willing to douse with lighter fluid and set on fire because that might be exactly what you're doing buying it sight unseen.

But you already volunteered that this is your first time buying and you're not experienced with them. I think that probably means you should listen to the people cautioning you against doing this without a thorough inspection.

How much are we talking about being at risk if you just go for it?

 

I hired an inspector as the car auction was in another state. He sent me 100+ pictures including inside the doors and floor pans. He was unable to drive it and it Had a lot of small mechanical and electrical issues. But fixing those is much less expensive than doing body/rust work.

 

We are not trying to rain on you parade but if you have any experience with old mustang, you know that they all rust (most of us all know all too well from experience). The car looks good from the pictures but they usually all do and it's too easy to fall in love. These cars were never designed to last 50 years and add a few minor or not so minor fender benders..... Plus this care is from Minnesota which is in the rust belt. It may vey well be a great car just be cautious.

 

Plus this care is from Minnesota which is in the rust belt.

Red Flag #1.

 

Door tag indicates factory 76B and tahoe torques so the deluxe interior and paint is factory correct. I noticed an engine tag (metal) still attached to the engine. This could be a repop or
if factory, rather rare as most have been lost/displaced through the years.

One of my favorite colors. I had a 65 convertible painted that color (from springtime yellow) back in 92. Turned out really nice.

Ron

 

I used my State Farm agent to put me in contact with a State Farm agent near the car I was interested in. I then asked that agent for the appraiser they use for antique car valuations. It cost me about $250 each time I did this. On the first one the appraiser called to say the car was definitely misrepresented. Saved me going from Detroit to South Carolina to discover that. The 2nd time I did this the appraiser said "run don't walk to get this one". My wife and I flew to Scottsdale and bought a 69 Cougar XR-7 vert. It had some mechanical and electrical issues, but that is therapeutic work to me. I didn't buy it sight unseen, but I did put down a $2000 deposit to secure the car until I could see it and hopefully complete the deal. Since they only made 4000 XR-7 verts in 69, I knew I would likely have to travel to get one.

 

These are 50 year old cars, they were daily drivers for Many years,.....

 

Just because it's in Minnesota now doesn't mean it originally came from Minnesota. I've bought several cars that originally came from other states that were dry as a bone - New Mexico/Colorado/Texas etc...all bought in the Northeast. But provenance does help as to know where it "may" have come from. But I would listen to others - I've been fooling around for classic cars for 4 decades - and I thought I would never get burned - but I did - the last car I bought this past February.

I sold my previous car (a mustang fastback) sight unseen (the best body I ever had) and then chased after a car I owned several years ago and missed by one day. Then I emotionally bought a car out of Texas on just a few pictures - (boy did they look good lol) and and like a rebound relationship I screwed up. The car was supposed to be excellent and I paid an excellent price what I got was a good car so I paid more than I should have. Now I have to either sell and lose about 18% of my money (1300 to ship too) or take it down to bare metal and spend more time and money and see what is under the paint - yikes!,

Just make sure if you do get burned you can afford it - hell life was made for regrets - Go for it!,

Dean

 

It was built in Dearborn MI and delivered to Des Moines IA, so it may have spent its whole life in the rust belt. That doesn't mean it its guaranteed to be a rust bucket though. Pics of the underside of the car would tell us a lot more. Looks nice on the surface.

 

I would pay the money for an inspection. Even then, you will find surprises when you get it home.

 

I AGREE with everyone!! Please find a third party to inspect it. A full inspection! Like not just who will see if the vehicle runs/shifts in gear! I bought mine locally inspected it the best I could (no car experience, just basic things to look for). Got a 3rd party too also for the loan only to realize months later that the inspector only made sure the vehicle started and shifted into gear! It took 8 months for me to get the vehicle from the guy I bought it from only to have it a few hrs and the money pit has started!! However, this 65 Convertible is my dream car as well! Just make sure you do your part as best as you can and go from there. Good luck and congratulations!!