Automobiles falling into the Time Capsule category are fascinating. The curious cat in me wants to know the how and why and the full story. Sure, some survivors are luxury Lincolns or Caddys purchased by a “mature” driver 50-60 years ago that spent more time in their garage than on the road. But, you don’t see many 53-year-old “youth-oriented” sporty fastbacks in this category such as this 1973 Mustang Mach 1. You’re looking at a true unmolested survivor with 40,004 original miles. The included Marti Report shows that this car was built in February 1973 at Ford’s Dearborn plant. The original owner bought it new from Key Ford in Evansville, Indiana, and had it until 2023. It’s now looking for a new garage and only its third caretaker. The Mach 1 is located in Rensselaer, Indiana, and is listed for sale here on eBay for $46,500 or best offer. Curvette continues to be a pipeline of outstanding tips for us here at Barn Finds. Thank you, again, Curvette!
The buying public had more than 25 paint colors to choose from on a new ’73 Mustang and this one left the factory in Code 3B Light Blue. It’s not the most aggressive or sporty color choice, but it’s very presentable and shows the car’s styling well. The seller shares that it has some paint touch ups and small marks, but nothing you would not expect to see on an original 53-year-old car. The black lower body side stripe decals appear to be in good shape and I’m not seeing any rust or accident repair. The seller describes the Mach 1 as “garage kept its entire life, leaving all the stickers, water marks, and build codes intact. 100% original steel, a true survivor inside and out that even has the original spare tire never mounted.”
The Mach 1’s original black interior appears to be in great shape. It has the Sports Interior Option which is a nice mix of sporty and comfort. According to the ’73 Mustang sales brochure, this optional interior features high back bucket seats with knitted vinyl inserts and accent stripes, molded door trim panels with pull handles and armrests, an instrument group including a tachometer, trip odometer, and triple pod oil pressure/water temperature/ammeter gauges. – and, of course, faux wood appliqué and a rear seat ash tray. This Mustang also has factory SelectAire air conditioning, power front disc brakes, power steering, tinted glass, AM radio, and a 4-speed manual transmission.
Under that Baby Blue hood is the Mach 1’s desirable, optional 351-cubic-inch 4V Q Code V8. It’s a 4-barrel and generated 246 horsepower when it rolled off the Dearborn factory back in February 1973. The seller says, “A true joy to drive, starts instantly……then sounds great!” It’s the original engine and has only 40,004 documented miles. Other goodies with the car includes paperwork from the original 50-year owner such as the original title, owner ID card, warranty papers, the dealer jacket, and more. This might be one of the best ’73 Mach 1 time capsule survivors around these days. It’s impressive. What do you think of it?
That color should have been only available on the mustang II.
I can feel the Ford hate from here in the back 40.
I don’t think that guy likes anything at all but a particular range of Corvette.
That color should only be offered on Easter eggs.
My ’70 Corvette Convertible came repainted in this color – yuck! And with shag carpeting to boot. I drove it like that for a year until I saved up for a repaint back to the original Donnybrook Green, replaced the carpet with a stock set, and added a new top. Thankfully the last 2 were DIY, and decent paint jobs back then weren’t bank account busting.
A beautiful example, now correct me if i’m wrong for 72 and 73 the fonctional hood scoops were only with the two barrel carb because of emission restrictions
1972 only,the 4bbl was approved for 1973 emissions.
Looks like a clean, well-kept Mach 1. One doesn’t see many of these in this light blue, nor does it seem like many which are still around have manual transmissions. (The Marti Report is hard to read, but it might say 3239 had these engine/transmission codes). Long-term ownership (until recently) is a plus.
Thanks Ron.
I had a cousin and next door neighbor who had a ‘73 Mach 1. His was gold and automatic otherwise equipped like this one. Great car. Not the biggest fan of Robin’s Egg Blue but having never seen a Mach 1 in this hue (have seen a Grande’ this color with a navy blue vinyl top), I kinda sorta like it just cause it’s different. I’d happily drive it!
$46,500 with that color? GLWS.
Must have been a very special order; baby blue,4 speed, Mach 1. Like maybe one of one?
Ford dropped the ball with this new body style. The only one I would own is the 1971 Boss 351. Hard pass.
Ford was heavily envolved in racing in those days, so this look may deter the average street car guy, but this body style is high speed inspired.
This is an amazing find, and i really like the color, and as was mentioned brings out styling of the body.
351 4sp w AC; pure American muscle
Rare 4sp, great 351-4V makes this one RD. 3.25 open rear indicates hwy/cruising preferences by the original owner, not the 1/4 mile. I’d even enjoy the classic Ford robin egg blue paint.. 👍
My dad had a 71 f250 two tone sky view blue and white that still to this day I think looked great. On this Mach 1…not so great. I’ll bet I could get used to it though.
15 inch tires not available? – note the door edge tire sizes listed.
No redline on the tach?
