351/4-Speed: 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1

We see plenty of project cars come across our desks here at Barn Finds, and some show more promise than others. This 1970 Mustang Mach 1 could rate as one of the better ones. It is an essentially rust-free classic with a freshly rebuilt V8 under the hood. Its overall condition should make it a straightforward and rewarding restoration for its next owner. It has generated significant interest since the owner listed it for sale here on eBay. It is located in Temecula, California, and the owner has set a BIN of $33,500 for this classic. With eighty-eight people currently watching the listing, you have to wonder whether one of them will hit the button pretty soon.

When this Mustang was shiny and new, its panels wore Dark Ivy Green paint. Although the finish has deteriorated over the past fifty-one years, it retains this color. The buyer will undoubtedly choose to treat the car to a cosmetic refresh, but they won’t have to do much work before undertaking this task. The panels are generally straight, although the owner admits that the rear quarter panel that we see in the above photo has been repaired following a minor fender bender. How severe the damage was is unclear, so this will require further investigation. If the buyer seeks perfection, they may replace the quarter panel. There is plenty of surface corrosion visible across the car, but what it lacks is real rust. It appears to have spent its life in California, and the buyer is set to reap the benefits of this. The lower extremities are as clean as you are ever likely to find in a project car, and while the floors have some bubbling and surface corrosion, they are free from penetrating rust. The frame rails, torque boxes, shock towers, trunk pan, and battery tray are clean and sound. The chrome will require a refresh, but the tinted glass looks like it might be okay if cleaned. The front and rear spoilers are both intact, and the original owner ordered this car with the factory Sports Slats.

Before I spent any money on this Mustang’s interior, I would treat everything to a deep clean. The seat upholstery and door trims looked quite good and may respond positively to this type of treatment. The dash will require a new pad, while the console needs a new lid and woodgrain insert. The buyer can add a carpet set and replacement wheel to their shopping list, but restoring this aspect of the Mustang could be pretty straightforward and affordable. The back of the passenger seat is sitting at an odd angle, and I’m unsure whether something has broken there or whether the bolts have come loose. That is something for the buyer to investigate, and repairing it may be relatively easy. It isn’t loaded with optional extras, but it appears that the original owner ordered this Mach 1 with a Sport Deck rear seat and what seems to be a factory radio/8-track player.

Apart from its lack of rust, this Mustang continues to deliver good news when we lift the hood. The original owner ordered this classic with an M-Code 351ci V8, a four-speed Top Loader manual transmission, and a 3.50 Traction-Lok rear end. With 300hp under the right foot, this classic should roar through the ¼ mile in 14.4 seconds. When you add a factory Shaker and power front disc brakes to the equation, this Mach 1 is a desirable car. The seller indicates that this V8 has recently been rebuilt, and it has not fired a shot in anger since. It isn’t clear when this Mustang last terrorized the tarmac, but the buyer may face some work to return it to a roadworthy state. If it has been sitting for an extended period, the fuel system will probably benefit from a clean. The brakes may require attention, while perishable items could be suspect. Tackling those jobs could be completed in a home workshop, making this aspect of the restoration another affordable task.

Like many classic cars, world events over the past two years have seen values fluctuate on the 1970 Mustang Mach 1. They’ve ridden a rollercoaster, but the situation has stabilized. That means that values are rising once again, which could make this the perfect time to park a car like this in your workshop. It is a promising project, and it’s easy to see why it has generated its level of interest. I’ll be interested to know whether we have any readers interested in this classic and whether they may be tempted to pursue this Mach 1 further.