General Year Information

The grille featured a floating Mustang emblem in the center, with no large horizontal or vertical dividing bars, merely a thin series if horizontal bars in the back. Brand new trim, on the rear fender, featured three chrome strips leading into the simulated scoop. This was the first year of federally mandated safety standards and all 1966 Fords included front and rear seat belts, padded instrument panel, emergency flashers, electric wipers, and windshield washers as standard equipment.

In addition. the list of regular Mustang features were still included: front bucket seats, pleated vinyl upholstery and interior trim, Sports type steering wheel, five dial instrument cluster, full carpeting, heater and defroster, left-hand door outside rear view mirror, back-up lamps, door courtesy lights, rocker panel moldings, full wheel covers, three-speed manual transmission with floor lever control, and 200 CID120 HP six-cylinder engine. The fastback coupe also came with special Silent-Flo ventilation and that model’s base V-8 engine was the 200 HP version of the “289”.

Historical Notes

The 1966 Mustangs were introduced on October 1, 1965, on the same day as all other Fords. Model year production hit 607,568 Mustangs with the car acquiring an amazing 7.1 percent share of all American car sales. Total series output was 607,568 units. This figure included 7,889 Luxury fastbacks, 55,938 Luxury hardtops, 12,520 Luxury convertibles, 21,397 hardtops equipped with bench seats, and 3,190 convertibles equipped with bench seats.

Models Offered

Click the Tab to See the Details

Significant Options

• • Accent striping, less rear quarter ornamentation ($13.90).
  • Air conditioner ($310.90).
  • All glass tinted with banded windshield ($30.25).
  • Battery, Heavy-duty 55 ampere ($7.44).
  • Center console with air conditioning ($31.52).
  • Center console, full length ($50.41).
  • Closed crankcase emissions system, except with high-performance V-8 ($5.19).
  • Disc brakes, manual with V-8 only ($56.77).
  • Equa-Lock Limited-slip differential ($41.60).
  • Exhaust emissions control system, except with high-performance V-8 ($45.45).
  • Fourteen-inch styled steel wheels, on V-8 models only ($93.84).
  • Front seat safety belts, deluxe, retractable and warning lamp ($14.53).
  • Front seat, full-width with armrest, for Styles 65A and 76A only, ($24.42).
  • GT Equipment group, with high-performance V-8 only, includes: dual exhausts; fog lamps; special ornamentation; disc brakes; GT racing stripes (rocker panel moldings deleted); and Handling Package components ($152.20).
  • Interior Decor Group, includes special interior trim; Deluxe wood-grain steering wheel; rear window door courtesy lights and pistol grip door handles ($94.13).
  • Power brakes ($42.29).
  • Power convertible top ($52.95).
  • Power steering ($84.47).
  • Radio and antenna ($57.51).
  • Rally-Pack instrumentation includes clock and tachometer ($69.30).
  • Rear deck luggage rack, except fastback ($32.44).
  • Special Handling Package, with 200 and 225 HP V-8 engines, includes increased rate front and rear springs, larger front and rear shocks; 22:1 overall steering ratio and large diameter stabilizer bar ($30.64).
  • Steering wheel, deluxe with simulated wood-grained rim ($31.52).
  • Stereo tape player, AM radio mandatory ($128.49).
  • Tire options, exchange prices listed indicate cost above base equipment: 6.95 x 14 four-ply rated whitewall ($33.31); nylon blackwall ($15.67); nylon whitewall ($48.89); nylon with dual red band design, on cars with high-performance V-8 (no charge); all other ($48.97). No charge for substitution of nylon blackwalls or whitewalls on cars with high-performance V-8.
  • Vinyl top, hardtop only ($74.36).
  • Visibility Group, includes remote-control outside rearview mirror; day/nite inside mirror and two-speed electric wipers ($29.81).
  • Wheel covers with simulated knock-off hubs ($19.48).
  • Windshield tinted banded only ($21.09).
  • Windshield wiper, two-speed electric ($12.95).
  • Wire wheel covers, simulated ($58.24).

NOTE:

• • MagicAire heater could be deleted for $45.45 credit.
  • Air conditioning, three-speed manual transmission, power steering and U.S. Royal tires NOT available in combination with high-performance V-8.
  • Power brakes and accent striping NOT available with GT Equipment Group.
  • Full-width front seat NOT available in cars with Interior Decor Group, or Model 63A or cars with console options.

Body Paint Color Codes

Click on the Paint Code Name to See the Mix Codes for the appropriate color:

1966 Mustang

Engine Options

• • Challenger 200 horsepower V-8 ($105.63).
  • Challenger four-barrel 225 horsepower V-8 ($158.48).
  • Challenger 271 horsepower high-performance V-8 including Special Handling Package, in standard Mustang ($433.55); in Mustang GT ($381.97). NOTE: The total cost of the 271 HP engine was $327.92 on regular Mustangs and $276.34 on Mustang GTs, plus the cost of the base V-8 attachment over the six (which was $105.63).

Power Train Options

Transmissions

• • Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission, with six ($175.80); with standard V-8s ($185.39); with high-performance V-8 ($216.27).
  • Four-speed manual floor shift transmission, with six ($113.45); with all V-8s ($184.02).
  • Three-speed manual transmission standard, except 271 HP where 4-speed was standard.

Transmission Ratios

• • Three-Speed Manual Transmission
    I-6: First: 2.76:1, Second: 1.69:1, Third 1:1. Reverse: 3.74:1
    V-8: First: 2.79:1, Second: 1.70:1, Third 1:1. Reverse: 2.87:1
  • Four-Speed Manual Transmission
    I-6 and V-8: First: 3.16:1, Second: 2.21:1, Third 1.41:1, Fourth: 1:1. Reverse: 3.35:1
    Optional in the 2-barrel 289 V-8: First: 2.78:1, Second: 1.93:1, Third: 1.36:1, Fourth: 1:1. Reverse: 2.78:1
    Hi-Po V-8: First: 2.32:1, Second: 1.69:1, Third: 1.29:1, Fourth: 1:1. Reverse: 2.32:1 (Optional on all 289 CID V-8s)
  • Three-Speed Automatic Transmission
    Low: 2.46:1, Second: 1.46:1, Direct 1.00:1. Reverse: 2.20:1. Hi-Po V-8 had higher up shift calibration.

Rear Axle

• • Manual Transmission: I-6
    Three Speed: 3.20:1
    Four-speed: 3.20:1
    Automatic: 2.83:1; 3.20:1 optional
  • Manual Transmission: 200 HP V-8
    –  Three Speed: 2.80:1
    –  Four-speed: 2.80:1
    –  Automatic: 2.80:1
  • Manual Transmission: 225 HP V-8
    –  Three Speed: 3.00:1
    –  Four-speed: 3.00:1
    –  Automatic: 3.00:1
  • Manual Transmission – 271 HP V-8
    Three Speed: 3.50:1 opt 3.89:1
    Four-speed: 3.50:1 opt 3.89:1
  • Equa-lock axle available on all models.