To say I’m a notorious classic car “window-shopper” would be an understatement. I see a car for sale, lust for it, dream about it too much, and then suffer excruciating disappointment when it sells. I think it’s an addiction most car people deal with. But in a recent auction, I felt terrible heartbreak and a strangely reassuring sense of awe watching a project move across the block. The vehicle causing such a mental ruckus? A killer 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback Project, of course.
BuyTheCar.com was recently entrusted by user Tattoo015 to sell a mid-build vehicle rather than a typical running-and-driving muscle car. It was obvious from the start that the seller knew they had something really bitchin’ because of the amount of time they invested with 189 photos, multiple videos of the build, and an in-depth description. Which obviously stole an hour of my life scrolling through them and only made me want this Mustang more!
This ‘65 Mustang was born a coupe and then meticulously upgraded with a fastback conversion by Desert Classic Mustangs. The primered body made me wonder, what would I paint this car? I was bombarded mentally with white with blue stripes, or maybe red with black accents, or simply dark blue draping the classic exterior. This car wasn’t just something to finish; it was an incredible starting point to create something special.
Its engine bay is prepped and ready to receive the mean lil’ 331 cubic inch stroker laying down over 400 pissed off ponies. And to add a little more premium fuel to the flame, it was assembled by the vintage-racing specialists at Cobra Automotive of Connecticut, where the motor was stored in a climate-controlled facility. A 4-speed toploader and a 9-inch posi rear end to lay rubber and eat asphalt means there’s plenty to get in trouble.
If the rollbar and drivetrain hadn’t already given away the builder’s intentions for this Ford, then the suspension and steering components lined up for installation were the final clue. They started doing things the right way with a highly modified chassis braced with subframe connectors to keep her from twisting off the line. From there, Cobra Automotive was called upon again to provide a front-end upgrade kit. Oversized spindles, billet aluminum hubs with updated coil springs, and mighty thick sway bars to help control and propel this beast through the corners. Same goes for out back. Heavy-duty with competition-grade leaf springs, high-performance shackles, and a lowering block with Koni shocks to keep that bottom planted to the ground. A set of Wilwood brakes and master cylinder assembly is going to bring you home safely after dominating the track.
This badass Ford was teasing me for days before it finally hit the auction block. By the time the bidding had begun, I had already spent far too much time reading the ad. But as the competition kicked off, I grew increasingly curious to see how it would perform. Sure enough, BuyTheCar.com did what it’s great at doing, and that’s getting high bids for sellers.
As the auction rolled on, all the bids rolled in, so did the questions, and the seller was quick to respond. With every response, a new bid seemed to be placed. The price continued to soar, and I was crushed, at first, knowing that the car wouldn’t be mine (even though I already knew that). Then something clicked for me, and this auction became a hell of a lot of fun. Sure, I couldn’t bid or win, but I could enjoy it for one simple reason: it was unique. Unlike buying something that’s completely rotten or completely restored, this was nothing but a blank canvas.
As the auction came to a close, the seller made a great move by dropping the reserve price, creating even more excitement and interest in the car. By the time the gavel dropped, the car sold for $42,500.
In today’s world, the online auction is quickly becoming the go-to source to sell your classic car. And this auction is proof that you don’t need a completed car to sell at auction; you need something that creates excitement, something that someone out there will look at and think, “I want to cross the finish line with the build and in the driver’s seat someday.” And with a massive community, BuyTheCar.com is just the place to do that.
Congrats to the seller, “Hell yeah!” and high-five from me. Happy selling and even happier shopping, my friends!
