The 1965 model year, which went into production in August of '64, marked the first full year of production for the Ford Mustang and the slogan was Total Performance.
The base engine gained thirty cubes, as the 200 cubic inch Thriftpower OHV inline six replaced the 170 cubic inch version, bumping horsepower by fifteen, to 120 SAE gross. Gone was the 260 cubic inch Fairlane V-8, replaced as the entry level eight cylinder by a 200hp two-barrel Challenger 289 cube small block.
Performance options were two different four-barrel 289 small blocks: The 225hp Challenger Special or the 271hp "K-code" Challenger High Performance V-8 with solid lifters and a 10.5:1 compression ratio. All engines except the Hi-Po 289 could be had with three- or four-speed manuals or the three-speed Cruise-O-Matic. The K-code came only with the four-on-the-floor.
Also new for '65 were an alternator to replace the generator found on the '64½ cars, and optional front disc brakes. The fastback 2+2 body style also appeared this year. The Wimbledon White hardtop coupe in the photos has tried-bar fender emblems with the "289" at the top, but no 289 "V" badge up by the nose, so it's hard to be sure what was originally going on under the hood.
Car Life tested a coupe with the 225hp Challenger Special 289 and Cruise-O-Matic and managed an 8.5 second zero-to-sixty time with a 16.8 second quarter mile run at 84 mph on the way to a top speed of a buck ten. Price as tested was $3,152 in 1965 dollars, or about $32,275 in 2025 money.
The one in the pics was snapped with a Nikon D7100 and a 16-80mm f/2.8-4E zoom lens in June of 2022.
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