This 1969 Ford Mustang SportsRoof would have been a relatively meek and mild vehicle when the first owner took delivery. However, someone has performed a few upgrades that would have transformed it into a formidable beast in its time. The seller purchased the car as a planned project build, but work stalled before it could start. Therefore, they have decided to send it to a new home with a selection of parts so that the buyer can get the ball rolling. They have listed the Mustang here on eBay in Warwick, Rhode Island. They set their BIN at $17,500 with the option to make an offer.
The 1969 model year brought the second major upgrade to Ford’s wildly successful pony car. The Mustang grew longer, wider, and heavier, but it remained true to the original design brief that offered something for every buyer. The first owner ordered this ’69 SportsRoof in Pastel Gray, although it appears to have undergone a color change to Wimbledon White at some point. As we will see, that represents the tip of the iceberg when the subject turns to modifications. The seller purchased the car around two years ago, planning a build that never eventuated. The Mustang has a few of the typical shortcomings, although the parts to address most of these are included. The panels have a few minor rust areas that appear to be candidates for patches. The same isn’t true of the floors, which need plenty of work. However, the seller includes a full set of new floor pans, a trunk drop-off, and a battery tray. Welding in those items would go close to returning the car to a rust-free state, although there is a fair chance that an in-person inspection might unearth a few other issues. One major decision facing the buyer is what to do about the roof. A previous owner cut it to install an aftermarket glass sunroof. These were enormously popular in the 1970s and 1980s but are less so today. There is no evidence of leaks, but I feel that many people would probably choose to remove this a fill the hole for a more “stock” look. The images suggest that many of the trim pieces may require restoration or replacement, but the glass looks acceptable for a driver-grade build.
This Mustang sat at the more sedate and affordable end of the spectrum when ordered by its first owner. They equipped it with an L-Code 250ci six, a three-speed manual transmission, and a 3.00 conventional rear end. The six delivered 155hp and 240 ft/lbs of torque, offering fairly respectable performance. However, much has changed because a previous owner ditched the entire drivetrain. The seller believes that it may have seen racing duties, which would explain the upgrades, with the SportsRoof now featuring a 351ci V8, a four-speed Top-Loader manual transmission, and a Traction-Lok rear end. The engine specifications are unknown, but this would have been quite a potent package when everything was bolted into place over forty years ago. The seller confirms that the vehicle doesn’t run or drive, although the engine turns freely. With a bit of luck and a fair breeze, revival might be relatively straightforward.
The seller includes a Marti Report in their listing confirming that the first owner ordered this classic trimmed in Blue vinyl with an AM radio for in-car entertainment. The SportsRoof retains its correct seatcovers, although some upholstered surfaces now sport Blue velour cloth that was a common sight in the 1970s and 1980s. They also swapped out the radio for an aftermarket stereo with a graphic equalizer, adding a column-mounted tach and a sports wheel. The front seats look quite good, and although there aren’t any rips or tears, the back seat shows some deterioration due to UV exposure. A high-end build may require a complete retrim. However, it appears that some items are fit for reuse if the new owner doesn’t wish to go the whole hog.
Determining whether a classic is desirable is sometimes challenging, but that isn’t the case with this 1969 Mustang SportsRoof. The seller’s listing has attracted over 800 views in the past day, and with 34 people adding it to their Watch List, this Ford appears to have struck a chord. Their decision to include a range of new steel to return the car to a rust-free state is a bonus, and the vehicle should offer exhilarating performance if its existing drivetrain can be revived. That all sounds tempting, but is it enough for you to consider pursuing it further?
The top-loader 4sp is a legend 🏁
The more photos i see the worse it gets, what a mess!!
Would make a nice pro touring or restomod. Wouldn’t restore it original though. If you live in the rust belt, this really isn’t that bad. For those of you living in a warm dry climate it may seem a mess, but the rest of us have seen way worse get saved.
Clearly a very loved car at one point.
A man could finish it very quickly. I have never seen a gray 1969 Mustang. Let alone a blue interior. He has white interior pieces for a color change. I believe every interior part is available for 69 ‘Stangs from Legendary or other places. The blue is intriguing though. I’m partial to Gulfstream Aqua for the exterior.
Price is too high for what is sitting there. Watching too much Barrett-Jackson
I wouldn’t waste his time, nor mine. It is not worth anywhere near the asking price: Was a 6 cylinder, needs a lot of visible rust repair, and then there’s what is not visible. Engine, trans, interior, undercarriage? Too uncertain.
The trailer hitch is not a plus.
” A man could finish it very quickly.” What does that even mean? It takes an incredible amount of determination, money, and skill to finish a project; BF has many advertisements for vehicles where at least one of the three – if not all – have run out.
It takes much more time to restore a car than most think, and I have seen projects take up to 10 years to finish. They looked like it, too: immaculate. There’s nothing about this car that would generate that kind of interest, nor return on investment.
Yeah, I agree with everything you guys have said. At first glance, it looks pretty good but then the more pictures you see the more rust you see.
This isn’t for someone who wants a numbers matching car that you’re going to restore and sink a bunch of money into. This is something that I think if you could do some welding yourself and put in some new floors and maybe other items, the rest of the car looks kind of solid. Not sure about the engine, though as it seems, things are disconnected from it, but if the engine runs, that’s a huge plus. Can’t find a lot of aspect 1969 Mustangs, especially in the New England area. The interior is kind of interesting looking. Looks like a custom job.
The way that it’s sitting in that color and the steel wheels makes me think of those factory ordered race cars back in the 60s.
Friend own one in 72, put a 351C with Cobra Jet heads, top load 4 sp and 4:10 gears. Ran like a raped ape!
Adam. I had all your optimism 50 years ago.
Fortunately I hadn’t a dime to my name.
Today I am a self-sufficient cynic.
Circa 1979, this was one bad-ass ride.
That Cobra AM/FM/8-track/CB is retro cool.
I think I had that same EQ unit in my Camaro.