The 3B Light Blue paint was definitely a choice. But a 3514bbl x 4sp would make me forgive it. Love the uniqueness of this Machy and I would not be ashamed to drive it
Always liked the fastback body on these.
Ordered just as I would have wanted, except of course for the color. But I like it just fine.
Wish I could have afforded a used one as a teenager!
Too bad it’s a 73 with that awful cowcatcher in the front.
a ‘cow catcher’ is a bolted on grid of welded tubes typically on the front of train or a big rig, small versions for LTs.
The nose of this is sleek and tight with simple lay out. Looks like all other Mustangs, and other makes of this era, maybe not as dimentional as earlier models.
Doesnt even have a bumper, nothing like a ‘cow catcher’ here at all.
My Dad bought a new ’72 Mustang Mach 1 in yellow with the saddle interior, 351 2 barrel carb. It was his mid life “crisis” car and he drove it with original engine and tranny for 32 yrs and 240K miles. He sold it in 2004 for $1k more than he paid new. Buyer redid it and used to come to Cars &Coffee in WLA CA!
I’ll never understand the hate for a car that was purchased an maintained to an impeccable standard. The first owner clearly knew what they liked and that’s worth much more than the color and equipment. Would have been nicer to have purchased it from the original owner. To this Mustang is just right.
there more peanuts in this gallery, not here to buy, or to enjoy and appreciate but to gripe and put down; probably cant afford an American classic and drive a Kia.
Ive been defending amazing cars from these nuts for years.
If its not black, big block, manual and cheap its crap. Its like high school, one or two legit ‘cool kids’ and 100+ hipsters.
🤷
Wow. Strong opinions here both ways. And not even talking politics! Calm down, gents, it’s only a car…and a pretty cool one with low miles and well equipped! Not the most desirable color, but hey, at least it’s not hot pink! It’s unusual, that’s for sure. Couple years ago saw the sweetest convertible 66 Mustang at an ice cream shop that was hot pink. Complemented the car and asked the guy why? Good answer, “it’s my wife’s, and that’s what she wanted!” ‘Nuff said…
Color, color, color. IIRC, something similar was on the livery for the Gulf race cars of the 60s and 70s. Complimented with orange it was instantly recognizable. About ten years ago the new Dart offered a color called Laguna blue. Not far from this shade of paint. There was a couple on the lot debating that blue and she was poking at him for wanting to have it. I asked if they knew what Laguna referred to, a town, beach and a race track. He lit right up and went home with his blue car.
cool car but a dealer has it and they want all the money for it. the color looks horrible on this car. not seeing them selling it at that price
Happy to see it’s a stick shift. Very nice car!
If I had the money Id buy it NOW !! Robins Egg Blue is bitchin ! Red Stang Hat and away we go !
If you never drove one of these you will never understand. This car is special. It’s a SURVIVOR. Find another one. I’ll wait right here. If you pea-NUTS here in the comments continue to hate and complain then you are not true car guys. Go on, find a true survivor!
I own a extremely original 72 Gran Torino Sport with the Q code 351 4V. Amazing to drive! A true time capsule like this mach 1. I would own this with pride! Too many people want the loud, the chrome, the candy paint. What most forget is what these were like when new. This mach 1 will deliver that experience!
In the summer of 1973, between my junior and senior year at college, I was very fortunate to have a well-paying job at a Mobil Oil refinery. Not only did I make enough to pay for my last year in school, but I had enough to buy my first brand new car. I grew up in a Ford family and had two 1969 Mustang sportsroofs, which I really liked. So naturally I was interested in the 73 Mach I. After driving one and not being happy with the limited visibility with the rear window, I decided to look at the 73 Camaro. One test drive was all it took, and I ordered a new Z28. At age 74 I still love the early Mustangs, but my fun car now is a 69 SS Camaro. But if I ever find the right 69 Mustang sportsroof, I would be tempted to add it to my garage.
At first, I thought the seller may be high on his price, but I looked at some others for sale on Ebay and he may not be. I only spent five minutes, but none of the others of this generation had three pedals or were as nice as this one is in unrestored condition. It’s a very nice car. The color doesn’t bother me that much. I’m also a sucker for anything with a manual transmission.
This appears to be an honest clean Mach. 3 pedals, and a 351 CJ are as good as you were going to get in a ’73. The lowest gear set on the order sheet would have been 3.50’s. But in todays highway conditions these are a perfect gear set. The color is a little to be desired, but it is an original paint car and that is hard to beat. I would say this car is a buy if the “Flat Back” Mustangs are your thing.
Had a buddy I used to cruise around with who owned (bet he still has it) a 1971 BOSS351. Never a fan of the 71-73 body style but his Mustang was a darker blue with 5 spoke American racing wheels. He usually had a 429 in the car (saving the original Boss 351). I loved (still do) that car. My humble self had a quite nice 1966 Mustang coupe with a 200 6 cylinder with a cruise-o-matic trans, wouldn’t get out of its own way but looked like it was going 200 mph standing still. I love these old cars for the memories they bring back.