Battle of the 1965 Mustang Convertibles: The Amateur Restoration vs. The Movie Star

The final production model was impressively close to this target, as the base six-cylinder hardtop coupe could be had for only $2,320. The convertible carried a price tag of $2,557 and rapidly became a sought-after model for people who wanted more than just the regular Mustang experience.

The early 1964 1/2 models were an instant hit. Ford "officially" kicked off the production of the 1965 model in mid-August, but by the time this happened, the company had already shipped over 120,000 ponies. The Mustang was an incredibly successful model from the first day, with over 22,000 customers placing an order when dealerships opened the books for Ford's new pony.

The Mustang has remained a desirable nameplate in the collectors' world, especially when sporting a mint condition and an all-original and unrestored configuration. If it doesn't, the car makes for a fantastic daily driver or intriguing project, so even Mustangs not in their best shape sell like hotcakes.

The models I'll highlight today are both convertibles and exhibit a solid shape, albeit, as you'll discover in a few seconds, they had totally different pasts.

The Amateur Restoration

This gorgeous 1965 Mustang convertible was restored by the previous owner, but as the seller explains on Craigslist, it was an amateur job that shows its quality when you inspect the car thoroughly. It still looks good from a distance, and the owner says it'll need some TLC, including a series of mechanical fixes.

The car will require electrical fixes in the dash, and the owner says the car can't go on a long trip. The 289 under the hood starts, runs, and drives correctly. It's unclear if it has ever been rebuilt, but the owner claims they haven't driven it much.

The previous restoration focused mostly on the body and the undersides, and the owner conducted a series of mechanical repairs, installing new wheels, rear springs, the water pump, and a radiator.

This Mustang, despite no longer being 100% original, makes for an excellent daily driver, and it requires only minor TLC to return to the road in tip-top shape. You can take it home for just $16,500, and you can see it in person in York, PA.

Depending on where you live, you could drive it home on its wheels (remember the owner's claim that the car can't go on long journeys), but it's safer to put it on a trailer and drive it to your garage where you can take care of all mechanical issues.

The Movie Star

If you just want to hop in and drive but wouldn't mind less power under the hood, this gorgeous blue pony hopes you'll be impressed with its appearance in a 2020 movie.

The Mustang starred in "The One and Only Ivan," a movie that wasn't necessarily a blockbuster but which still served as a notable achievement for this Mustang.

As I said, the car comes with fewer horses, as the Mustang is powered by a six-cylinder engine. The owner explains on Craigslist that the six has already been rebuilt, so it should work like a brand-new engine. In fact, everything on this Light Blue Mustang is in tip-top shape, and a photo revealing the undersides confirms that the rust won't be a concern for the next owner.

The seller says they installed a new floor pan, which explains the spotless condition you'll discover when putting the Mustang on a lift.

This convertible spent its entire life in a climate-controlled garage, and while it's unclear how original it continues to be after all these years, the Mustang is ready for the road and requires nothing. The paint also looks good, but you should inspect the car in person if you believe it's worth taking it home.

Speaking of taking it home, despite coming with a six-cylinder engine, it's more expensive than the project I told you about. It should require other touches to return to the road, so its tip-top shape is probably what makes the seller confident they could get $21,000 for their Mustang.

You can find it and inspect it in person close to Miami, and you shouldn't need transportation to drive it to your garage. However, depending on where you live, you might want to move it with a trailer, as its beautiful condition makes it the right driver on sunny Sundays.

Which one of these two Mustangs is worth the money, considering they have both been altered and no longer sport an original package? Which one is the better daily driver? Let me know what you think in the comment box after the jump.