1966 Ford Mustang fastback

There's not much you can say about the Mustang that hasn't already been said. Pretty much every car buff knows the history of the machine that kicked off the whole "Pony Car" market and was one of Ford's most successful new car launches ever.

Upon its April 1964 release, the Mustang was available in two basic body styles - coupe and convertible - with the fastback following shortly after. In company literature and advertising, the early fastbacks were referred to as the Mustang '2+2' and were also badged as such. The fastback didn't offer the same rear seat comfort as the coupe obviously, but that was the trade off for the rakish body style. If early proposals had gone ahead, the fastback would have also received a central rib down the rear window with louvred glass segments inside that allegedly offered better ventilation. While an interesting idea, it would have broken up the smooth, attractive lines of the fastback, as well as being expensive to engineer, so it never made it past the concept stage.

With the 1964 ½ - 1965 models being so successful, few changes were required for 1966, so picking the difference involves identifying minor things like trim changes. Similarly, powertrain offerings differed little for 1966. Most Mustang fastbacks for 1966 were equipped with the 289ci V8, which was available in three basic levels of tune, offering anything from 200 up to 271 horsepower. Performance-wise, the pick of the bunch was the 289 'High Performance' V8. Known as the 'K code' (after the letter stamped on the VIN to identify the Hi-Po engine), these models were equipped with either a 4 speed manual or three speed 'Cruise-O-Matic' auto. Choosing a K code also opened up the option of the shorter rear axle ratios (3.89:1 or 4.11:1) favoured by drag racers. The next step up from this was the GT 350 Shelby Cobra, one of the most popular and collectable first generation Mustang fastbacks.

As with the 1965 models, there were options aplenty for the 1966 fastback - Interior Decor Group, Visibility Group, special handling package, Instrument Group and GT Group. These were quite low cost options for the time, so it's not surprising that many buyers 'optioned up' their Mustangs with an array of performance and decorative additions. Appearance-wise, the Interior Decor Group, better known as the 'Pony' interior, was one of the most popular options, so much so that these days it's harder to find a '66 fastback without rather than with Pony trim.

The aerodynamic advantage the fastback offered over the coupe is up for debate, but it was the overwhelming choice for Mustang racers, including the GT350s produced by Carroll Shelby's operation. The iconic status of these machines goes some way to explaining why '66 fastbacks are so popular, with more than a few being turned into GT350 clones.

Today, first generation Mustang fastbacks are amongst the popular classic cars on the market. They usually fetch more money, as they are not only rarer ('only' 35,698 fastbacks were produced for 1966 compared to almost 500,000 coupes), but are often loaded up with performance and appearance options, too.

1966 Ford Mustang fastback (289 HiPo V8)
Engine: 289ci V8.
Bore/stroke: 4.00" x 2.87" (101.6 x 73 mm)
Compression: 10.5:1
Power/torque: 271bhp@6000rpm / 312lb/ft@3400rpm
Fuel system: 4 bbl carburettor
Cooling system: liquid
Electrics: 12 volt
Transmission: 4 speed manual, 3 speed 'Cruise-O-Matic' auto
Front brakes: 10" (254 mm) drum
Rear brakes: 10" (254 mm) drum
Wheels: 14" (Fr/Rr - factory)
Tyres: 6.95 x 14" (Fr/Rr - factory)
Wheelbase: 108" (2743 mm)
Weight: 3050lbs (1383kg)
Weight balance: 56%/44% Fr/Rr
0-100kph: 8.5 sec (approx)
Top Speed: 120 mph (193 kph - approx)

TRIVIA
The 'galloping horse and corral' grille emblem is symbolic of the first generation Mustangs, but there were plans to remove it for the 1966 models, replacing it with a rather bland bonnet ornament and a featureless grille. Fortunately, the grille emblem remained.

Expecting them to be driven hard and fast, Ford only offered a 90 day warranty on '66 Mustangs equipped with the 289 High Performance V8 engine.
After producing over 500 GT350 fastbacks in 1965, Shelby produced a further 2300 of the distinctive striped racers in 1966, including 936 'GT 350H' versions (all bar six of which were fastbacks) for car rental agency, Hertz.

Source: JUST CARS, November 2010, Collectors Issue #177