I’m unsure which an enthusiast finds harder to bare. Seeing a classic car damaged due to circumstances beyond the owner’s control or seeing that car suffer at the hands of Mother Nature. That has been the double whammy experienced by this 1972 Ford Mustang Grande. It is begging for someone to drag it back from the brink and give it a second chance at life. Even if you feel it has passed beyond the point of no return, cannibalizing it for the parts to return another car to its former glory is an option. The owner acknowledges he will never get the chance to tackle the project and feels it needs to head to a new home and a potentially brighter future. Therefore, he has listed the Grande exclusively on Barn Finds Auctions.
The history of this Mustang is sad. The owner’s mother purchased it used as her first car. She sold it to her brother and his wife, who were T-Boned in a fender bender. The impact damaged the driver’s door and fenders, which may require replacement. The Grande sat exposed to the elements for a few years before being sold to another family member who parked it in a dirt-floored barn. The owner eventually convinced that person to sell it to him, and it finally found its way into a shed with a concrete floor and good weather protection. Years of exposure have taken a toll on this classic, and it now has rust in the usual places you would expect on any First Generation Mustang. The rear quarter panels are bad, with rust in the floors and some visible in the torque box region. There is a heavy coating of surface corrosion on the underside, although the rails look like they might be sound. The Medium Lime paint is beyond its best, with the contrasting Dark Green vinyl top shredded. A falling object broke the windshield, but the remaining glass looks okay. Most trim pieces look salvageable, and I spotted at least two of the stylish original hubcaps. The owner includes a factory Ram Air hood, which was part of his plan to update the Mustang with more sporting credentials during his build. Assessing the photos confirm that even if this Mustang is no longer a viable restoration project, it is a veritable gold mine of factory parts for another build.
The owner’s mother must have liked her Mustang with a touch of muscle, passing on the entry-level 250ci six in favor of the F-Code 302ci V8. This produced 141hp, and when coupled with the three-speed automatic transmission, allowed this pony to gallop through the ¼-mile in 17.9 seconds. That may not seem fast by modern standards, but it was impressive for a car serving as a daily driver in 1972. It appears the Grande doesn’t run or drive and hasn’t done so for at least three decades. However, the mechanical components in First Generation Mustangs are as tough as nails. We know the car was in excellent mechanical health before the accident. Therefore, revival may not take much time or effort if the engine turns freely. Even if this classic never sees active duty again, a healthy 302 is an excellent asset to have sitting in a home workshop.
When we open this Mustang’s doors, we confront an interior requiring TLC. The dash pad and door trims are sun-damaged, and the factory radio is long gone. It requires a total restoration, but the owner has a few parts to help the winning bidder commence that process. They include the seats and dash out of a Blue Grande. The seats need new covers, but the dash pieces look pretty nice. Some enthusiasts find the concept of an interior retrim overwhelming, but I can confirm from experience that it is one of the most satisfying aspects of any build. Stepping back to admire an interior refreshed by your own hand brings a sense of pride to any owner. Kits are available to achieve that goal, representing an excellent long-term investment. The Grande option brought additional sound-deadening material to the Mustang, and the owner’s mother added air conditioning for a more comfortable motoring experience.
This poor 1972 Mustang Grande would have been an excellent car in its prime, providing a luxurious classic motoring experience. Time has not been kind to it, and returning it to its former glory will be a significant undertaking. However, we have seen classics in worse shape brought back from the brink, which is plausible for this little pony car. Even if that seems impossible, there are so many parts that could serve on another build it could represent an effective and affordable donor. Regardless of which path you would choose, the first step would be to submit a bid on this tired beauty. From there, you will only be limited by your imagination.
- Location: Jesup, Iowa
- Mileage: 98,000 Shown, TMU
- Engine: 302ci V8
- Transmission: 3-Speed Automatic
- VIN: 2F04F127129
- Title Status: Clean
Bid On This Auction
Da_realblkninja bid $1,350.00 2023-05-15 11:41:39- Little Butter bid $1,250.00 2023-05-14 15:12:57
- SaiPiaN bid $1,100.00 2023-05-14 11:22:31
- Little Butter bid $1,000.00 2023-05-12 20:01:51
- LaSalle bid $900.00 2023-05-12 18:56:41
- Little Butter bid $750.00 2023-05-12 18:53:01
- LaSalle bid $250.00 2023-05-10 07:04:46
Well first off, the car would have been better off sitting in the dirt, a concrete floor is the worst, especially in a humid climate, a wood floor is the best, I’ve seen the difference first hand. As far as this Mustang, it would be more worth the effort if it was a fastback with a 351C. But if the total disregard and neglect hasn’t taken too bad of a toll, it may be worth restoring, depends on the purchase price I suppose.
The dirt floor barn was falling down, something fell from the loft and hit the window. I was just glad to get it out before it got crushed. I know it’s not the most desirable model but they can’t all be fastback,mach1 , boss or shelby with manual shift, at least it has a v8.
The seats don’t appear to be for a 1972 Mustang (high back buckets) and instead look like the kind you would find in a 67-70 Stang (Maybe Cougar!). One hubcap inside and more standing up at the rear of the barn so that’s a good thing. I’m not sure using the term “t-boned” applies here as it looks like a low speed parking lot incident and not what one would normally expect of a t-bone incident at speed. Good luck to the seller…I think that green paint and vinyl could be cleaned up and this car could scream 1972 again!
It seems that the greatest value shown in the pics is of the spare Ram Air hood…if it isn’t rusty at the area around the latch catch.
The Ram Air hood looks like it was used as a toboggan. Ripples, dents and most likely incapable of being installed without a lot of work. Not a bolt-on upgrade, this one!
Turd
Double green, low power, damaged inside and out- hmm. Pass.
(I’d sell it too.)
Triple green, if you count the vinyl top!
Does the engine turn if it does I’ll restore it and give you 500.00 just like someone said give away to just see it back on the road text me you can turn it over by hand I just want to know if the engine is locked or not
Yes can turn motor over by hand. Do believe my grandfather robbed the water pump for one of his econolines though, everything else seems to be there.
My how times have changed in just 2019 at Barrett Jackson in Scottsdale. A mint 72 302 Coupe a 60 K West Coast Car sold for $3000. At the time we thought that was a great deal. And it was in a far more desirable color Gold. I would have bought it myself but it had sold the day before.
I’m a Stang guy myself—-drive one & got 135 in my diecast collection. But on this one, I gotta ask “What cha want on your toast”? Cars are like ppl…..ya can’t save every one.
From the looks of everything, if they gave the car away to someone that really wanted to restore it, just for the love of the car, would have way more invested in restoration than the car would ever be worth. It would be a few years job buying pieces here and there and working on spare time. What a shame they let this car get this bad sitting in storage. Sitting this long, who even knows if the engine will turn over. Such a shame!
I like it I am willing to put work into it with my father and this would be my first vehicle I will own I am not 16 yet but been looking for a project car that I want just email me back if possible hold on to it so I can talk to my father about it and I will get back with you. It still has a chance to live a second life with a younger and new generation.