Rarest of Mustangs

wlewis_old · January 2, 2009 at 1:50 PM

In the world of classic Mustangs, how rare are K code cars compared to other categories of Mustangs, ie Boss 302's, Boss 429's, Mach 1 big blocks, Shelby's, etc?

I would guess Boss 429's are the rarest, followed by either Boss 302's or Shelby GT 350's? In a ranking of all the types, just wondering where K codes fit in.

Walter

Rohan_old · January 2, 2009 at 3:50 PM

If you're looking at total numbers produced rather than individual years, the BOSS 429 would be the rarest, followed by BOSS 302, then Shelby GT350. All are very different cars though. BOSS cars, Shelbys are individual models rather than engine code options. R codes and K codes are more comparable. Over 3 years there were approx 18,000 R codes against approx 13,000 K codes.

I think the best way to look at it is comparing K codes to other Mustang engine options of the particular year produced.

67 K codes are one of the rarest of all! - but I'm biased.

Edited by - Rohan on 01/02/2009 15:51:52

wlewis_old · January 2, 2009 at 4:24 PM

I was just curious. In watching Barrett Jackson and the other TV auctions, I've seen most other model and engine combinations go through, but not sure I've ever seen a K code of any description go through.

Walter

Edited by - wlewis on 01/02/2009 16:31:19

Edited by - wlewis on 01/02/2009 16:31:48

C6ZZKGT · January 2, 2009 at 6:07 PM Official Post

Walter, I was at a Mecum auction this fall in St Charles, Missouri for the specific purpose of inspecting a 65 KGT fastback for a client. It did go through but was bid much higher than the car was actually worth at $45,000. It did sell and a dealer now has it and has already tried to sell it once on Ebay for a much higher price. It has been discussed here in this forum.

-Fred-

J_Speegle_old · January 2, 2009 at 6:22 PM

Rarity all depends on how specific you want to get as most can be paired down to one of one or one of a handful.

IF your looking at the larger categories then the 65 GT350 and the 69 Boss 9's are near or at the top. You could argue that the 65's don't count since they were not built by Ford and are not Mustangs

Not allot of early cars (even K codes) end up at big auctions or at the prime time possibly why you have observed as you have.

round2K_old · January 2, 2009 at 8:28 PM

It would be interesting to compare the number of 64 1/2 - 66 K codes in the HiPo registry to the number of 65 & 66 Shelbys (including the Hertz cars) in the SAAC registry.

J_Speegle_old · January 2, 2009 at 10:12 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>

It would be interesting to compare the number of 64 1/2 - 66 K codes in the HiPo registry to the number of 65 & 66 Shelbys (including the Hertz cars) in the SAAC registry.

Since the SAAC register is based on paperwork/records and the Hipo Register is based on just reported info it would likely be like comparing apples and oranges.

Or comparing the VIN's in The Mustang Production Guide with K Marti's data base

Lots of differences - would not think that the Hipo Registry represents 10% of production, but that would be just a guess

round2K_old · January 3, 2009 at 9:19 AM

I was looking at it from the vantage point of cars that are still alive. We have the production numbers for both groups, but how many are reported to survive by right of being in either registry; maybe a little more like tangarines and mandarin oranges.

Epperstang_old · January 3, 2009 at 10:34 AM

The INDY Pace coupes are quite rare.

Less than 200 made, approx. 50 still known.

Probably half that driveable.

J.

Mu5tanggt_old · January 3, 2009 at 8:05 PM

Pace cars are so rare its hard to put a value on them. My first Mustang was a clapped out Pace Car, didn't know it till later. Was a running joke in my local club that she was a Pace Car because of her color combo. Turns out later she really was. Sold it for 1,000 in 1986, at that time only 8 had been found and it was so rare nobody knew what to do with them. Been trying to find it lately just for curiosity sake (vin 5F07F112870), could not afford to buy it back now. Definatly very rare, but not very exciting like my Dad's K code I have now!

Edited by - Mu5tanggt on 01/03/2009 20:06:23

Edited by - Mu5tanggt on 01/03/2009 20:07:21

round2K_old · January 3, 2009 at 9:34 PM

There is a restored pace car coupe for sale in California now. It is an original and I have seen the restoration photos and the car up close. It is not listed on the open market. It is interesting that dealers chose to remove the decals to sell them. Have any of the 3 convertibles with the Holman Moody prepped HiPos survived?

