So during the email exchanges with Doug Sr., I asked him for some more current pictures and the VIN number of the car – and he did one better. He sent me a picture of the Data Plate!

This data plate provides valuable information about my Uncle’s Mustang that will help guide in the restoration. Engine type, interior spec, transmission type, color code (important!) etc. Doug Sr. also referred me to a fantastic website – Scott Martin’s 1966 Mustang Convertible.  This website has a great deal of information about the 1966 Mustang in general, and had a tool that “decoded” the information on the data plate. Here is what the decoder and the website told me about the Mustang:

• Model year – 1966! That mystery was quickly solved – but there’s more!
• My Uncle’s Mustang is unit number 253,580 of 607,568 Ford Mustangs produced that year.
• The body code, 65B indicates that it’s a Coupe with Luxury Interior (Luxury Coupe) of which 55,938 were produced in 1966.
• The car was assembled right here in New Jersey! Metuchen to be exact.
• The interior trim is Aqua and White Luxury
• The engine is the 289cid 2v 200hp V8
• The production date was April 29, 1966 – My Nephew Michael’s birthday – 34 years later exactly!
• It has a Dual Range Automatic Transmission – the C-4 and a 2.8:1 rear axle ratio

This information is valuable to me because I can start setting some wheels in motion regarding the restoration – and certainly knowing the correct year of the car is a great start!!

Now I am certain, much more to come!!