UPDATE 01/13/2021: It seems that the owner of this 1969 Mustang Mach 1 had no success with his prior listing, so he has chosen to roll the dice a second time. His previous attempt resulted in forty-three bids pushing the price to $20,000, which was below the reserve. Nothing has changed since, with the Mach 1 listed for sale here on eBay. The bidding now sits at $18,099, which is still shy of the mark.

When you consider how many examples Ford sold during the model’s lifetime, it is no surprise to see a reasonable number of First Generation Mustangs come across the desks here at Barn Finds. Their condition ranges from the stunningly beautiful through to the pretty sad and tired. This 1969 Mach 1 would seem to fall somewhere within the middle ground. It isn’t perfect and would benefit from a total restoration. It features its original drivetrain, but returning it to the road will take time and effort for its next owner. If you feel you could be that person, you will find the Mustang located in Sarasota, Florida, and listed for sale here on eBay.

The 1969 model year marked the first re-styling for the Mustang. While its wheelbase remained unchanged, Ford increased both its overall length and width. It endowed the car with a more muscular look, but it meant then it lost some of the purity of the earlier versions. Our feature car rolled off the line wearing Silver Jade Metallic, and it appears most of that original paint is present today. It looks tired and is a stark indication that this car is due for restoration. It is essentially complete, but there will be a long list of work to do and parts to buy before the next owner returns this car to its former glory. The panels have accrued their share of dents and marks, but none are severe enough to justify panel replacement. However, there is rust to address, which may necessitate some steel replacement. The supplied photos only show the car’s driver’s side, and the rear quarter panel is pretty rusty. It is possible that the new owner could tackle this with a patch, but a high-quality restoration would entail replacing the panel entirely. There is also rust in the bottom corners of the doors, but the rockers look pretty clean. The underside of the car shows rot in the floors, and there is also some present in the torque boxes and where they are attached to the frame rails. Once again, we only see one side of the vehicle, so an in-person inspection would be necessary to determine how bad things are. Some of the external trim is badly damaged and is beyond repair, but the wheels look spotless. The glass is in a similar state, and even though there is rust, the body appears to be a restorable proposition.

The condition of this Mustang’s interior is in keeping with the rest of the vehicle in that it appears to be essentially complete, but it looks tired. Items like the console look pretty good, although a new lid would make a difference there. The seat upholstery has some wear, but there are no significant rips or tears. Given a deep clean, it may be acceptable for a survivor-grade car. The dash looks respectable, with gauges that are crisp and clear. However, items like the dash pad would benefit from replacement. The same is true of the carpet, and the door trims look like they may have some minor damage. The factory radio is missing, and the buyer will need to check the supplied Marti Report to determine what needs to be slotted back in there if originality is critical. If the buyer seeks perfection, there’s a good chance that they will choose to spend $2,000 on an interior trim kit to return the inside of this classic to a factory-fresh state.

This shot of the Mustang’s engine bay should clearly indicate that this car does not run or drive. The owner states that the drivetrain is original, featuring a 390ci V8 engine and four-speed manual transmission. With 320hp on tap, this Mach 1 would have covered the ¼ mile in 14.4 seconds in its prime. Those days are long behind it, and looking at this engine raises more questions than it answers. Somebody has removed many of this engine’s peripheral components like the intake and carburetor, and it isn’t clear whether they are with the car. The level of corrosion on the engine also suggests that it would probably require a rebuild. However, if everything is present, it may be worth the effort to refresh this mighty V8.

The overwhelming and ongoing desirability of First Generation Mustangs has resulted in some pretty sad and tired examples finding their way back onto the road, having been given a new lease on life. Some of those cars looked like lost causes before the restoration commenced, but their owners have performed major miracles returning them from the brink. This 1969 Mach 1 is not beyond help, but it will take time and effort to return to its former glory. One of the attractions of these cars as projects is the ready availability and affordability of parts. That means that if an owner can perform much of the work themselves, a restoration need not break the bank. With those thoughts in mind, is this a project that you might be tempted to tackle?