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)
Just call me “Mustang Sally” because there is no way that Toyota is worth 15K!
So, the Mustang wins by default.
I want to want the Toyota, but…
If both vehicles were stock and in excellent condition, I’d opt for the truck, but as they stand, neither vehicle is worth the asking price, especially the Toyota. Choosing the Mustang, not because I want it, but because I could probably turn around and sell it for what I paid for it.
Easiest decision I’ll have to make all day.
Ummm….No brainer on this one.
^ User name checks out! 😉
Price seems high for a six cylinder gen1 Mustang, but it’s a veritable bargain compared to the POS Toyota.
I know Toyota trucks can command some high prices, but $15k for that one seems pretty steep. For that price I’d expect something in mostly original condition. Doesn’t have to be perfect, but this one has many dents and that spray on bedliner doesn’t inspire confidence. I’m almost certain the blue is a respray as well. Maybe it’s an original color and I’m wrong, but even in the pictures the paint has that flat, orange peel look I associate with quick repaints.
I’m not a mustang guy, and I tend to think that 1st gen Mustangs are wildly overvalued, but in this case, it’s not nearly as overpriced as that Toyota. Easy Mustang win
Easy choice. I really don’t like pickup trucks, so the Toyota isn’t my kind of vehicle.
Actually, I’m not super interested in Mustangs (I was raised on GMs, and it’s been decades since “cliche” became too weak a term for old guys with Mustangs), but I gotta say that the color on that thing is just fantastic.
I mean, in reality, if I had $15k to spend on a toy, it would almost certainly go to something British, or maybe the nicest Karmann Ghia on Earth, but if I were going to drive a Mustang, something pretty and not too muscle-y would be it.
Have you checked Ghia prices lately? $15,000 isn’t going to get you the nicest one. I regret having sold mine decades ago.
Oh man. I actually just checked BaT, and there was a nice convertible for $6k, albeit 3 days from closing.
I’m going for the Mustang, but hear me out on the engine swap. Drop in a 2.3 Ecoboost (300 HP) and a 6-speed Tremec, probably need to change the gearing in the rear end as well. Now you have a reliable, modern powertrain with decent fuel economy that makes more than enough power for what that car weighs.
Tough choice. I really like pickup trucks, so the Toyota is my kind of vehicle. I don’t know where the seller came up with the $15,000 price tag, though. If you look closely that truck is rough. I don’t expect perfection for $15,000, but I expect something better than a 30 footer. I’m also concerned that the owner isn’t even willing to show the interior; that is never a good sign. Plus, far nicer examples of these trucks have sold on BaT for around $15,000. That price tag is best described as “aspirational.”
Yesterday I expressed the opinion that I have no interest in seeing yet another ’65 Mustang or ’57 Chevy, and I stand by that. Both are cool cars, but I’ve seen too many of them. If I am being objective, though, the Mustang actually seems like a good deal. It is clearly the better purchase here, so it gets my vote.
I love Toyota, but in this case the Mustang is the better choice.
That’s a big ask for that Eurekamobile. I agree that the seller really doesn’t want to sell it.
Take the Mustang, pull the drive train and store it. Drop in a nice 347 stroker and a better transmission, and of course beef what it needs to deal with the power.
And if you sell it, you can include the original drive train.
“and of course beef what it needs to deal with the power.”
Everything. Brakes (including the single master cylinder), shocks, springs, rear axle, driveshaft, add power steering
or enjoy as-is
Somebody’s battered, probably questionably modified off-road Toyota or a nice, albeit basic, Mustang. Not to pile on, but this is one of the easiest showdowns yet.
I’ll take the base model survivor Mustang. You can always swap in a 289 or so V8 later if you find the I6 underwhelming. Personally, I’d enjoy the car as it is and not fret over the lack of ‘Merica noises. The Toyota truck is way too hacked up and sloppy to be worth $15,000.
I have a truck and I don’t particularly think that one is worth 15k. The mustang would be a great Sunday driver. I’m going with that one today.
That truck is about the price those surviving solid axle toyota are going for in my area. I regret selling my 1982.
I think that truck still has a lot of life in it. I’d try to get a cheaper price but I might buy it.
That li’l pony car saw a lot of love.
I have room in my corral.
I know compact Toyota trucks go for stupid money, but this one is just particularly nuts to me. You can get newer, less used Tacomas that are still pretty darn “bulletproof” for $15k or not much more. This one looks beat to hell, and I’d guess there is rust still lurking, even if it looks like it has had extensive repairs. Dare I say, this is a $5k truck. A project to buy, maybe it is ready for trails today, but you have work to do to keep it long-term.
The Mustang looks legitimately nice. I’m sure everyone would rather it be a V8 car, but this thing will never not have a place to park at Cars and Coffee.
Are you KIDDING me? I can find Yotas cleaner than that, in that price range, up here in the land of salt and rust. That truck is a HOT MESS, and not the kind that’s fun to date for 6 months.
Mustang all day here.
Gotta be the ‘Stang.
You can get parts easily, and the six, while no fireball, can cruise. Besides, it’s rare, since so many of its kin have gotten 289 — or 302/351 — swaps.
Having had to put a later Taco to sleep after rust ate its frame, I have a definite bias against the Toyota. Which doesn’t have anything like the Mustang’s style, anyway.
That truck is priced as one of those that he doesn’t want to sell but the wife told him he has to so he’s listed it crazy high to make sure he gets to keep it
The pricing of old Toyotas has officially gone out of control.
You can get 2 or 3 times the truck elsewhere for this money. No dents or 400,000 miles required.
I had one like that in far better condition about a decade ago. Bought it for $3500 and sold it for $3500.
Mustang all the way. I get an itchy feeling that Toy is hiding rust under that rhino liner.