The condition and price range of an entry-level classic car could be debated. Cars that once sold for $50 or $300 bring ten times that years later, and after the swell of people who wanted one in their youth ages out, the tide goes out on all but the rarest low-production specimens. Swirling in that debated gray area, this 1972 Ford Mustang Mach-1 in Saint Petersburg, Florida comes to market here on eBay with one option: a Buy It Now price of $5000. A crumpled right rear quarter panel and non-lethal rust everywhere comprise the most daunting barriers to ownership. Other strikes against it include its small, albeit original, 302 cid V8 engine and the fact that 1971-’73 Mustangs trail only the 1974-’78 Mustang II on the Rodney Dangerfield “don’t get no respect” list. However, for an enthusiast with a current tetanus shot who always wanted to bring a Mach-1 of this vintage back from near-death, do all the work themselves, and who prizes fuel economy over tire-frying horsepower, this Ford could be just the ticket.
With the lack of car-shaped pictures, I’ve created a collage of the right rear damage, often the sort of crumples that “total” a car because the quarter panels are not bolt-on parts; they are integral to the unibody. Enter the expert body men and women who are unafraid of such repairs and have the tools and know-how to straighten these sorts of injuries. I do not possess those skills, thus I secured one-quarter of a red ’93 Mustang to repair my totaled ’89 5.0 after a woman “adjusting her defroster” slammed into my right rear as I waited motionless in traffic. Luckily I’m not bitter about it.
But I digress! The wide-angle shot shows the far-from-horrible floor boards and the rather dubious yet apparently original color combination. Last time I saw yellow and brown deliberately paired it was ironically in a manufacturing plant rest room built in the ’80s. While slightly less ironic and unappealing here, it’s probably not highly sought after by modern collectors.
Original air conditioning parts sweeten the deal for Sunshine State locals and, while the engine turns manually, it is not especially close to running. It’s always interesting to decipher why a car was parked, and the ’72 Mustang I brought back from the dead near the end of the last millennium, about when this one was parked, needed both a neutral safety switch and an ignition switch. With those parts replaced and the normal preparations, it fired up and almost immediately settled to a smooth idle after years of slumber.
If this Mustang does approach Mach 1, this aerodynamic package will help keep the craft stable. The bumper-mounted hitch offers another cringe-worthy note. If this classic remains south of the Mason-Dixon line, the new owner may consider louvers to help prevent that nearly-horizontal rear window from turning their restored interior into a giant Easy-Bake Oven. Is this needs-everything Mach 1 priced just right for you?
Good write-up Todd. Yes, I’d say the days of viable few-hundred-dollars project cars are over. Time, and inflation, and interest (or lack of) in a given car, march on.
Which brings us to this Mach 1. Maybe the asking price is about right for something which is a definite project, but we’ve all seen worse. Could be a cool car when restored, or these look good as restomods.
And I too have lost a (newish) collector car to a bad rear-end accident. Ten years ago. I ‘think’ I’m over it….
Thanks, Bob_in_TN. I hope someone sees this car… every car… and thinks “Wow – that’s what I’ve been waiting for!” The Internet makes that sort of connection more common than anyone dreamed about in the ’80s. As we know, many are “found,” and then parked somewhere else for 20+ years before they are “found” again. The number of much older cars that pop up in never-restored condition virtually guarantees that a buyer with patience can find what they’re looking for as long as they’re reasonable about price. I think this car is overpriced for what it is, but I hope someone proves me wrong, buys it, and puts it back on the road. That’s the ultimate compliment, making these classics into vehicles that start up and go places, and they certainly don’t have to be perfectly restored for that. Thanks for your thoughts and happy motoring!
The last view really shows what an ugly fastback treatment Ford put on these cars. I was never a fan of this model and the market has shown its distaste for many years.
70 to 73 Mustang is one fat horse.
Yet still about 300 lb lighter than the porky 2022 Mustang.
Yet even the base model 2022 Mustang makes more HP than this ‘72 Mach 1, about 50-75 more. Garden-Variety GTs make about 150 more HP.
