Original Parts with an Original Fit!

Posts in category Mustang Oddities

1965 Mustang Bench Seat

In 1965, there were 2,111 Bench Seat Convertibles produced.  All other convertibles came with either standard interior (“76A”) or Pony interior (“76B”) bucket seats.  The Bench Seat Convertibles had a body code “76C” stamped on the left hand side, lower rocker panel.  Bench Seat Coupes were stamped with body code “65C”.

A Fastback was stamped “63A” or “63B”.  The code “A” was for standard interior and the code “B” was for Pony interior.  There were not any 1965 Fastbacks that left the factory with a bench seat.  I wonder why not?  The Coupes and Convertibles had them and the bench seat would have certainly fit in a Fastback as well.

Another oddity was that many 1965 Fastbacks have the rocker panel body code “65”, which is a Coupe body code.  The Fastback should have been given a “63” rocker panel body code.  The rocker panels are the same part, but somehow they were stamped incorrectly before assembly at the factory.

Things that make you go hmmmm…..

1965 Mustang Headliner

Did you know that all 1965 Mustang Coupes came from the factory with a white colored headliner?

Also, most 1965 Mustang Fastbacks also had white headliners.  Some, however did have black headliners.

A lot of cars from this year had black interior.  Which begs the question, what was Ford thinking?  White headliner with a black interior?  Were they going for a zebra look?

Stranger things have happened!

1965 Mustang Bench Seat Vehicles …hmmm

Things that make you go hmmm……

In 1965, there were 2,111 bench seat Convertibles produced (a bench seat is one long seat in the front of the vehicle, rather than two bucket seats).

The body code stamped underneath the lower left-hand (driver’s side) rocker panel on bench seat Mustangs would be coded as follows:

* 1965 Mustang Convertibles would read “76C”
* 1965 Mustang Coupes would read “65C”
* 1965 Fastbacks did not come with the bench seat as an option

I have noticed on many of my 1965 Fastbacks, the body code on the rocker panel is “65A” or “65B”, which indicates Coupe Standard Interior (65A) or Coupe Deluxe Interior (65B).  Some of my Fastbacks are correctly stamped “63”, which does indicate Fastback.  Why didn’t Ford stamp all of the Fastback rocker panels with this Fastback number “63”?

Hmmm…..in too much of a hurry at the assembly line?

Hi Po 289 K Code 9″ Rear End Bracket

K Code Bracket

K Code Bracket

Interesting Mustang Oddity.  I’m currently restoring a 1965 Factory GT Mustang Fastback, VIN stamped 5R09C. The VIN stamp indicates it is a 289 2V, but I came across something that I have never seen before.  This car has a K-Code style bracket for the rear end snubber bumper, when it should have a standard style bracket instead.  This bracket appears to be factory original.   This K Code style bracket is flatter than the standard bracket and sits farther forward to accommodate the larger 9″ rear end.

K Code Bracket Close Up

K Code Bracket close-up

Standard Rear End Bracket

Standard Rear End Bracket (pictured from a different Mustang)

As you can see, the Hi-Po bracket is a lot different from the standard bracket. It has a lower profile. I have only seen these brackets on K-Code Mustangs and Shelby Mustangs. This car might have been a special order with a 9″ rear end. When I received it, the rear end was missing, as were the rear frame rails in the trunk.

This car is very unique because all of the fender apron stamps and title begin with 5R09C. The original door tag is 5R09A, but the consecutive unit numbers match on all of the tags. I found another VIN stamp on the left hand fender apron that was 5R09A and appears to be a Ford stamp. This car also has the reinforcement plates in the rear floor pan under the back seat, which is reinforcement for the GT exhaust hangars. These plates were never used on dealer GT’s and were only used on Factory GT’s. The rocker panels were never drilled for rocker trim. GT’s did not used rocker panel trim mouldings. So, is this car a GT or not a GT? According to Ford, all GT’s should have an “A” code or “K” code. There were not any Factory 6 cylinder or 2V GT’s.

Is this a Mustang oddity since the car should have been VIN stamped with an “A” or a “K” instead of a “C”? Too bad I can’t do a Marti Report on this car (everything earlier than 1966 has insufficient records). If you can shed any light on this, let me know.