Edited by - round2K on 01/04/2009 09:59:32

CharlesTurner · January 4, 2009 at 11:09 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>

Have any of the 3 convertibles with the Holman Moody prepped HiPos survived?

Yes, only 1 known at this time. There was a nice article in Mustang Monthly with Steve Grant's PC coupe, which also gives lots of good information about the parade cars and actual pace cars.

earlyk_old · January 4, 2009 at 5:00 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>

In the world of classic Mustangs, how rare are K code cars compared to other categories of Mustangs, ie Boss 302's, Boss 429's, Mach 1 big blocks, Shelby's, etc?

I would guess Boss 429's are the rarest, followed by either Boss 302's or Shelby GT 350's? In a ranking of all the types, just wondering where K codes fit in.

Walter

The most rare cars are the Pre-Production Mustangs only a handful exist that were made in 1964 ,67,and 69

and then a non rebody 64 1/2 K vert would have to rank up their very high as well

cobraboy · January 9, 2009 at 8:56 AM

Does anyone have a rough idea of how many 1965 fastbacks were produced ?

Murf_old · January 9, 2009 at 9:19 AM

According to accepted figures there were 77,079 produced in 1965. Only 5,776 fastbacks had the "pony" interior and are included in this number. This also includes the 562 fastbacks which became 65 Shelbys.

RalphJr · January 9, 2009 at 12:15 PM

I have seen an original 64 1/2 HiPo convert - have pics too - no rebody! It was at the Tulsa, Ok National MCA show in the late 80's - Talked to the owner - great story - it was a very early car by the datecode and he had lots of unique stuff being one of the first HiPos - he documented a lot of this stuff - it even had HiPo or High Perf written in paint inside the trunk area on the axle hump - they found this as they were stripping the car for the restoration. I seem to remember the guy was from illinois - gas station owner - and I think Mustang Monthly did an article too - nice car - very rare.

The guy doing the sheet metal repair and paint on my K 2+2 has one of the 12 original World's Fair convertible carousel cars - has special mounting locations from the exhibit. Car also has the special paint and body treatment - full smooth door jam areas and stuff.

Car was found and rescued from a salvage yard in the South - awaiting a full resto as parts are collected.

J_Speegle_old · January 11, 2009 at 12:04 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>

According to accepted figures there were 77,079 produced in 1965. Only 5,776 fastbacks had the "pony" interior and are included in this number. This also includes the 562 fastbacks which became 65 Shelbys.

John are these the numbers from Walter Millers book?

If so always wondered where those came from originally

dunc289_old · January 11, 2009 at 9:49 AM

has there been a discussion of the veracity of this number? What is the overall feeling of this number compared to the educated guess' of our hipo site? Anyone?<img src=images/icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=images/icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

CharlesTurner · January 11, 2009 at 10:11 AM

The pace car coupes are rare in numbers, but have always felt that the low options and the non-performance orientation of the cars held back the values. Ford could have taken an opportunity to do something more special with those cars, like at least put a 4 speed in them and handling package. Otherwise, they're basically just a car with special paint and decals. Now, one of the 3 original track cars would have to be up there on the rare scale and the desirability scale. I know one went on auction last year, but don't think it was in the right place at the right time for selling.

As far as the general production numbers, those type of numbers would normally have been published by Ford to the media and are most likely taken directly from the database while it still existed.

Murf_old · January 11, 2009 at 10:31 AM

The numbers I quoted are taken from "MUSTANG DOES IT" written by Ray Miller and published in 1978 by Evergreen Press, Oceanside, Ca., ISBN 0-0913056-09-X, Page 314 - 315. Quoted from footnotes at bottom of page 315 "Figures on these pages are from Ford Motor Company and the Shelby-American Automobile Club. The numbers were taken from the tables presented and my post was not a direct quote from the book, but only a summation of the numbers.

quote from previous post

"According to accepted figures there were 77,079 produced in 1965. Only 5,776 fastbacks had the "pony" interior and are included in this number. This also includes the 562 fastbacks which became 65 Shelbys."

Edited by - Murf on 01/11/2009 10:37:02

Edited by - Murf on 01/11/2009 10:39:46

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