You buy this 1970 Ford Mustang Coupe, currently in Glendale, Arizona, for one reason: to thump on it. The seller has gone to great pains to describe the engine internals, which sounds like they’re set up to move. Add to that the factory-equipped Shaker hood, and you’ve got a straight-out-of-the-box street/strip warrior. If that sounds like your scene, you can put in a bid here on eBay, where the car will sell by Saturday afternoon. It’s gotten a lot of bidding attention so far and sits at $17,100.
That engine, first off, started out as the 351-CID Cleveland, new for 1970 and sharing identical displacement with the 351 Windsor it shouldered aside. They were radically different powerplants, with the Cleveland (built at Ford’s Cleveland, OH, engine assembly plant) engineered to be lighter, more efficient, and better in the emissions department. That didn’t mean it didn’t scream. When equipped with a two-barrel carb, it shoved out 250 horsepower. The 4-barrel, which this one has, was rated for 300 hp. This car has been (ahem) “improved” from there. The bench racers amongst you Barn Finders can argue it out whether the car’s long list of engine specs—both how it’s equipped and the numbers like the lift and duration of the cam—are in fact the correct way to go. The engine, it is said, received a pro rebuild with a .030 overbore. It is backed up with a four-speed manual transmission stirred by a Hurst shifter. Nice. The Shaker hood, by the way, was an option available with any of the offered V-8 engines for an up-charge of $65.
The car looks clean, though there aren’t any shots underneath, and I might wonder what being first delivered to the Chicago area did for the body. The paint is called out as decent if not perfect, and the body looks straight. But no claims as to the age of the paintwork are made. A Marti report breakdown of the key equipment shows the competition suspension as another notable option. As for the seller’s claim that the car might be one-of-one—does it really matter that it might be the only one ordered exactly like this? No. What counts is how you—the buyer—feel about this car, knowing that it’s best to drive a car like this before you bid on it. Why? Because it’s not going to be at all what you think it will be when you get behind the wheel. No power steering, no power brakes, no AC, a monster, no doubt loud, engine with an exhaust maximized for flow and not quiet. A car like this is much more pretty to look at or stand next to at a cruise night than to try to drive it around as if it were still 1970.
But if you’re OK with piloting a menace like this car, you still have a decision to make: Is the Coupe body style, the singular factor keeping the car from already being at double or triple its bid price, for you? Are you going to go out to the garage to admire it and have the words, “But it’s not a fastback” running around your head? If so, then the $20 thousand—or who knows how much—the discount you get versus ponying up for a Fastback isn’t a savings at all. But if the Coupe looks just as sexy to you, with that Shaker hood and those flat wheel centers, then go for it.
Quite a looker and seems the owner has quite a passion for the car and rightfully so. He has gone to great lengths to utilize those crazy 4bbl heads. These motors with those heads don’t start to live until 5k on the tach. Look at those intake ports, they are like storm sewer drains. Most people I knew put the 2bbl heads on as they are much more street friendly. Who runs a car 6500 or a little more on the street? Looks like all the goodies are there to allow this pony to run. Car had to be a jewel to previous owner to keep it so clean up north. Looking over that shaker and rowing through the gears, who cares if it’s a fastback or not. Nice piece of Ford history, and a bad a$$ driver.
I want a sportsroof..but need a coupe.I live in Toronto..the traffic is horrendous and psychotic,i need to see behind me more clearly than the sportsroof allows..LOL.It’s getting to the point i’m becoming extinct..someone who drives better and safer without anything created after 1994..HAHA(my 94′ Thunderbird LX 4.6 has 2 airbags,that’s about it for modern stuff(dont even have the ABS option )
Welcome, briank! Nice write-up.
Really nice car and set up. Always more partial to the fastbacks of 67-70. And reverse for 65-66. The 71-73 -fastback beautiful model too
It sits high in the rear, i see traction bars, did they put longer shackels also?
Check the trunk. It has some patchwork.
I had the 69 Mustang 351 coupe with non-functional hood intake, $2,800. Probably a Windsor 2 barrel, automatic. I hated the auto. Liked the coupe, raven black. I like this car, but would probably change the color. Looks like a messy diaper color in any mfg. Great price if it stays in the current range. Well built, may lower the suspension to Shelby for track time.
Never liked that roof style!