1966 Shelby Mustang

Description

1966 Mustangs were available in coupe, fastback, and convertible forms.

After the great success of the Mustang's launch in 1964 as a 1965 model, the Mustang was little changed for 1966, its second year.

Engines remained the same as the late 1965 offerings. A 200 cubic inch inline six with 120 horsepower and 190 ft-lbs of torque was standard, with a 2- barrel 289 with 200 hp and 282 ft-lbs of torque, and a 4-barrel 289 with 225 hp and 305 ft-lbs of torque available. The top engine remained the HiPo (High Performance) 289 cid engine with 271 hp and 312 ft-lbs of torque.

For 1966 there was a new "brick-style" grill, and the horizontal chrome bars in the center of the grill were deleted.

The rear quarter panel chrome trim was changed and now had three horizontal bars (except for the Mustang GT). Back-up lights, mounted under the rear bumper, were now standard (they were formerly optional).

Fuel filler cap design was also changed, as were the standard hubcaps. The optional styled steel wheels retained the design they used in 1965.

The instrument panel gauge cluster was re-styled with five round gauges which better reflected the Mustang's sports car image.

1966 Shelby Mustang

The Shelby GT-350 was tamed a bit and could now be ordered with an automatic transmission. It now also came in four colors, and there was even a GT-350H version made especially for Hertz Rent A Car.

A supercharger was now optional, but very few were ordered. The 1966 GT-350 had windows in the rear sail panel instead of louvers, and had a back seat. The gas cap now had a cobra design.

1966 Mustang Key Differences

The "brick-style" grill was used only on 1966 Mustangs. The grill also lost its horizontal bars. The chrome trim on the side panel behind the doors gained three horizontal bars on non-GT Mustangs, which was unique for this year.

Similar Years

1965 to 1973 was the First Generation of Mustangs, though the first body style was produced only for the first two years, 1965 and 1966. The 1967-68 Mustangs were similar, but were completely redesigned.

How to Identify a 1966 Mustang

Overview

• First version of the First Generation Mustang (1965-1966)
• Coupe body style shown
• For '66 the Mustang was available in coupe, convertible, and fastback forms (1965 - 1973)
• The coupe had a smaller, more vertical rear window, and no C-pillar louvers (1965 - 1973)

1966 Mustang Fastback

• The fastback rear window was larger and more horizontal than the coupe's (1965-73)
• Louvers were set into the C-pillars behind the door windows (1965 - 1968)

1966 Mustang Grill

• The grill had no horizontal bars, and had a brick-style mesh (1966)

1966 Mustang Grill Horse Emblem

• The running horse emblem continued, and was surrounded by a rectangular "corral" (1965 - 1968)
• The horizontal and vertical chrome bars radiating from the horse emblem were removed (1966)

1966 Mustang Side Panel Trim

• The chrome trim on the lower side panel indentation now had three horizontal bars on non-GT Mustangs (1966)

1966 Mustang Gas Cap

• The gas cap design was unique to this year (1966)

1966 Mustang Rear Louvers

• Louvers adorned the C-pillars on fastback Mustangs (1965 - 1968)

1966 Mustang Hood

• "FORD" was spelled out along the front edge of the hood in chrome block letters (1965-68)

1966 Mustang Tail light

• The tail lights were unchanged from the previous year (1965-66)

1966 Mustang Back Up Light

• Round back-up lights were now standard (optional last year) and mounted under the bumper (1965 - 1970)

1966 Mustang Dash

• The standard Mustang dash had five dials set in a line (1966)

1966 Mustang Seat

• The standard seats were a single color and had horizontal pleats (1965 - 1973)

1966 Mustang Pony Interior

• The optional "Interior Decor Group", or Pony Interior, had upgraded seat coverings with contrasting color inserts (1965-66)

1966 Mustang Wire Wheel

• Simulated wire wheel hubcaps were optional

1966 Mustang 289 Engine

• The optional 289 cubic inch V-8 engine came in three versions for 1966: 200, 225, and 271 horsepower

1966 Shelby Mustang GT 350 Stripe

• Shelby Mustangs had a triple racing stripe running along the rocker panel (1965-1968)

1966 Shelby Mustang Rear Quarter Window

• For 1966 only, rear quarter windows replaced the louvers on Shelby Mustangs (1966)

1966 Shelby Mustang GT 350 Stripe

• Shelby Mustangs had a unique horizontal bar grill and a smaller Mustang emblem set off to the side (1966)

1966 Shelby Mustang Stripes

• Large racing stripes ran the length of Shelby Mustangs, from the front valence panel, to the rear of the car (1965 - 1968)

1966 Shelby Mustang Hood Scoop

• The fiberglass hood on Shelby Mustangs had a built-in functioning hood scoop (1965 - 1966)

1966 Shelby Mustang Brake Scoop

• Shelby Mustangs had a brake scoop mounted on the rear fender just behind the door (1965-1970)

1966 Shelby Mustang Gas Cap

• A cobra design gas cap was unique to Shelby Mustangs (1966 - 1968)

1966 Shelby Mustang Dash

• Shelby Mustangs came with a dash mounted tachometer (1966)

More 1966 Mustang Pictures

For more photos of vintage 1966 Mustangs, visit the First Generation Mustang Gallery at the Muscle Car Jungle.

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