Disclosure: This site may receive compensation when you click on some links and make purchases.

Fantastic Survivor At No Reserve: 1973 Mustang

m1

Popular model? Mustang–check. Original? Check, even down to all the paint. Not rusty? Check. Desirable specification? How does V8, manual transmission and air conditioning sound? Add a no-reserve auction here on eBay with a very reasonable opening bid, and a Lakewood, California location, and it’s only us East coasters that are now gnashing our teeth.

m3

If you look at the top of the picture, you can see the roof paint that is somewhat deteriorated. However, the vast majority of this original paint and decals look really nice, and I think it would be a shame to restore what is a nice original. I have to admit, the small center caps and trim rings have never tripped my trigger, but to each his or her own. Since all the documentation comes with the car including the original receipt, I would want to keep it original.

m4

Here’s a close up of the roof paint damage. Perhaps someone polished a little too much? Perhaps a repaint of the roof panel could be blended in by a quality body shop? I’m still not sure I would, though.

m5

According to the seller, who calls this a one-owner car (I’m not sure whether it really is or if there’s a flipper involved) the interior is also all original. As you can see, the seats are separating a bit at the seams. You can tell in other pictures that the dash is cracked. Amazingly, the radio is the original 8 track that is in good working order, and the seller is including a box of 8 track tapes! I’m also shocked that this car has a four-speed; I don’t remember the last 71-73 Mustang I’ve seen with a manual transmission.

m6

While this Mustang is large, and pollution controls had started to sap power, the 351 V8 with a four-barrel was still a formidable power plant, and the four speed will allow the new owner to get the most out of it. Would you like to be that new owner? If one of you bids on this one, let us know!

Comments

  1. HoA Howard A Member

    Is it my imagination, or are there a lot of Mustangs lately? Great cars. I had 2. An ’88 5.0 automatic, and a ’95 V-6 5 speed. This is a great example, although, aside from the 4 speed, this looks like a pretty basic car. Wasn’t much paint on these to begin with, so to sit in the Cal. sun, will take it off.( where’d the rust come from?) I’ve got news for ya’, someone spent a lot of time cleaning this, ( and the 75 pictures) shows someone knows how to present a car, and it is sharp. Not my favorite Mustang, that was the ’95, but this sure is nice. (btw, the A/C usually always works on Cal. cars. It’s like a heater in the north, gotta have it)

    Like 0
  2. Avatar Cassidy

    The last time I drove a 73 was in 1975 and that bad boy had a 4-speed. I was a lot boy on a Ford dealership’s used car lot and to run errands, they let me pick any of the cars on the lot. One muscle car after another, people were in a panic and trading in their muscle for some docile Pintos and Mustangs. That would have been a good time to buy them up, no one was even looking at them, which is why they let a 19-year-old kid with a lead foot drive them. Good time to be alive!! Back to the Mustang. Hated it! That long fast back gives the driver a very small mirror image to look out at the world from behind, and if you’re looking for Smokey, you better have a magnifying glass! Hood is about 10 feet too long too, depth perception gets lost and its very hard to tell where the car ends, both front and back. Beautiful looking car!

    Like 0
  3. Avatar Elliott Member

    Very nice car, but I prefer the Magnum 500 wheels, and the “hockey stick” Mach 1 stripe! :-)

    Like 0
  4. Avatar Pete

    Great car. I have a 72 same engine with C6 trans. These cars are fun to drive. The color is a bit much though.

    Like 0
  5. Avatar Franke

    The first Eleanor.

    Like 0
  6. Avatar piper62j

    Fantastic car and the price will exceed 8k.. AC is a plus even though the interior is standard.. I’m currently restoring a “Q” 73 Mach 1 with all the options.. Same color.. Magnum 500’s too..

    This is a very fine car and well worth the investment.. Needs some tlc and paint..

    Like 1
  7. Avatar RoughDiamond

    Nice survivor Mustang. I would have thought a Tach would have been standard equipment with the Mach 1 and 4-speed. Guess not.

    Like 0
    • Avatar todd

      that is odd as I have a 73 mach 1 with a 351 and C6 trans and it does have a tach.

      Like 0
  8. Avatar stillrunners

    Not a factory Ford 8 track and what’s that above the rear license plate ? If the mane don’t match the tail as the saying goes…..nice car but like the later Ranchero’s you don’t find much love.

    Like 0
  9. Avatar jim s

    when i first looked at this car i thought just another 70’s mustang. but for some reason i want the car for a daily driver, even with the v8. i would keep it from rusting more then it already has and make/keep it safe to drive. then just have fun with it. but it will go for to much money and 3 of the bidders have feedback scores of 0, 4, and 7. great find.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Daniel Sexton

    Not so sure about the “no reserve” aspect. Same seller “sold” this same car last week “no reserve” for $16,500. And now it’s back? So the top three bidders all backed out? Hmmm. Feedback for seller not the best either. If the car were at Barrett-Jackson at No Reserve I’d put a little more faith in that claim. But on eBay where they can claim the buyer never came through and get a full credit for the listing from eBay? It’s a glorified classified ad with the seller hoping to bid it up and hook somebody. Flippers are as flippers do ;)

    Like 1
  11. Avatar Woodie Man

    This baby has a bad case of seventies bloat……something happened to car design in the seventies….it went to hell :) . I can remember thinking at the time…what a beast! On the positive side the 4 speed will make up somewhat for the wandering front end.

    Like 0
  12. Avatar St. Ramone de V8

    The ’71-73 Mustangs are clearly a love it or hate it generation. I’ve had a few, and yes, the visibility is poor, but they really handled quite well. That Q code Cleveland is a rocket. It’s a four speed, so it really would be a great driver. That color? I just can’t get past that.

    Like 0
  13. Avatar American_Badaz

    I have had a few generations of mustangs, but never a “Clydesdale” body. My favorite though. I just love how the rear glass is like 4′ tall, yet looks like 2″ tall through the rear view mirror. And if you go old school with air shocks….. well, what rear window? lol

    Like 0
  14. Avatar Lonnie

    I agree 100% the Cleveland was a rocket, compared to the 351 Windsor. Drove a 73 Ranchero with the 351 Cleveland and could not avoid turning the tires beside a cop one time. LOL

    Like 0

Leave a Reply to Cassidy Cancel reply

RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks.

Become a member to add images to your comments.

*

Get new comment updates via email. Or subscribe without commenting.