COLLECTOR CODE
THIS FASTBACK MUSTANG CLAIMS A GOOD SET OF CREDENTIALS
IF YOU’RE A would-be Mustang owner, one of the cars that will most likely float to the top of your wish list will be an early K-code. Now while it might sound as though we’re speaking in code, there is a meaning behind the designation.
This referred to the model’s high-performance power train, which was initially only offered as a four-speed manual, though an auto did eventually follow.
The highlight was the engine, a 289 V8 like many others, but with serious working-over that included conrods, pistons, heads, valves and carburettor. To show you it had the right gear underneath, the engine sported a chrome air cleaner cover with ‘high performance 289’ emblazoned on it. That lot was thought to produce around 271 horses out of the factory, a significant jump (around 50 horses) over a stocker. You also scored a beefed-up driveline to cope with the extra urge and more enthusiastic use.
These were the basis for the famous and all-conquering Shelby cars as they were clearly a good platform for a Mustang for the track.
Because they cost a few hundred dollars extra, and not everyone was a budding racer, the production numbers were relatively low for this early series Mustang.
The owner, Phillip, picked up the car as a project and spent around nine years doing the restoration, down to some fairly exacting detail. A look in the engine bay suggests the work was done by people with an eye for detail.
An effort was made to save the original block and close-ratio transmission, plus the nine-inch diff.
It’s a November 1964 build, which is just before the GT option was offered. That also means it ran the fairly fruity Arvinode exhaust, which it has to this day.
Evidently it’s won a swag of trophies over time and it’s been included on the international K-code register, which is something you’d be looking for when authenticating a car like this.
It’s up for private sale in Queensland, for $118,000 as the owner has a new project in mind. See the listing at tradeuniquecars.com.au