Good morning! It’s Friday, when we do something out of the ordinary around here, and I just felt like this week’s choices didn’t lend themselves to a four-way shootout. So we’ll stick with the same-price theme, and just up the ante a little bit.
Yesterday I gave you two bad choices, and I had no idea which way you were going to go. As it turns out, most of you agreed with my thinking that the Pontiac has more potential, and represents a better value anyway because it runs and drives. I’m definitely in favor of the V8 swap ideas, but don’t forget to change that rear axle ratio, too; I’m sure it has at best a 2.73 gear set. A 700R4 overdrive transmission and some lower gears would make it a lot more pleasant.
I have nothing but respect for the Yugo, but I feel like you could probably find one that hasn’t been mothballed since before The Matrix had a sequel for a similar price. And I fear that if I ever got a Yugo, I’d always be disappointed that I didn’t hold out for a real Fiat 128, like I actually want.
Now then: It seems to me that the internet has been great for classic cars if you sell them, but maybe not so much if you’re hunting for bargains. You’re not likely to score that local treasure for a song when someone from a thousand miles away can find the same listing and outbid you. And since auction prices are generally public knowledge, asking prices for ordinary sales have gone up, too. It seems to me that neither of these cars would have cost this much a few years ago, but here we are. Which one is worth it these days? Let’s find out.
1965 Ford Mustang – $15,000
Engine/drivetrain: 200 cubic inch overhead valve inline 6, three-speed manual, RWD
Location: San Leandro, CA
Odometer reading: 26,000 miles (probably 126,000)
Operational status: Runs and drives great
If you say the words “classic car” to a non-car person in America, chances are they’re going to picture either a ’57 Chevy, or a ’65 Mustang. You can find ten of these in just about any car show in the country. So what could possibly make it special enough to care about? Easy: Someone loves it. That’s all it takes. The seller bought this car from their uncle, did a shit-ton of work on it, and have been enjoying it. There are millions of others like it, as the saying goes, but this one is theirs, and it could be yours.
It’s nothing special under the hood either, just an inline six and a three-speed manual. But it has a long list of new parts listed in the ad, and it runs like a top. The aluminum radiator is a nice touch, and the chrome dress-up kit is not something you see too often on a six-cylinder. It’s got all new fluids, new tires, a new battery, and lots more.
The interior is in nice shape as well, though the seller reports that the stock gauges don’t work except for the speedometer. They’ve added aftermarket gauges to cover oil pressure, coolant temperature, and fuel level – everything you need. The passenger’s seat upholstery also has a tear in it, but it’s not like Mustang restoration parts are hard to come by, if you wanted to fix it.
Also – and this is the big deal – it has been stripped to bare metal and repainted. No rust here. I have no idea if this is an original ’65 Mustang color, but I like it. It’s subtle. And, crucially, not “resale red.” The seller replaced all the weatherstripping after the repaint, too, so no worries about rain leaks.
1984 Toyota 4×4 Pickup – $15,000
Engine/drivetrain: 2.4-liter overhead cam inline 4, five-speed manual, part-time 4WD
Location: Rohnert Park, CA
Odometer reading: 378,000 miles (!)
Operational status: Runs and drives great
If a classic Mustang doesn’t do it for you, how about an indestructible Toyota truck? If neither Jeremy Clarkson nor Marty McFly could kill one, there isn’t much chance of anyone else doing it. This one has lived a good long life, covering almost 400,000 miles in its forty years.
It’s not what you’d call stock anymore; it has at least a few inches of lift to clear 33-inch tires, a locking rear diff, and short off-road gearing. A tube bumper equipped with a winch show that someone meant business with this truck. It’s powered by a 22R four-cylinder and a five-speed stick, both rebuilt 20 years ago. It runs and drives great, according to the seller, and used to be a daily driver not long ago.
We don’t get any interior photos except this shot of the dash, showing the impressive number on the odometer. I presume the rest of the interior is in poor shape. It looks like some interior restoration parts are available, if you were so inclined.
