Cheap Project: 1967 Ford Mustang

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This 1967 Ford Mustang has seen better days. It looks tired, and like so many classics that we see here at Barn Finds, the owner has found himself with too many projects to tackle. Something had to give, and that means that the Mustang has to find a new home. For anyone searching for a 1st Generation Mustang project car it is worth a look because, with an asking price of $4,000, it would seem to fall into the affordable category. If you find yourself tempted, you will find the Mustang located in Centralia, Washington, and listed for sale here on Facebook.

Bright, isn’t it? I’m not sure if the paint is original or whether the Mustang has received a color change at some point. There is nothing like this orange that shows on any color charts, although it is possible that it could be badly faded Aspen Red. The vehicle also features a Black vinyl top, although this has deteriorated nearly as badly as the paint. From a positive standpoint, this classic Ford does appear to be complete. The car has been sitting for a couple of years, and if that time has been spent in its current location, it means that we need to consider the question of rust. Surprisingly, there isn’t a lot showing in the supplied photos. These are pretty ordinary, but they do provide at least a passing glimpse of some of the more prone areas. There is some present in the lower rear quarter panels and around the rear wheel arches, but this could be addressed with patches. There is nothing visible in the lower fenders or lower door corners, but the jury is out on the rockers. The floors, frame rails, and torque box regions have to be a concern, and we get no information on these. However, if the engine bay can be used as a guide, things might not be that bad underneath. The shock towers look sound, and the rest of the engine bay wears little more than some isolated surface corrosion. Most of the trim appears to be restorable, and there are no significant flaws visible in the glass.

This shot has caused me some concern because a few of the hard surfaces, including the steering wheel, have a “mildewy” appearance. This is usually a sign of a vehicle that has spent an extended period in a damp environment, which is typically bad news for a 1st Generation Mustang. That is why I would recommend performing an in-person inspection on this one to ensure that potential buyers aren’t biting off more than they can chew. The interior is complete, but it will require a lot of work to be returned to something resembling decent. The rear seat doesn’t look bad, nor do the door trims and dash pad. The headliner is shredded, the carpet is badly worn, and the front seats will need covers. Nobody has messed with the interior, which means that the original radio remains in its rightful place. It will require a lot of work, but one of the great attractions of these classics is that interior trim parts are easy to find and relatively cheap. Even if a full trim kit is required, it isn’t going to break the bank.

When a buyer walked into a Ford showroom in 1967 and drove out in a Mustang like this, it was as close to entry-level as they were likely to find. The engine bay houses the T-Code 200ci 6-cylinder engine, and the optional 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic transmission backs this one. With a mere 120hp on tap, the journey down the ¼ mile would take a leisurely 19.3 seconds. Give it enough room, and it would run out of breath at 98mph. The word “fast” would not find its way into the description of this car’s abilities. This Mustang is a classic case of the “ran when parked” phenomenon, although it is wise to remember that this was a few years ago. These old sixes are pretty bulletproof, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it roared into life with a bit of tinkering. That leaves the question of what to do from there. Getting it healthy enough to drive as-is would be possible, although I would be willing to bet that the buyer will probably perform an engine transplant. Whether that would involve something period-correct or something more modern would be a matter of choice. A restomod project would be a possibility because there are some affordable options out there. That could make this a comfortable and competent daily driver while retaining all of the classic Mustang character and charm. It is an option that is worth considering if you are looking seriously at this car.

This 1967 Mustang is a car that does deserve a closer look. It shows some promise, but potential buyers would probably be wise to get their knees dirty to have a closer look at its underside. If it is structurally sound, then it would be an affordable project car with a lot of possibilities. Despite the enormous build totals during these early years, finding cheap Mustang project cars today is becoming more of a battle as enthusiasts snap them up at the drop of a hat. If you are interested, it might be worth contacting the owner because this could be one where the buyer strikes gold.

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Comments

  1. Geoff

    Fully restored worth about 10-12k for a boring secretary model Mustang and values are dropping. There are so many clean examples around of this car its just not worth the effort for a rust bucket like this, but there’s always a guy….

    Like 4
    • Rex k

      Are values dropping? I don’t see that!

      Like 1
  2. Mike

    A 6 cyl in a Mustang looks odd. Kinda like if this was in Cuba and they swapped it out with a tractor motor.

    Like 2
    • JoeNYWF64

      There were tons of these inexpensive 6’s available/ordered in many GM models (& Ford, AMC & Chrysler) back then, including full size cars!
      & yes the strait 6 was avail in a ’65-68 Mustang fastback.
      & even in a ’69! …
      http://stevemckelvie.wordpress.com/2018/12/30/the-1969-mustang-e-a-very-rare-mustang
      EZ as pie to tune up & work on.

      Like 0
      • Charles Sawka

        I had a 69 fastback with the pony interior trim and a ton of real nice trim options. 6 cyl auto and was bulletproof and very smooth.

        Like 2
    • Daniel

      This combo was what my Dad bought brand new in 1967 (the exterior colour on his was a dark green, not whatever this car colour is supposed to be though)

      If it could be brought back to snuff, thus would be a perfect cruiser car (and yes those sixes were bullet proof, Dad’s Mustang had full compression in *maybe* half the cylinders for years, but still ran fine when he sold it in 1984, broke my heart because I wanted that car, but I had just turned 16 that year, Dad figured I needed something “less likely to get me in trouble”)

      Like 1
  3. Javan Jackson

    Nice Mustang! Could someone tell me about that Jetta Sportswagen thats in the background pic? REALLY interested in that actually…thanks!

    Like 1
  4. Jason Pelletier

    Being from New England, west coast cars are usually great on the bottom. Beware of the vinyl top as underneath Ford only used primer from the factory to save paint. I had a rust free California 70 Cougar where the previous owner removed the factory vinyl top only to be looking at the inside of the car. If this car has a bad roof, could be a candidate for Dynacorn’s fastback roof conversion kit. Not a bad price if the body only needed a couple of quarter panels.

    Like 1
  5. Ronald PringleMember

    Fun looking project, many after market parts houses to choose from. In 03 naught a 67 convert. 6 -auto.More than a year later spent more than 30 K on it. Machine shop rehabbed the head for 850.$. I know this area of Washington state gets a fair share of winter snow. 4,000 $ for a project like this. BEWARE. I lost .

    Like 0
  6. kenneth m siskin

    Ever been to Washington…Everything gets a coat of mildew or green moss if left outside for more than a week.

    Like 0
  7. Kenn

    Could have been underwater. Or under a big pile of snow. Either way, the wiring will be shot. Lots to go wrong with this.

    Like 1

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