351/4-Speed: 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1

The shiny Magnum 500 wheels gracing the four corners of this 1969 Mustang Mach 1 are the tip of the iceberg. The seller planned a restoration for this structurally solid classic, so they accumulated a fair supply of new parts to get the ball rolling. However, plans change, so the Mustang and all the new parts need to find a new home. If you fancy a promising First Generation Mustang project, you will find this classic located in Maple Valley, Washington, and listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has soared to $15,655 off the back of some healthy action. With the reserve met, a new home is days away for this Mach 1.

The Acapulco Blue Mach 1 spent most of its life in Oregon, and it remains a largely rust-free classic. It has a few issues, but these remain minor compared to some Mustang projects we’ve seen over the past decade at Barn Finds. Its most pressing need is typical rust around the battery area in the engine bay. The buyer will need to obtain new steel to address this, but it appears that any other metal required to whip the body into shape is included in this sale. The seller acquired fenders to replace the damaged ones that the Mustang currently wears. The hood sports some damage, so a replacement hood and shaker assembly also await attachment by the buyer. The list continues with a new trunk lid and another rear quarter panel to reduce the rust to a distant memory. A few other dings and bruises require attention, but these appear pretty minor. Some trim pieces would benefit from refurbishment or replacement, but the glass looks good.

The Mustang’s interior might look tired, but it isn’t all bad news. The seller includes new upholstery to replace the worn seatcovers. There is also a replacement rim-blow wheel, console, shifter, dash pad, and a factory AM radio/8-track player. One unknown is the driver’s door trim. It isn’t visible in the supplied photos, and it doesn’t rate a mention in the listing. Therefore, the buyer may need to brace themselves to drop $480 on a pair of new trims. With the included items, a new carpet set, and a couple of door trims, this interior would be close to looking sharp once again.

Buyers had a diverse choice of engines to slot under the hood of their new Mach 1 in 1969, and this car’s original owner selected a 351ci “Windsor” V8 that pumped out 290hp in its prime. With a four-speed manual transmission bolted behind, the Mustang would have covered the ¼ mile in 14.7 seconds. I know that a few readers cringe or grind their teeth when they hear the expression “ran when parked,” but it appears to be the case with this classic. It isn’t clear how many years the car has been sitting idle, but the seller did commence the revival process. However, this ground to a halt when a water pump bolt snapped off in the engine block, leaving the buyer with one challenge to tackle. Plenty of enthusiasts have faced this task, so it isn’t anything out of the ordinary. If the motor turns freely, kicking the 351 back into life might not take much work once a new water pump is installed.

Sometimes a passionate enthusiast will commit to a restoration project and face the prospect of spending considerable cash on parts to address significant rust issues. However, this 1969 Mustang Mach 1 blows in like a breath of fresh air. It needs plenty of work to recapture its good looks, but most of the steel required to commence the process comes as part of the deal. It has already attracted twenty-one bids, suggesting a few people like what they see. It shows plenty of promise, and I’d like to think that one of our readers might consider dropping a bid or two. I would love to see the car once complete, and that seems like the most likely way for this to happen. What do you say?