There seems to be an air of inevitability with First Generation Mustang project cars. More often than not, buyers face the prospect of cutting away acres of rotten steel and welding in an equal amount of new metal to return their pride and joy to a sound state. That’s what makes this 1969 Mach 1 a refreshing change. Yes, it does have rust, but it is minor and should be easy to address. The car also runs and drives, making it a classic that the buyer can enjoy immediately. The Mustang is located in Aragon, Georgia, and is listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set a BIN of $29,950, but he leaves the option for interested parties to make an offer.

The Mustang wears its Candy Apple Red paint with pride, although it now shows the ravages of time. The buyer will undoubtedly perform a repaint at some point, but it wouldn’t need to happen immediately. There are a few minor bruises on the panels, but once again, there’s nothing horrendous. That brings us to the inevitable subject of rust. The owner admits that a lower corner of the passenger door has some penetrating rust, while a small amount is also present in the rear floor. Both areas look like they could be addressed with simple patches that the buyer could install at their leisure. When we turn our eyes to the remaining floors, frame rails, and torque boxes, they are as solid as the day this beauty rolled off the production line. The same is true of the rockers, rear quarter panels, and lower fenders. Overall, it shouldn’t take a lot of time, money, or expense to whip this body into shape.

Lifting the Mach 1’s hood reveals an M-Code 351ci V8 that should be churning out 290hp. The original owner also chose to equip the car with a three-speed automatic transmission and power steering. Given free reign, this Mustang should gallop through the ¼ mile in 15.1 seconds. The engine bay looks pretty grotty and dirty, and a spot of cleaning and detailing wouldn’t go astray. There is also a significant coolant stain on the radiator, suggesting that a recore might be on the agenda. Otherwise, it seems that the news is pretty good in this neck of the woods. The owner says that the 351 runs well and that the transmission shifts smoothly. I’m not sure if that means that the car is roadworthy, but it suggests that getting it to that point might not be difficult.

Interior restorations are an area that seems to divide potential buyers. Whipping an interior into shape can represent a substantial outlay, but there’s nothing worse than seeing a classic car with immaculate panels and paint being brought down by a second-rate interior. This Mach 1 will need nothing short of a complete restoration, although the interior appears to be complete. The original radio has made way for a CD player, but there are no other visible additions beyond speakers cut into the rear trims. A kit would seem to be the most sensible option, but the buyer will need to add a wheel to the shopping list. The combined cost will run to around $2,500, but the interior will have an as-new appearance. That seems like a lot of money at first glance, but if the Mustang is treated with respect in the future, the interior should still present well in another five decades.

So, what do you think? As a project car, this 1969 Mustang Mach 1 looks like a decent prospect. Its lack of significant rust is a bonus for potential buyers, and its overall complete nature means that the buyer won’t be spending a fortune on parts. The BIN price might be a bit optimistic, but it is worth remembering that if the buyer completes the restoration work to a high standard, this would be a $50,000 car any day of the week. That leaves a fair amount of breathing space on the restoration, and it’s why I won’t be surprised if someone snaps it up pretty quickly.