$50 to $300 bucks,,,you could have stopped right there. I too, never cared for this style, and who knows where it would have gone, if anywhere, if it wasn’t for the Mustang ll. Mustang, as shown, had gotten bloated and stale, and it’s been said, the Mustang ll saved the Mustang. At 1st, I thought, okay, $5g’s, which is the NEW $500 bucks, could be doable for some kid, until I actually looked at it. Not many would tackle a project like this, especially with a 302. EVERYTHING today in vintage Mustangs is big block, 4 speed, fact is, when watching auctions, cars like this don’t even make a appearance. Foolhardy to stick a dime into this.
Having owned a 72 and 73 MACH 1 I have a sweet spot for these, This looks to be missing a few things that every MACH 1 I remember having. The Hood Scoops and Black Paint, The Rear MACH 1 Stripe Kit but with the trunk lid being replaced the might have forgot to put a new one on. The Black Panel Between The Lights Is Missing. Single Exhaust and a 302 .The floor looks like it was replaced once already. looks like this old girl was on the beach a few times and never cleaned when it left. I’d look it over good but my guess is it’s NOT A MACH 1.
I had a White 72 Mach 1 about 1981
Fake Mach 1
05 in vin. # it’s a real mach1.
A LOT of MAJOR changes to it then.
No 351
No hood scoops
No dual exhausts
More…….
Look carefully at the last photo and you will see a trailer hitch.
Perhaps it is for the trailer not mentioned that is loaded with all of the missing parts.
Mike-
Those of us who have a appreciation of the ’71-’73’s (’70 was entirely a different steed) prefer the term “Clydesdale” over “Fat Horse”. Just sayin’, Bro. Time is working on my memory, but I believe that a Mach 1 could have been ordered with a 302. It was very unusual, but I believe possible. I believe (?) also possible to order one with the “flat” non/Ram Air hood. Very unusual, but I “think” possible. So- if that is correct, then this one screams out to have been ordered as about as cheap of a ’72 Mach 1 you could have… except for the Deluxe/Mach 1 interior. It’s weird, I’ll give you that. The “Mach 1 or not a Mach 1” question would be quickly answered from the Data Tag in the Drivers door jam. Under the “BODY” code- it should have a “63R” for Mach I vs “63D” for a plain Fastback. I love this site, and great work on the write-up, Todd!
If I had both the cash and time, this would be a great uncle-neice project. Too far gone for a restoration, but it would make a great Eleanor tribute car
from the first Gone In 60 Seconds which
hit theaters in 1974. And while Eleanor
was a 429 CJ in the movie, the 302 this
car has would be a perfect first Mustang for my niece, as she’d break
her fool neck in a 429 powered car.
That right there is the barebones beginning of a decent MFP V8 Interceptor build, hillbilly American style. Pull the trunklid, install a couple of fuel tanks back there, finish stripping the interior, work up a fibreglass nose, zoomies, three coats of rattlecan black, an Australian Shepherd dog and quit shaving for the three weeks it takes to make the magic happen.
Next up, go in search of guzzaleen in Arizona or environs. insist the Mrs. call you Max going forward and you’re there…
What I have always wanted to do (I did this in 1-24 scale) is to make so the hood opens backwards from the firewall, then drop in a built 429/4speed and are you ready for the show stopper?? Fabricate a superbird nosecone for it and a back wing same as a bird,semi flare the fenders, shove some Meats under it with cutouts behind the headers and a deep charcoal metallic black paint with an in body cage. Then go see if anyone wants to Play. In 1-24 plastic this creation looks BAD Azz. And I know my secret is safe with you Guys – Rite lol. Thanks SGP.
That 1972 Mach I is an 18k car in good shape and running condition. In the shape this is in it will take 15-20k to put it back in the condition to sell it, so if you’re looking for a car to work on and sell then look somewhere else. I’ve been in restoration for many years now and I’d pay about $1000 for that, put 10k into it and sell it for 15-18k