Good morning! It’s Friday, when we do something out of the ordinary around here, and I just felt like this week’s choices didn’t lend themselves to a four-way shootout. So we’ll stick with the same-price theme, and just up the ante a little bit.
Yesterday I gave you two bad choices, and I had no idea which way you were going to go. As it turns out, most of you agreed with my thinking that the Pontiac has more potential, and represents a better value anyway because it runs and drives. I’m definitely in favor of the V8 swap ideas, but don’t forget to change that rear axle ratio, too; I’m sure it has at best a 2.73 gear set. A 700R4 overdrive transmission and some lower gears would make it a lot more pleasant.
I have nothing but respect for the Yugo, but I feel like you could probably find one that hasn’t been mothballed since before The Matrix had a sequel for a similar price. And I fear that if I ever got a Yugo, I’d always be disappointed that I didn’t hold out for a real Fiat 128, like I actually want.
Now then: It seems to me that the internet has been great for classic cars if you sell them, but maybe not so much if you’re hunting for bargains. You’re not likely to score that local treasure for a song when someone from a thousand miles away can find the same listing and outbid you. And since auction prices are generally public knowledge, asking prices for ordinary sales have gone up, too. It seems to me that neither of these cars would have cost this much a few years ago, but here we are. Which one is worth it these days? Let’s find out.
1965 Ford Mustang – $15,000
Engine/drivetrain: 200 cubic inch overhead valve inline 6, three-speed manual, RWD
Location: San Leandro, CA
Odometer reading: 26,000 miles (probably 126,000)
Operational status: Runs and drives great
If you say the words “classic car” to a non-car person in America, chances are they’re going to picture either a ’57 Chevy, or a ’65 Mustang. You can find ten of these in just about any car show in the country. So what could possibly make it special enough to care about? Easy: Someone loves it. That’s all it takes. The seller bought this car from their uncle, did a shit-ton of work on it, and have been enjoying it. There are millions of others like it, as the saying goes, but this one is theirs, and it could be yours.
It’s nothing special under the hood either, just an inline six and a three-speed manual. But it has a long list of new parts listed in the ad, and it runs like a top. The aluminum radiator is a nice touch, and the chrome dress-up kit is not something you see too often on a six-cylinder. It’s got all new fluids, new tires, a new battery, and lots more.
The interior is in nice shape as well, though the seller reports that the stock gauges don’t work except for the speedometer. They’ve added aftermarket gauges to cover oil pressure, coolant temperature, and fuel level – everything you need. The passenger’s seat upholstery also has a tear in it, but it’s not like Mustang restoration parts are hard to come by, if you wanted to fix it.
Also – and this is the big deal – it has been stripped to bare metal and repainted. No rust here. I have no idea if this is an original ’65 Mustang color, but I like it. It’s subtle. And, crucially, not “resale red.” The seller replaced all the weatherstripping after the repaint, too, so no worries about rain leaks.
1984 Toyota 4×4 Pickup – $15,000
Engine/drivetrain: 2.4-liter overhead cam inline 4, five-speed manual, part-time 4WD
Location: Rohnert Park, CA
Odometer reading: 378,000 miles (!)
Operational status: Runs and drives great
If a classic Mustang doesn’t do it for you, how about an indestructible Toyota truck? If neither Jeremy Clarkson nor Marty McFly could kill one, there isn’t much chance of anyone else doing it. This one has lived a good long life, covering almost 400,000 miles in its forty years.
It’s not what you’d call stock anymore; it has at least a few inches of lift to clear 33-inch tires, a locking rear diff, and short off-road gearing. A tube bumper equipped with a winch show that someone meant business with this truck. It’s powered by a 22R four-cylinder and a five-speed stick, both rebuilt 20 years ago. It runs and drives great, according to the seller, and used to be a daily driver not long ago.
We don’t get any interior photos except this shot of the dash, showing the impressive number on the odometer. I presume the rest of the interior is in poor shape. It looks like some interior restoration parts are available, if you were so inclined.
The outside isn’t great either; it’s got dents, rust, and a Krylon and Rhino-Liner paint job. I imagine it was originally blue, but not this shade of blue. It’s a good-looking truck, but I’m not sure I’d call it “clean,” condition-wise.
Fifteen thousand dollars sounds like a lot for an old car, but based on these, it doesn’t seem to buy you much these days. One thing I can say for both of them is that they’ve clearly both been well-loved and well taken care of. One is clean and fresh, while the other still wears its battle scars. So what’ll it be – the shiny Mustang, or the beat-up truck?
(Image credits: sellers)
For $15k?
Neither. That’s way too much even for internet money.
That Toyota is just too ruined. Too bad I would really like one in a decent condition.
I think I’ll be in the minority here, because I’m going with the Toyota. I’ll always love the Mustang, and this one is lovely. But I’m in in my 50’s and can’t forego the ability to haul stuff just so I can have the luxury of tooling down main street in a classic Ford. That experience is for my 60’s.
I don’t think that $15k is out of line at all for that Mustang. The Toyota is a far different matter. The Mustang presents really well, even if it’s in “secretary-spec”. Sure it would be better with a 289, but at least it’s a manual – and it’s not like you would be ripping around with it anyway. Not this one at least – it’s a little too pretty and original-ish for any of that. It’s an enjoyably simple classic weekend cruiser and doesn’t need to be anything else.
Yep: not everything has to be fast.
Yeah being from the rust belt this mustang seems like a good price.
I’m a little skeptical of this particular Mustang, but assuming no major shenanigans I would likely enjoy it. 15k for that Toyota is bong-rippin’ ridiculous. No freaking way. So by default, Mustang wins.
I’m sure that Taco will survive the heat death of the universe, but it won’t be in my metaphorical garage when it does.
“Metaphorical Garage.” Band name, called it.
We’ll take the Mustang, and not do a danged thing to it except drive it.
Mustang. Even if the Toyota was for sale out here in Colorado, where Toyota pickups and Tacomas command unreasonable prices regardless of miles and conditions, that price is absolutely bonkers.
Some one has messed with that Mustang quite a bit. The question is whether they stuck a 6 in a V8 car or swapped in the brakes and rear axle from a V8 onto a 6cyl car. Either way a plus if you want to drop a V8 in.
As long as the sheet metal repairs were done well and complete, the Mustang wins this horse trade. That’s basically what the $15k is paying for.
I love 80s Toyota 4runners and trucks but my god that thing should be mint for that price. Would much rather have the mustang for 15k even with the inline.
I owned a 67 Mustang for a while that had been hacked together by too many different people. I sold it because it wasn’t worth the effort and I wanted to buy an engagement ring, but I have always said I would buy another that was cleaner some day and a California car should offer that. I would swap out the engine for a pushrod 5.0L with an alphabet cam and drive it around as is. I do wish it was a 67-69 though I prefer their appearance.