Grabber Blue Project: 1970 Ford Mustang Fastback

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By the 1970 model year, every major U.S. automaker had gotten into the “pony car” game, with the Dodge Challenger being the last to join the party. As such, the so-called founder of the movement, the Ford Mustang, saw its sales as a shadow of its 1966 peak – but still quite respectable at 190,000 units. The cars received their first major restyle in 1969-70 but still used the same platform as they began with a half dozen years earlier. This ’70 Mustang fastback looks to have been off the road for a while, with few details provided by the seller. It will need restoring but is said to be complete. Located in North Port, Florida, this old Ford is available here on eBay where the bidding stands at $10,200 (no reserve).

The swoopy fastback had become a widely popular body style for the Mustang come 1970. Some 45% of production was either the standard Mustang fastback, the Boss 302, Boss 429, or the Mach 1. More than 38,000 “regular” fastbacks were built that year, which would have included the seller’s car. Finished in what could be this car’s original paint, the finish looks to be Grabber Blue, one of the wilder colors that Ford would offer to compete against the “Hi-Impact” paint jobs that Chrysler was applying to some of their products. It was all about attracting more youthful buyers.

Under the hood of this car resides Ford’s trusty 302 cubic-inch small-block V8. With a 2-barrel carburetor, it would have been rated at 210 hp, the year before engines began the detuning process for lesser emissions output. At 86,000 miles, it’s likely the motor or automatic transmission have ever been taken apart, but since the car doesn’t currently run (the engine does turn freely), what it will take to get it going again is unknown.

While the Grabber Blue paint job still has some shine, it’s going to need to be refinished once issues with the sheet metal are dealt with. There are hints of corrosion wanting to bust through in a few places (like the rear quarters, which may have already been patched), but the photos on a lift show an undercarriage that hasn’t been rocked with rust. The interior is far from a basket case, but the bucket seats will need to be recovered, the carpeting replaced, and a new dash pad installed unless the one large crack isn’t bothersome.

Since this Mustang isn’t a special edition like the Grande or Mach 1, resale values aren’t through the roof. The nicest ’70 base Mustang shouldn’t go past $20,000, according to Hagerty. Yet the bidding for this one is already halfway there.

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Comments

  1. Rex Kahrs Rex Kahrs

    Mustang Mustang Mustang!!

    Like 18
    • Howie Mueler

      Now that is funny!!

      Like 5
    • Bluetec320 Bluetec320

      Hilarious!!

      Like 1
  2. Erik

    Based on the amount of work needed on it and current price, the next owner is either never going to start project or soon going to be upside down in cost to value.

    Like 4
  3. Rw

    Clean it up ,put some wide tires outback on aluminum slot wheels,side pipes,some sort of hood scoop that is totally wrong for the car,and you have it the 70s early 80s TV tribute car.

    Like 1
    • Fred W

      Yep, that would make it look like every Mustang in the 80’s high school parking lot. A nice memory.

      Like 2
  4. Stan StanMember

    Grabber blue looks good on most fords

    Like 2
  5. Stevieg

    So I just commented on an antifreeze colored 1974 Mustang & a yellow Opel GT, both of which reminded me of cars my now deceased Uncle Mark owned. This here is another Uncle Mark special.
    His was medium green with dark green vinyl interior. Same wheel covers & drivetrain.
    I told the story of my uncle & grandfather discovering a car in my aunts garage, that had belonged to a friend of my aunts roommate. It was a dark blue 1975 Firebird Formula. They poured sugar down the gas tank of that car. They did that because the owner of that car ran a stop sign and hit my uncles Mustang, totalling it out. He fled the scene.
    Grampa was old school Italian. He didn’t believe in calling police. Since Uncle Mark wasn’t injured, but his car was totaled, grampa decided that ruining his car would be good enough.
    Isn’t that something everyone should take their 7 year old grandson to lol?
    The Mustang, had it happened today, would have been restored. Back then? Nope.
    Good memories today on Barn Finds for me.

    Like 0
  6. Marvin Askins

    I loved my special order Grabber BlueMach 1 with a white interior, 351 Cleveland motor, Shaker hood,, 3:25 rear, 3 speed manual with Sports Slats. Awesome looking and very fast, especially against 4 speeds.

    Like 0

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