Specifics:
64.5 Mustang Convertible
Rangoon Red
Engine:289
Automatic Transmission

Looking for a 60-year-old car that meets all your requirements and specifications can be daunting but they’re out there and available, I just lost a bid on one from BringATrailer.com. I’m not one to buy something sight unseen but in this case, I would almost prefer someone with a higher level of expertise that not only understands the nuisances for a 64.5 model year but could help check the body and mechanicals, prior to writing the check. There’s one on Craigslist in California, it left Dearborn and spent its life in CA, I’d be interested in it. Shipping would be about$1,500.
Are there services that do what I’m looking for or do I put boots on the ground and work with a local body shop and garage?

I’m not into this but my brother is , he’s a heck of a mechanic and craftsman and he stresses that frame and body condition are most important and a lot can be hid with paint , sounds like a job for mister Nessmuk

Same thing I've heard- if you can find a restoration that's had paint on for a few years all the imperfections hopefully service, I'm not as worried about mechanical because I can wrench on most stuff and parts are readily available.

Wish my brother was a trapper but nope chemical engineer and mechanic lol

Have them send some pics of the undercarriage....if it's a Cali car ...you can tell...it will be super clean underneath. Like you could take the bumpers off with a pair of wrenches..look for factory spot welds ..rear of wheel on the lower 1/4 panels. Look at bottom edge of doors ..inside lower lips. If it was a Pontiac...there are many ways to check for original sheet metal parts. Maybe Ford has markings ...iam not sure.

Looks for factory spot welds ..when you open the trunk ..to see if the 1/4 panels have been changed. Look where the rubber gasket goes...that area

Here's a pic of my 1964 Pontiac Grand Prix from California for reference....and color underneath...just like the day it was made

Factory pony interior adds coin to these.

Mustangs are like Jeeps not many parts they don’t make for them still today.

I have bought several cars sight unseen off the internet going off emails and pictures.
This is my .02.

I look to buy "unrestored" or in as original condition as possible.
That means I'm buying something with faded paint, a few rust holes and small dents or defects over nice new shiny flawless looking paint over the internet.
Too many sins are hidden with a paint job.
I'll pay more for a car in more in this type of condition over a recent repaint.
If it has been painted I look for how long ago and by who.
Its a red flag if it has been repainted recently by the current owner.
If the car has been owned only a couple of years at most thats a red flag, the longer its been owned by the current owner the better.
Get lots of pictures, talk on the phone, why are they selling
Usually a gut feeling develops, ignore it.

Blue one is a 91 V6 4 WD pretty nice for a farm truck they could not get it running another guy bought it and he could not fire it up either. So I bought it paid $1,250 for it messed around with the computer and air intake valve and it fired right up. If the air intake valve is froze it fries the computer they are $1,000 new. I have good sheet metal for it I just need to strip it to the frame and seal the surface rust.


Found the red one in MO when turkey hunting must of called 40 scrapyards only 2 had D50 trucks this one was almost complete only missing the fuel tank I found that out later. 90 V6 4WD in great shape clean interior, short box. Finally worked a deal on it the guy was a pain to work with but settled on $1,000 for the whole truck so I used a Uhaul car hauler to get it back to SD. Uhaul trailer was the way to go one way, pulled great drop off local when done with it.

Friend of mine just acquired a 1961 Bubble Top Caddy from Cali .

Got some roof and trunk patina...few panels painted over the years

Original windshield and glass.

Car is unbelievable !

All the chrome molding fit just right

Every panel fits

A great drivah.

No plans to address the patina..just leave it as is .

Talk about a crowd pleaser...

Anyone can have a shiny car....but these survivors are the best

Back in '78 I bought a 1970 Porsche 911, a California car. She looked pretty good aside from the paint being slightly faded, it was silver. In '79 when I decided to repaint it I removed almost a five gallon bucket of salty sand from both outer rocker panels and headlight buckets. Oh and I had to replace the front belly pan as it was rusted out under the torsion bar attachment points. The car was originally purchased by a couple guys that lived on Malibu Beach. It was then purchased by actor Robert Woods and his side business (Browncroft something or other). It was then purchased by a private individual in Rochester, NY. He held it for a couple months, never drove it or licenced it, and then I bought it. So the moral of the story is, when buying a California car, be mindful of what part of California it's coming from. The sheet metal repairs weren't expensive, outer rocker panels were $38 for the pair, the front belly pan was $150, don't remember what the headlight buckets were but they weren't much, and I did the labor. I actually found that parts for it were I felt reasonable in price and easy to work on.

The is a website called "Bring a Trailer". I get it every day. Classic cars for sale. Lot of muscle cars.

Iv done and have a couple. Maybe because of residency here the frame is my first concern.

I’m currently seeking out an early Bronco, 66 into the later 70’s maybe.

Osky