When I was a kid watching a rented VHS copy of the original Gone in 60 Seconds, one line stuck out to me: Protagonist Maindrian Pace mentioned that the ’73 Mustang he had designs on stealing was the “last of the Mustangs.” That struck me as misinformed, because Ford was producing plenty of quick Mustangs in my then-current time frame (the mid ’80s). But when the film was released in 1974, the Mustang II had been out for a bit and nobody knew if a proper performance Mustang would ever return. Here’s your chance to own “the last of the Mustangs,” and it’s a droptop to boot.
First off, I wouldn’t necessarily call this convertible a proper performance Mustang; the ad is vague on details but says it has a 351 with factory AC. It’s most likely the 177-horsepower H-Code two-barrel 351 Cleveland, but that’s a good start if you want to hop it up a bit and it’s a good, torquey engine if you don’t. The seller claims that the car has been sitting for 20 years and will need to be “gone through.” Based on the surface rust on the various underhood components, it may have done that sitting in damp storage. The car does run and drive, however, so you have a head start on your revitalization work.
The paint and interior look pretty good in the pictures. Based on my materials, the exterior color is Dark Green Metallic and the interior is Avocado, but feel free to add your insight in the comments if you have any insider information. It’s an automatic car, so it probably has the old FMX under the tunnel, considering the 351 under the hood.
This is a view of the trunk with the mat pulled up for a quick look. The seller says that the car is solid, but it is located in New Jersey and seems to have a lot of undercoating on the trunk floor. As always, it pays to do your homework.
It was no secret that Ford was going to cancel the Mustang convertible for 1974, so customers gobbled up 11,853 of them (an increase of almost 100 percent over 1972). I’ve always liked the big ’71-’73 Mustangs, and after the Mach 1’s and Boss 351s, a ’73 convertible would be my first pick. This one will have some teething pains as you return it to the road, but it’s a good start, and a lot of people seem to think as I do. It’s currently for sale on eBay with about eight hours left on the auction as I write this: the high bid is already $13,100. Good luck if you want the “last of the Mustangs.”
Like the Eagles sang in one of their very best tunes …it’s… 🎶 Already Gone🎸
$13,100 final bid. This one looks worth the $$. Very well optioned with the 351, AC, deluxe interior with console, gauge package. Still has the original hubcaps/trim rings. Assuming that rust isn’t prevalent whoever snagged it is doubtless going to be happy.
I had this car in a 71′ version. It was the pewter silver with a black gut, Ram-Air hood. 351C, rebuilt FMX, Trac-lok rear. Driving that up the road from Galilee to Narragansett was pretty cool back then. ‘Course, I had a tad more hair then with the top down (LOL)
I always liked the 73 Mustang convt and with todays technology there’s gobs of power to be found in that engine
The song by the Ventures……walk dont run