2005 Ford Mustang GT

Built in 2005 and registered in the UK in December of that year, this car is a V8-powered Ford Mustang GT Premium with 5-speed automatic transmission in left-hand-drive. Compared to the standard GT, the Premium model had auto as standard, bright alloy wheels rather than painted, and leather interior trim as well as a host of other extras.

Our vendor has owned the car from new; buying it from a dealer in Mexico City of all places and importing it himself. It is therefore a US-spec car but all the adjustments, such as lighting, have been correctly and legally made to UK requirements. All documentation surrounding the sale, shipping, import and registration is retained in the history file.

Having only driven just over 15,400 miles in the 17 years since, it’s safe to say that it has been something of a special occasion car, but he’s also managed a few trips into France and Spain where he says the left-hand-drive really comes in handy.

When not in use, the car has either been in professional storage or kept under wraps in the owner’s garage. If anything has ever gone wrong - and it hasn’t happened much - he’s taken it to a specialist to sort out.

Since the pandemic, when few people went anywhere anyway, the family has grown and needs to carry more stuff around. A 2+2 coupe is no longer adequate for their needs so other cars have fulfilled the role that the Mustang previously played. That, and a hankering for a classic ‘66 Mustang, means that this beauty is now up for sale.

Appropriately given its origins, this Mustang is finished in “Rojo Mexicano” - or Mexican Red for those of you who don’t “habla”. The exterior paint and bodywork looks immaculate, a testament to how well the owner has cherished the car over the last 17 years. There are, of course, a few age-related blemishes and chips but nothing worthy of a specific mention. Please see the gallery below for a further view of the cosmetic condition.

The rear windscreen and quarter windows are tinted, presumably with a film which has developed a number of air bubbles at the rear and would benefit from removal or reapplication. It also looks like the light lenses around the car also carry a slight tint.

The Mustang GT sits on its 17-inch Premium-spec bright alloy wheels. There are a few tiny scuffs here and there, especially around the bolts, but they otherwise present beautifully. All are shod with Pirelli PZero Nero maximum performance tyres.

The same story of careful ownership extends to the interior of the Mustang. Both the soft upholstery and the harder trim surfaces appear in excellent order with no apparent damage or undue wear.

The seats - which the owner reports to be extremely comfortable - are trimmed in red leather with perforated seat panels. The door inserts are also in perforated red leather but appear to have a slight sag in the middle where they are perhaps coming unstuck from the backing.

Elsewhere, all other trim and upholstery is black or grey and appears to be vinyl aside from the leather steering wheel rim. The contrasting milled silver panel breaks up what might otherwise be a rather plain dashboard.

The centre console houses the original Shaker 500 6CD radio and controls for the heating and air conditioning. The vendor says that the A/C blows very cold and isn’t aware of any equipment that doesn’t work as it should.

We can’t describe the interior without drawing attention to the automatic gear shift - if you haven’t spotted it already. What a monster! It must be such a satisfying thing to squeeze the thumb button and pull that huge lever back as if you’re engaging warp drive on the USS Enterprise.

The black carpets look clean and tidy with red overmats for additional protection, and up above the headlining is also intact and taut.

The engine bay looks almost as well kept as the car’s exterior, with everything clean and tidy and nothing showing anything other than signs of normal use. The undersides are a similar story, with nothing untoward to catch the MOT inspector’s eye.

Although the opening looks a little restrictive, the boot itself is spacious and has clean and intact linings and carpet. The rear seats (limited use for full-sized humans) split-fold to offer additional load space if required.

The only issue of note is that the key barrel in the boot lock no longer works, thanks to an attempted break-in (which didn’t succeed and didn’t damage the car). It still locks and unlocks properly with the keyfob and central locking, however.

The Mustang has a current MOT valid until July 2023, which it passed first time with no advisories. In fact it has never attracted an advisory or fail in its whole history of annual testing. Aside from what was probably a slip of the 2018 tester’s pen in recording the wrong odometer reading against the car, the online history validates the current low mileage of around 15,500 miles.

The documents folder includes the original owner’s book pack - en español of course. It also contains the original sale, shipping and import documents. Furthermore it includes past MOT certificates and other invoices for things like alarm installation and servicing.

In terms of maintenance, the owner says that very little has ever gone wrong with the car. Last year, an engine warning light came on so he took the car to Pilgrim Motorsports, and they diagnosed a fault with the throttle body, which was replaced. It then had an MOT, and has been barely driven since.

Everyone loves a Mustang - especially one with the basso rumble of a cross-plane crank V8 under the hood. The fifth generation, like this one in US-specification, is particularly popular with enthusiasts who value modernity but also the true American-ness of a muscle car built in the outskirts of Detroit with the steering wheel on the wrong side.

This one is a cracking example, with very low mileage and a striking colour specification in beautiful condition. We think it will sell for between £15,000 and £20,000, which we find astonishingly affordable for what is already something of a modern classic.

With the clean roads of Spring hopefully not far away - now’s a great time to scratch that Mustang itch and get those 300 wild horses out for a gallop.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located in Steyning, West Sussex; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.