When Ford introduced the Mustang on April 17, 1964, it didn’t just launch a new car. It created a frenzy around the world. Dealerships were swarmed, order books filled up and Americans couldn’t get their hands on the new pony car fast enough. Ford initially projected sales of around 100,000 Mustangs in the first year. Instead, more than 400,000 were sold, and within 18 months the Mustang had reached the million-car milestone.
Mustang mania was real, and some buyers weren’t particularly patient about getting one. One of the most famous stories came from Chicago, where a 22-year-old schoolteacher named Gail Wise became the first to purchase a Mustang. She drove away from the dealership in a blue convertible just days before Lee Iacocca and Henry Ford II unveiled the car at the New York World’s Fair. Another widely reported incident involved a buyer who slept in his newly purchased Mustang at a dealership until his check cleared, worried someone else might drive away with it. The Mustang was the car that EVERYONE suddenly had to have.
Of course, not all Mustangs were created equal. Ford offered them with countless options so each Mustang could be customized for the buyer in the showroom. For enthusiasts who wanted something with a little more attitude, the fastback body style, GT equipment and legendary K-code V-8 made an already desirable car even more exciting.
That brings us to this 1965 Ford Mustang GT fastback offered as part of Barrett-Jackson’s 2026 November Digital Select Auction, a beautifully restored example that spent more than four decades tucked away before receiving a second chance to shine.
And this one has something particularly special under the hood.
Power comes from its original VIN-stamped K-code 289ci High-Performance V-8, producing 271 horsepower and paired with a factory Toploader four-speed manual transmission. An original Ford 9-inch rear end with 3.50 gears completes the drivetrain.
For Mustang enthusiasts, that little phrase “K-code” carries plenty of weight, and models bearing that designation are considered among the most desirable classic Mustangs. The engine retains its special high-performance components, including the original-specification carburetor, solid-lifter camshaft, Hi-Po cylinder heads, radiator, harmonic balancer, exhaust manifolds and distributor.
Factory GT equipment adds fog lights, dual exhaust, front disc brakes and quick-ratio manual steering. In other words, this wasn’t the Mustang you bought just to look good cruising through town. It was built for drivers who enjoyed the journey as much as the destination.
Scheduled for production on June 3, 1965, this Mustang originally called California home before finding its way to North Carolina, where it entered storage in 1980. There it remained for an astonishing 42 years, until the consignor acquired it in 2022.
Rather than reinventing the car, the decision was made to bring it back to its original glory.
A comprehensive nut-and-bolt restoration, completed in May 2026, returned the Mustang to factory-original specifications. The body was stripped to bare metal, revealing an impressive collection of original sheet metal, including the floors, quarter-panels, doors, hood, trunk lid, frame rails, inner fender aprons, roof, trunk drop-offs, trunk pan and rocker panels.
Even the underbody received the proper red oxide primer finish, consistent with factory specifications. Original and new-old-stock components were utilized wherever available, with photographs and receipts documenting the restoration.
The finished result is 1960s Mustang magic. Its original Code K Silver Smoke Gray paint is accented by red GT stripes, while the Code 26 Black Standard interior keeps things appropriately classic. Styled Steel wheels wrapped in dual red-line radial tires complete the look.
Some cars are worth waiting for. After 42 years in storage, this K-code Mustang has certainly earned its moment back in the spotlight.
Register to bid today for the Nov. 5-12 auction, only on Barrett-Jackson.com.
This article was originally published on Barrett-Jackson.com.
