Ford Mustang Coupe

History

Just as the Aston Martin DB5 was immortalised by Sean Connery's James Bond, so the Ford Mustang achieved automotive nirvana in the hands of Steve McQueen's Lt Frank Bullitt, hurtling through the streets of San Francisco in the greatest car chase ever filmed. To be fair to the car though, it had already taken America by storm, selling over one million units within 18 months of its April 1964 launch, four years before Bullitt put the icing on what  was already an irresistible cake.

Although McQueen drove a modified fastback GT version, at first the Mustang was only available as a 'notchback' coupe or a convertible. Based around the chassis, suspension, and drivetrain of the Ford Falcon and Fairlane, it had a much stiffer frame and wider track to give it the handling to match its sporting looks.

This particular 1965 notchback was imported to the UK from Texas in April this year. Looking particularly funky in metallic mid-blue, it is fitted with the desirable 289ci (4.6-litre) Windsor V8 with performance Edelbrock intake manifold, Holley carb and cast aluminium Ford Motorsport engine covers. This is mated to a three-speed manual gearbox that is ideally suited to the huge torque of the engine, giving effortless performance at all speeds with the minimum of gear shifting.

Other desirable extras include a two-tone Pony interior with embossed Mustang motifs, wood-rim Grant steering wheel and GT-style chromed wheels. All the correct exterior Mustang badging is present and the car is fitted with a CD player and heating that actually works! Said to drive superbly and with an exhaust note to die for, the car is MOTd until May 2008. It is only being sold to finance the purchase of a Bullitt-style fastback.