This 1968 Mustang Fastback has a few factors working in its favor as a project car. The first of these is that its former rust issues have all now been addressed. The second is that as you look around at the background of this photo, you can see that there is a pretty decent chance that the current owner might be able to supply some of the major parts that would be required to complete a restoration. The Mustang is located in Monterey, California, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $8,100 but the reserve hasn’t been met. There is also a BIN option, and this has been set at $12,000.
The Fastback started its life painted Acapulco Blue, and you can still see traces of this in a few spots around the car. It previously had rust issues in the usual places that tend to be prone on a Mustang, but the single shot that the owner supplies of the underside show floors and a frame that appears to now be clean and solid. Both rear quarter panels have also been replaced, but the owner admits that the work on these will need to be completed. There is still some rust present below the rear window, but any remaining rust issues would seem to be little more than surface corrosion. It looks like the deck lid, bumpers, and a few other external items are missing, but you may be able to source replacement parts through the seller. The glass is also largely okay, with the occasional nick or scratch. The windshield, however, is cracked and will require replacement.
The engine bay looks to be quite clean, but it does lack one or two items. This was originally home to a C-Code 289ci V8 and 4-speed manual transmission, but these are long gone. The Mustang was also fitted with power steering and power disc brakes. Interestingly, this was a car that was scheduled for Canadian delivery, so the Marti Report shows it as being specified with the Canadian Non-Emission System. The next owner will be starting from scratch with the engine and transmission, but the seller may be able to negotiate some components, depending on the buyer’s needs
When new, the interior of the Mustang was quite nicely equipped. It was finished in Black and was fitted with a console and AM radio. The majority of the dash is present and appears to be in good condition. The owner says that the seats will need new covers, and the dash will require a new pad. Beyond that, it would seem that the door trims are missing and that the remaining upholstered surface will require restoration. Having said that, it isn’t hard to locate high-quality interior kits for around the $800 mark, so it might not take a lot to have the interior really shining once again.
This Mustang Fastback would appear to be a fairly promising project car. The seller raises the idea of building an Eleanor or Shelby clone, but personally, I probably wouldn’t follow either of those paths. The reason is that you will find both of these clones in abundance on the market today, so why bother joining the club? I would be tempted to return it to a largely original state, but with some tasteful upgrades to the drive-train and interior. Anyway, that’s what I would do, but it’s more important to know what you would do, and whether this car is tempting enough for you to bid on it.
Not for me at over 8 large. What’s going on with that right side front tire? At this time in my career and I use that term very loosley, I prefer a turnkey kind of rig. I am sure it would look great after the looooong resteration. Odds are short, but I hope to see it on the road. With all the rest of the junk in the yard, I am surprised we have not seen more from this seller.
I’m with the Leinenkugel man. At this point in MY career (term used loosely), taking on this scope of project would be too much. I’ve done two project cars this year, and both were pretty decent cars to start with, but they both were a butt-load of work and a butt-load of money invested to get them up and running. And neither car has been painted, so I may embrace that whole patina vibe.
I am not complaining; I’ve enjoyed working on these two cars this year, and am having fun driving them around now that the weather has gotten nice. My point is that these giant multi-year restorations aren’t what I’m looking for in a classic car project.
You know, I look at these “collections” and always wonder, how does someone acquire such a large number of a certain kind of vehicle and all rotting away. Today, with the cost of restorations killing the hobby, ( I read, just painting a car can be $7000+ dollars, possibly explaining the patina craze) and the amount of Mustangs already on the market, someone has to be truly nuts to pour $30,000 dollars into this.
A couple of years ago, there were a couple of good articles presented in Hemmings that book ended each other. The first stated that if you had owned a car for 10+ years stating that you were going to restore it, then it was time to sell, as restoration under your ownership was unlikely. The second one stated that if you were in your mid to late sixities, and were contemplating a multi-year restoration project, then the clock was against you. It repeated the sage advice to buy the best car you could afford, and the ENJOY it! :-)
Although I get the gist of Hemming’s advice, their philosophy of life, IMHO, is dead (pardon the soon-to-be pun) wrong. If you choose to STOP working on your hobby, then you STOP. You’re done. You’ll likely shorten your remaining life span significantly. For those of you with a bit of gray hair . . . . look around. My remaining hair is all gray, and when I look around I see 80+ year olds still actively involved in the hobby . . . banging/wiring/painting away. OTOH, I’ve been to too many Celebrations of Life of much younger people, who decided to camp out on their Lazy Boy and their exercise is largely fondling the remote. To Hemmings, I say this: “You stop, you stop.”
What a load of hyperbole. “When we first purchased this car, we didn’t know it came with so many original options.”
Unh huh; cuz they’re all GONE from this shell.
No way. I bought a 68 coupe with nice paint, zero bondo, running 6 banger and road worthy for $8,500. Interior was serviceable but everything needed to be replaced. In the middle of that now. Interior is about 9k for everything (literally everything). Add in paint and body work for 12k (this one isn’t a simple spray job), and a working drive train and you’re over 30k plus the price of the car.
I bought my 2014 GT with 40k miles for $24,000… And the drive train will be swapped into my 68 (figure another 10k in parts to do it the way I want to).
I wouldn’t take that pile for free.
Is anyone else seeing the crack on the passenger side front frame rail on the bottom left. Also looks like the shock tower on driver side has been straightened. Appears to have taken a pretty good lick in the front end.
Rust issues addressed – what about them quarters????
Help my bank account could be “Gone in Sixty Seconds “ upon purchase to restore 😮👀
Price + restoration = buy one together as all have restated
Is anyone still out there that hot tanks, AKA “dips” cars? This one sure could use it…
The Graveyard guys take theirs to a tank in Portland, Or. This Mustang belongs right where it is —- in the yard
Yes, L & M Strippers in Van Nuys Ca
WauIchula, Florida in the middle of the state has a whole car dipping system that leaves no residue. It’s Classic Auto Stripping, 863-773-0869, Daron Snyder. Great work, decent prices and am dropping off hurricane rust parts next week on the way to the race track so I can get my Vintage car build done.
Great work for sure by those guys!
Is advertising/referral permitted in these forums ?
This guy sure has a lot of Mustangs!
http://www.mustangbeginnings.com/model.asp?type=Fastback
I went to this website and it looks they mostly sell stripped shells and then want to “help you” by selling you the parts that are gone. Selling you a car piece by piece seems to be their business model.
Just Junk
Are Mustangs getting to the point that you should keep them “original” as in paint/etc or can you still have fun with one and not hurt “value”? Meaning, this was blue, do you need to stay blue or can you go “Eleanor” on it …or total black out…or…?
$12,000 for a roller with it needing everything!!! Can I have some of what ever that guy is smoking????
Please show us cars worthy of restoration as opposed to high production, worthless POS that some seller hopes to unload.
Hmm, maybe some of the keyboard warriors should take a look on eBay and try to find a decent ’68 project to restore.
A genuine Fastback project of course, and not a coupe or convertible ‘cos they’re not as desirable, nor as valuable.
Yes, it’ll cost time and money to do it right, but if you wanted a perfect ’68 it’s not that bad a starting point.
And I’m in my ’60’s with no intentions of stopping restoring cars anytime soon ;)