The outside isn’t great either; it’s got dents, rust, and a Krylon and Rhino-Liner paint job. I imagine it was originally blue, but not this shade of blue. It’s a good-looking truck, but I’m not sure I’d call it “clean,” condition-wise.
Fifteen thousand dollars sounds like a lot for an old car, but based on these, it doesn’t seem to buy you much these days. One thing I can say for both of them is that they’ve clearly both been well-loved and well taken care of. One is clean and fresh, while the other still wears its battle scars. So what’ll it be – the shiny Mustang, or the beat-up truck?
(Image credits: sellers)
First Year Mustang?
All day long despite the V6.
Because a V8 you know would go for a lot more.
If that Toyota was anything close to stock, I would be all over it. $15k for somebody’s beat-up toy? Not a chance.
I’m not a fan of the OG Mustang, but the fact that somebody has shown that much love and attention to detail to a base 6-cylinder model warms my heart.
Wtf is up with these prices? Fancy Falcon for Fifteen I guess.
Man, I would’ve chosen the Toyota in a heartbeat… until I looked at it. That thing has been beat within an inch of its life. As a $5000 truck, I’d take it any day of the week, but not for 3x that. I think I’d have to take the vehicle that is less likely to rust out from beneath the questionable “paint” that was put on it. I’ll reluctantly choose the Mustang, even though I don’t much care for them.
As a side note, I love the “Serious inquiries only.” in the Toyota ad. As if your asking price is even remotely serious. 😀
It’s basically a rock buggy starter kit, but you can buy a completed one for less.
Exactly this.
It would at least be fun to take it for a test drive to prove it’s ability to go 70MPH with that gear ratio in the pumpkins. I think 5K truck is still very generous.
I was being a bit generous, but only because I have a soft spot for the 22R with a 5 speed. That drivetrain will go forever. But, solid point about 70MPH being….. questionable.
I remember when I owned a contemporary 720 Ext Cab 4×4 with 30″ tires, 4.11 gear ratio and a 3″ lift. It could barely do 70MPH on a flat surface at about 3500 RPMs. I guess the Toyota would be around the same
even with a 5 speed OD 5.29 gears would make it scream. even on 33’s
The owner of that truck is nuts! Gimme the Mustang!
Give me the truck. I’m not paying five figures for a six-cylinder Mustang, I don’t care how nice it is.
Classic Mustang easy. I could drive that every weekend and work on with no trouble.
I like Toyota pickups. Lifted 4×4’s esp. But I don’t need a 40 year old Toyo pickup with dents and rust and somewhat questionable mods for $15k. I could find one today that’s 15 years old and has what I need for around the same price and is in better shape.
Not to be excessively curmudgeonly, but my two cents says I’m skipping this round. I’ve never been as enamored of old (or new, TBH) Mustangs as some folks are, and while I love me an old Toyota pickup, I’m fine with 2WD (actually, I’d prefer it) and I’d never want a lift kit since it makes it that much harder to do truck things with the truck (by which I mean loading/carrying stuff, not rock hopping).
Plus, $15K is more than I’d feel happy about spending on a car that didn’t really push my buttons.
I’d rather spend $15K on a decent driver 67-68 coupe with a V8 and a 3-spd, its going to be more searching but they sold enough to not be a huge task. This one is nice, but if it was stripped down and slightly modified I would have tried and find a 250ci to give it a bit more power.
That Toyota is 10K too much, even if you REALLY wanted one…
Let me just say I am a HUGE fan of Toyota 4x4s. I’ve owned many and have two Land Cruisers today.
But that beater pickup with bedliner hiding rust and a very questionable lift is not even close to $15k! They need to take that $15k and cut it to 1/5 of that.
The cared for slow cruisin Mustang wins. Easily.
