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Daily Driver: 1969 Ford Mustang

The owner of this 1969 Mustang says that it needs a little TLC, but given the fact that he uses it daily, this looks like a classic that is ready to be driven and enjoyed immediately. If that’s the sort of car that holds a strong attraction to you, then you will find the Mustang located in Santa Monica, California, and has listed for sale here on Craigslist. If you would like to become the next proud owner of this daily driver, then you only need to hand the owner $10,500 and it’s all yours. I have to say thank you to Barn Finder local_sheriff for spotting the Mustang for us.

The owner states that the Wimbledon White Mustang needs some TLC, but doesn’t elaborate on what this will entail. The vehicle’s panels look straight, with no sign of any significant dings or dents. There are a few scratches and scrapes in the paint, so maybe he feels that it would benefit from a repaint. Having said that, there is evidence visible in a few locations to indicate that the car has received at least a partial repaint at some point in its life. No mention is made of any potential rust issues, and while the photos aren’t the best, there is nothing obvious visible externally. If the car has spent the majority of its life in California and been garage-kept as its current (and second) owner claims, then this might have helped its cause in this area. The trim, chrome, and glass all look to be quite good, and while the wheels aren’t original, I don’t mind them.

The tidy and serviceable theme continues when we look inside the Mustang. There are some visible signs that the car has spent a large part of its life in warmer climes, and this is most obvious when you look at the condition of the steering wheel. It sports a fair collection of cracks, and it would undoubtedly be a more comfortable proposition if it was either treated to a wrap or if it was replaced altogether. The cover over the dash makes it difficult to ascertain the state of the pad, but even if it is cracked, replacements are readily available for around $310. The door trims have some wrinkles, but these should be able to be fixed, while the foam looks like it is beginning to collapse on the driver’s seat. The rest of the interior is just showing its age a bit, with edge-wear and discoloring on the seats, and the carpet fading in spots. Of course, if you want the interior to pop, then you could treat it to a complete trim kit. This would cost around $1,500 but would include the dash pad that I mentioned earlier. It is certainly an option that would be worth considering if perfection is the ultimate goal. The factory radio is still present but has been adapted to operate a cassette player. The Mustang has also featured air conditioning, but the compressor is missing from under the hood.

Lifting the lid on the Mustang reveals a 302ci V8, a 3-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power disc brakes. For the 1969 model year, the Mustang had gained some weight, and when compared with a similar car from 1968, this accounted for around an additional 70lbs. The 302 also dropped approximately 10hp, down to a figure of 220hp. This resulted in an increase of around a ½ second in the ¼ mile ET, which now stood at 16.4 seconds. This Mustang has recently been treated to a full set of new front brakes, along with a new radiator. The owner claims that the car has a genuine 101,000 miles on the odometer, and in his own words, “it runs amazingly.”

The relative worth of this 1969 Mustang depends very heavily on what is hiding under the skin. If it is either rust-free, or any rust that might be present is minor, then at the asking price, it would represent a pretty respectable buy. Finding affordable 1st Generation Mustangs is becoming more difficult, and there is a possibility that this is what this one is. Personally, I think that this is a classic that would be well worth a personal inspection.

Comments

  1. bobhess bobhess Member

    My favorite year. That’s a great looking car for a good price.

    Like 7
  2. Avatar Bob_in_TN Member

    The 1969 “Sportsroof” models, e.g. the Mach 1, get the attention. But this base 302 automatic coupe looks good too. If you don’t need a fire breathing muscle car and would be happy with an eye-catching cruiser Mustang, this one would work fine.

    Like 8
  3. Avatar Steve R

    Not bad, however, 69 coupes arent the most sought after early Mustang. Hopefully the seller negotiable, based on what obviosly needs to be done, $6,500-$7,500 would be more realistic.

    Steve R

    Like 6
  4. Avatar Troy s

    What sets this ’69 coupe apart from likewise Mustangs are the wheels, gives it character. 17’s in the quarter if you’re lucky, if going quick and fast is your thing best forget about this one. Nice cruiser.

    Like 1
  5. Avatar FordGuy1972 Member

    This is a Mustang I’d like to have. The white exterior and blue interior combo is attractive and the 302 with the 3-speed auto will provide economical and dependable performance. If you want more performance, a 302 can be made to go a lot faster with all the speed parts available. It’s nicely equipped with PS and PDB though the missing A/C compressor is something the seller should have addressed before offering the car for sale. Overall, it’s a little tired and worn but it seems to have good bones. I might try to get the seller to go down on price a bit I don’t think the ask is out of line.

    Like 5
  6. Avatar Classic Steel

    This car has much appeal once verified on no rust which looks like a good confidence level. I would leave the wheels and fix the AC as last repair to keep original. Drive it and keep garaged and off streets if your in winter salt areas.

    I think it will probably bring close to nine grand with body and interior quality.

    Good luck on buy and looks like one could fly in and drive back if one lived within a couple states away or weather prevailed.

    Fyi. In midwest one would probably be seeing a similar Stang sadly with tin worms 🐛 every where ….

    Like 0
  7. Avatar Ralph

    Some nicely staged photography, the night shot in the parking lot looks great. It looks like something you would have seen in a college parking lot in 1980…..

    Like 0
  8. Avatar BigDoc

    I had a very slightly used 1969 Mustang with the 302. I paid 3000 for because I knew the New Car Manager. Great little car and my favorite Mustaing ever.

    Like 0
  9. Avatar CATHOUSE

    The A/C is aftermarket, not factory equipment.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Boatman Member

    Compressor is not missing, it’s laying against the inner fender.

    Like 0

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