Almost any car is one of one if you break things down far enough, but that’s a cynical way to view this truly uncommon 1973 Mustang Convertible. With 11,853 sold, the ’73 ragtop was actually quite successful as the end of that bodystyle’s first act drew to a close, but the combination of options on this particular example make it worth a second look. Barn Finds reader Mitchell G. spotted it on eBay in Schenectady, New York. This pony car will need a complete restoration in addition to some extensive metalwork, but at no reserve, the initial purchase price may make the project viable. The current high bid is a mere $1,050.
The seller has included a picture of the car’s Marti Report, which is where things take an interesting turn. This ’73 is one of only 968 convertibles with the 266-horsepower Q-Code 351 four barrel, and of those, 675 had the C6 automatic. Of those, 80 were painted in this car’s snappy “Blue Glow Metallic” paint, and 35 of those had white knitted bucket seats. Of that 35, only 13 had a 3.25:1 Traction-Lok rear end, and so on and so forth. You can quickly surmise how almost any given car can be a one-of-one. Still, a 351 convertible with a 3.25 Traction-Lok? That’s a project car worth taking on.
And it will be a project that’s done because the buyer loves the big Mustangs of 1971 to 1973, since the restoration will certainly cost more than the finished product is worth. Sometimes, however, we need to remember that we do these things because we love the car, or because the car is historically significant; this is not a hobby that makes a lot of sense, after all. Luckily, Mustang parts are among the easiest to find, including interior soft parts such as upholstery and carpet.
That parts availability rightly extends to sheet metal, as the epithet “Rustang” is more than just a Chevy-lover’s bashing session. The pictures of the undercarriage are not the sharpest I’ve seen, but you can see enough to know that some work in the floors, rockers, and maybe even subframes is going to be on your bingo card.
If the price is right and you like doing the work (or if price is no object and you simply like the car), those are small matters. With no reserve, chances are good that the purchase price will be reasonable, so perhaps this, ahem, “one-of-one” Mustang is the one for you.
When it comes down to the extreme minutiae of a car being a “one of one” because of items like a heavy duty battery, it is just an anecdote – something to footnote on one of those car show boards. It does not add any value nor desirability.
You are right, they should have shown the Marti report and not commented on it. The 1 of 1 seems contrived, especially on a car like this with truly rare and desirable option yet relying on a heavy duty battery to get there.. The car will sell itself, either as a parts car or project, probably at a low price based on how the auction is trending. Whoever ordered this car knew their way around an order form, 351-4V, traction lock, power windows, tach and gauges, AC, Rim blow horn and AM/FM stereo, only a 4spd and Ram Air would make it better.
It would be nice to find out if this car gets restored or parted out. That’s the thing about high prices, they guarantee a cars survival.
Someone needs to ditch the wing, it is nothing but ugly on anything other than a Mach 1 or Boss 351.
Steve R
The detail in Marti reports combined with the number of individual options available on early Mustangs makes a 1:1 designation basically irrelevant, but based on body style and drivetrain alone, this is an uncommon and desirable Mustang. Throw in the color combo and the numerous options on the car, and it could be a real showpiece if restored. The order type is listed as “Company Lease Plan,” which suggests it was ordered by a company employee who was eligible to participate in Ford’s lease program. Participants could order a car to their specs, and they were given a one-year lease at a substantially reduced cost compared to a retail buyer. The low lease payment even included insurance. It was a significant perk for managers.
To further illustrate the desirability and exclusivity using only major components, a 351-4v automatic convertible was less than half a percent of 1973 Mustang production.
Was that striping package available as a factory option on a non-Mach, or is that afternarket?
The seller also has the green convertible that is shown in one of the pictures up on EBay. It is in much worse condition than this one. https://www.ebay.com/itm/286525175578?itmmeta=01JT8Y8FWTRQRDXMM3MD6TPBWC&hash=item42b63b371a:g:HdYAAOSwolRoDkZP
Sold on 5/4/2025 for a high bid of $4,050.
Steve R