The Mustang is nice, even if it doesn’t quite feel like a $15k car. A V8 would’ve clenched it, and a more period-appropriate color. However, even the Toyota tax can’t explain the price on that truck. It’s BEAT! At half the mileage and half the cost, it’d be a tougher decision, but it’s losing to the Mustang today.
They are both desirable models – who wouldn’t want a classic Mustang or a classic Toyota 4×4?
My brother had a ’65 Mustang with the straight six and a three-speed manual. It was nothing special, really. People love Mustangs – they are beautiful cars and are likely to only appreciate in value. I’d get something else for fifteen grand.
The Toyota pickup is in huge demand, and the supply isn’t getting any better. It would be awesome, if it weren’t so lousy. The orange peel is visible in the pictures, it has loads of uncorrected defects and nearly 400,000 miles. This is not worth half of the asking price. A few years ago it would have been a $1500 truck in this condition.
It should be a difficult choice that finally reveals something insightful about the person making the decision. So the advice in this comment is to invest in $15,000 of high-dividend REIT stock instead, and keep enjoying the collection that you already have… and the dividend checks.
Even thought he mustang is a 6 cylinder it still has nice paint and interior. That toyota is a 4k truck tops. Someone is smoking meth.
I’d go with the Mustang, but there are a lot of 6-cylinder coupes out there for that price or less. Not a fan of the aluminum radiator or the dress-up kit. I replaced my radiator on my 66 289 with a stock unit, works great and looks way better. Aluminum radiators look OK on hot rods, race cars, and modified cars – this Mustang is none of those.
For $15k?
Neither. That’s way too much even for internet money.
That Toyota is just too ruined. Too bad I would really like one in a decent condition.
I think I’ll be in the minority here, because I’m going with the Toyota. I’ll always love the Mustang, and this one is lovely. But I’m in in my 50’s and can’t forego the ability to haul stuff just so I can have the luxury of tooling down main street in a classic Ford. That experience is for my 60’s.
You’re not hauling much in that Toyota, and a far more capable truck can be had for 1/3 the price in the form of a 00-06 GMT800 truck. That Yota is an offroad toy.
I don’t think that $15k is out of line at all for that Mustang. The Toyota is a far different matter. The Mustang presents really well, even if it’s in “secretary-spec”. Sure it would be better with a 289, but at least it’s a manual – and it’s not like you would be ripping around with it anyway. Not this one at least – it’s a little too pretty and original-ish for any of that. It’s an enjoyably simple classic weekend cruiser and doesn’t need to be anything else.
Yep: not everything has to be fast.
Yeah being from the rust belt this mustang seems like a good price.
I’m a little skeptical of this particular Mustang, but assuming no major shenanigans I would likely enjoy it. 15k for that Toyota is bong-rippin’ ridiculous. No freaking way. So by default, Mustang wins.
I’m sure that Taco will survive the heat death of the universe, but it won’t be in my metaphorical garage when it does.
“Metaphorical Garage.” Band name, called it.
We’ll take the Mustang, and not do a danged thing to it except drive it.
Mustang. Even if the Toyota was for sale out here in Colorado, where Toyota pickups and Tacomas command unreasonable prices regardless of miles and conditions, that price is absolutely bonkers.
Some one has messed with that Mustang quite a bit. The question is whether they stuck a 6 in a V8 car or swapped in the brakes and rear axle from a V8 onto a 6cyl car. Either way a plus if you want to drop a V8 in.
As long as the sheet metal repairs were done well and complete, the Mustang wins this horse trade. That’s basically what the $15k is paying for.
I love 80s Toyota 4runners and trucks but my god that thing should be mint for that price. Would much rather have the mustang for 15k even with the inline.
I owned a 67 Mustang for a while that had been hacked together by too many different people. I sold it because it wasn’t worth the effort and I wanted to buy an engagement ring, but I have always said I would buy another that was cleaner some day and a California car should offer that. I would swap out the engine for a pushrod 5.0L with an alphabet cam and drive it around as is. I do wish it was a 67-69 though I prefer their appearance.