Original 1966 Mustang Fastback
We always appreciate receiving information and photos on special cars. We can’t use them all but we do try to publish the ones we find especially interesting and unique. Any well preserved survivor meets that criteria. Here is a 1966 Mustang fastback that was brought to our attention recently and thought you might enjoy knowing more about it.
The following story on the Jim & Earla Turcich’ s 1966 K code GT Mustang fastback was submitted to us by Roger Whittaker. Thank you Roger!
If you walk around Jim & Earla Turcich’ s 1966 K code GT Mustang fastback a few times you may begin to notice that something is different. It’s the type of things that go largely unnoticed when you first see the car and perhaps therein lies the rub. The car doesn’t get out much, in fact prior to last year’s Lake Mirror (Fla) Concours it had been decades since it’s last show and even longer since it had been driven any significant miles.
Perhaps we have become so used to seeing pristine examples on the lawns and show fields that we are subconsciously drawn to makes and models that naturally interest us and in doing so, miss some of the gems of the collector car hobby. That was exactly the case with the Turcich’ s HiPo fastback that admittedly I gave only a cursory glance at as I stood just steps away fawning over a line of vintage Shelby’s, Cobra Jets and Bosses.
It wasn’t until my second pass through the show that I noticed the small “High Performance” badge behind 289 emblem on the Turcich’ s Mustang that grabbed my attention. But there was more to this car now, something I hadn’t noticed before. While closer inspection of the “K” in the vin verified the pedigree, I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Looking further it was evident that this car belonged among the Shelby’s and Boss 429’s nearby. The potent GT four speed dressed in its Candy apple hue, styled steel wheels, pony interior and white GT stripes was worthy of much more than just look, and I was about to discover why.
Original and survivor are words in the car hobby that gets thrown around a lot. More often than not, they are associated with a pending transaction. While both labels certainly fit well into this cars description, one thing is for certain, it’s not for sale. After being rolled inside a basement early during the Nixon administration for over a decade with just twelve thousand of .35 cent a gallon miles on the clock, upon finding the car, the Turcich’ s added their name to the title over 30 years ago adding a paltry thousand miles of their own to the current 13,000 mile HiPo. “The car’s not perfect” says Turcich, “quality wasn’t exactly job 1 back then apparently.”
There are minor flaws if you look close enough, the color isn’t as deep as you see on a restored car, there are scuffs on the door sills and the wood grain steering wheel is cracked, but it’s the patina that rewards those who pause to look closer. A sure sign that says this car has been around a while, if not around the block quite as often. If it’s paperwork you desire, it’s there in abundance. Original Bill of sale and title, manufacture’s statement of origin, order forms, insurance, maintenance, original photos even the original keys. For added measure, the Ford performance parts that were added when new by the dealer are still on the car with the original factory pieces in the trunk along with the work order.
Aside from a few soft pieces, i.e. hoses, belts and tires that succumb to time and dry rot, the car appears exactly as it was stored away over 40 years ago. As collectibles go, this one possesses all three; desirability, provenance and excellent original condition and fortunately this time, I didn’t miss it.
