What made some go with the 64-66 over the 67-68?

The higher cost of a '67/'68, especially a fastback.

 

Thanks for the reply
Cost is always the deciding factor but I continue to find myself going back and forth
I do like the smaller look to the earlier models

 

Certainly it's just personal preference and one person's opinion is no better than another's. For me:

1.) I like the smaller style of the 64.5-66 cars
2.) Not a fan of the concave tail light panel of '67-68
3.) The padded horn button of a '67? What were they thinking.
4.) Of 64.5-66 I like the 5 gauge cluster better than the Falcon sweep cluster, thus a '66 fits my sweet spot.

 

65-66 for me. I'm a big fan of originals, original anything really. Or at least the iteration that made that thing "classic". Levis, Converse, RayBan, Colt M1911, Pre '64 Winchester Model 70, Telecasters, Les Pauls, Fender Tweed amps, etc.. Sure, every one of those things I've mentioned have been improved upon, but they are still useful, functional and timeless.

 

Since I like both the 64-66 and the 67-68 body styles, for me it comes back to finding the cleanest original metal car I can, that is affordable.

 

Dad's friend had a 65 fastback....that did it for me. Fast forward 40 years and now I own one....

 

Hello Everyone
I have been casually looking for a car and I find myself going back and forth between model years
What made some go with the 64-66 over the 67-68?
I have have found myself flip flopping like a good politician between years
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated

69 Boss 302 would have been my first choice followed by a 69 Mach 1, which a friend of mine had and was restoring at the same time as I was doing mine. Parts cost and availability is the reason I have stuck with the 65-66. I like all the fastbacks up to 73 though.

 

I like all classic Mustangs, but the reason there are three 64.5-66 Mustangs in my shop is because I clearly have a favorite.

There's something about the mid-century optimism, the slightly goofy "Woody's Roundup" early 60's cowboy aesthetic that you see in the details like the way the rear bumper turns up on the ends. There's an indescribably purity to the lines created, before things got meaner with sharper creases. Plus, when it comes to the fastbacks, I absolutely love the curved nature of the roof in a 65-66. More rounded, both in profile and in the way the back glass meets the trunk. The five bigger vents... all of it is just perfection to my eye.

I think a great case can be made for the 67-68 being refined in every measurable way, but in that refinement, it lost a little bit of innocence that the original car had.

You would think that since I tend to prefer meaner, modified versions of those cars, I would lean to the newer cars, but I just don't. When I close my eyes and think "Mustang", I see and feel the gentle curves in the coves on the sides. The gills on the sides of the grille. The simple, elemental nature of the dash. All of that makes the choice super-simple for me. Maybe you can find that feeling yourself. Just know, there's not a wrong choice.

 

Because the guy was selling a 68 when I was looking.

 

Dude, you left out the best looking Mustang ever, the 69 Mach 1. And that is the reason I have one

 

My first Mustang I bought in while in the Navy almost 40 years ago was a 67 and back then 67-68 were not as desirable so it was a lot easier to get parts in junkyards. Now I'm on my 5th 67, doubt if I would ever change it up.

That being said, I agree with rpm that the 69 Mach 1 is my favorite non-shelby body style.

 

I have my 65 because when I bought it, I was looking for either a Mustang or a Nova. Found an ad in the back of newspaper for a 65 Mustang at a used car dealer. When I saw it, I hadn't realized that there were fastbacks made before 1967. And the looks and smiles I would get when I drove it around after I bought it...yeah, I made the right choice for me.

 

Being a bigger than average person I just fit better in a 69 than I would a 65-66. It sure didn't cross my mind when I picked it out 36 years and 75 pounds ago lol.

 

Is that really the case though? I'm a bigger guy too (6'3"/250lbs) and sitting in a 69, it feels like it may be more cramped than the earlier cars. Much beefier door panels, a bulkier dash that juts out at you and even the seats felt thicker, front-to-back. I was honestly surprised that there wasn't more room in the 69-70.

 

Curb weight. I planned to build a car with limited power from the start, so I wanted the lightest weight I could get to start with. For me it was by far the most efficient route to where I wanted to be.

 

Personal preference and availability are what drove me to my 66. The early body style is just what I first picture in my mind when I hear Mustang, it's where the whole pony car segment came from. Also, by 66 one million Mustangs had been built. There are just more of the early cars out there, even though it can be tough now to find a good one.

 

I have my seat pans chopped and installed as far back as I could and still have room for the back of the bucket to clear the rear arm rest. The aftermarket seats don't require access from the bottom. Swapping the FMX for TKO required this upgrade to be able to operate the clutch comfortably. I have sat in my brothers 65 fastback recently, a four speed car. He's the same height (6'4) but thinner than I am and it's TIGHT. I spent 4 hours in the car on Monday comfy and cozy lol.

 

Fastback is out of my price range and a 65-66 coupe is the best looking coupes to me and since then it has really grown on me and I wouldn’t want a fastback now

 

Various reasons I chose a '66. Growing up with my dad's '65 vert, the Pony interior, finding a clean California car in land of the road salt rust Minnesota in a decent price range, one of my first Hot Wheels and a model kit that turned out well.

Interesting note, when I bought my '66 I wasn't proficient at driving a standard transmission. I couldn't even test drive it or drive it home. My dad had to do it.

 

Sometimes you just know at an early age.

 

I just took what was available when I was in the market.

 

I like them all, but it came down to the body lines for me. So, 67-68 fastback was my search, and I ended up with a 68 FB which needs work, but it's nearly a numbers matching car except for the upgraded tranny and 9" rear, and it's driveable. A little rust in the floor pans, an okay patch on a fender, but it's solid. If I had an opportunity for any year, I don't think I would be "settling" for any of them in terms of year. Overall, I'd look for as solid/little rust as you can find.

 

I was interested in a project car.

I don’t weld, so all the rust buckets were passed on which included the new paint job over rust premium priced ones too.

The Flintstones were passed up as well.

I sat in a 69 Grande with sagging seats, at 5’6”…I felt like I had to stretch under the steering column to reach the gas pedal…almost bought it too.

About a week later …if that, I ran across this 65 coupe with 289/c4/ palomino pony interior/4 wheel power drums/ air conditioning compressor in the trunk, and a 70’s vintage Earl Scheib paint job.

Needless to say, my first project for the car showed up in less than 1/2 hour. Overheated about 5 blocks from a friend’s house.

30 years later, my Monte Carlo bar dropped in with no fussing last year.

I could have afforded to pay more but to me that defeated the purpose of a project car.

This is with new rims and tires. 😂

 

I think for me it came down mostly to availability. There are probably 3 times as many 65-66 for sale than 67-68 cars. And while I do prefer the simple elegant design of the 65-66, I would have gladly snatched up a rust free 67 for a good price.

 

I like all the years 65-73. Just found the one that was driveable and within my budget at the time. $1700 in 1984. 68 fastback would be my favorite. But they're all nice and unique in their own way. Can't be picky on E-3 pay in the Navy.

 

Wanted a 71 Mach 1 in middle school, then changed to a 69 Mach 1 in high school, then 67/68 FB in college... When I finally reached a point where I could afford to get one, all FB were WAY out of my price range, so started looking at 69 verts, and stumbled across my 67 vert and that's all she wrote! (It has however been a love hate relationship thus far...) The more I went back and forth between the 67 and a 69 vert I decided that I liked the more "mustang look" of the 67 and that the 69 was starting to take on the larger "70s era" look which I wasn't 100% sold on (other than the 69 Mach1) which I'd still take in a heart beat!