There’s an interesting flip-flop that happens with first-generation Mustangs. The early ones (say, 1965s) have a value premium on convertibles over fastbacks. But the later ones, like the 1969 Ford Mustang convertible here on ebay, carry a value add for the “SportsRoof” body style. Thus it’s not a huge surprise to see this needy steed at a bid of only $6,600 with four days left in its auction. But it’s not going to go for that. The reserve is as yet unmet. You can thus throw down your money and see where the sweet spot of the asking price is. Should you win, you’ll truck to North Tonawanda, NY, to bring home your project.
Project? Yeah. The engine turns over but hasn’t run in a long while. There are declared holes in the floor under the driver’s and passenger’s seats. That’s about the extent of what you know from the narrative part of the ad for this pony. That, and that it’s an F-code (302-CID) engine with an automatic transmission doing the gear changing. It shows, apparently, just over 68K miles on the odometer. There is no image to help you make an educated guess as to its care over the years.
Or is it a hopeful driver candidate? The seller says that overall, this is a solid and reliable car, one which, with some cleaning, would be a driver of presentable quality. Do the images bear out this description? Well, you have to like “custom” paint motifs to be happy in this driver’s seat. A previous owner has taken the idea of the Mach 1 blackout hood to the extreme, having the black “accent” run from hood back to deck lid, including, of course, the black convertible top. In any case, the top side of this car is all that’s shown, and as we’ve detailed many times here on Barn Finds, a Mustang is a unibody car, and rust in structural areas is death. Let’s add, a convertible is even more dependent on a strong underside to keep it from flexing.
The interior is somewhat suspect. Is that mold showing? A sign of the car being in a far too damp environment? I’m talking about the steering wheel and the seat skins. If the seller is correct, the inside will clean up, but look at the oil-soaked floor mat and the generally disheveled nature of the interior and ask yourself what kind of ownership history this exhibits, and whether this is something you want to be next in line for. Then look at the wheels and ask once more whether this is your style or a project for someone else.
Seems to me the 1969 Mustangs were better built than the earlier ones. I had 1 67 and 2 68s, then later on a 69, seemed more substantial and seemed like you sat more in it than on it. To me, probably the best looking Mustang convertible was the 1969. The 2013-2014 Mustang GT convertible strongly favors the 1969.
“Could use some general cleaning.”
Then why not clean it? If he’s right, a couple hours spent cleaning could add thousands to the car’s value. But, we all know he isn’t right, and so does he.
I was thinking the same thing. Put a little effort into it or have it professionally detailed for a few hundred bucks. Seeing it like that always shows me the owner didn’t care about it
Seems like some soap and water could be put to use. what does the rest of the car look like? Any chance of more pictures?
69 convertibles should draw more value than the sportsroof being they are much more rare and a lot more fun to drive. They are also more difficult to restore. I have a 69 convertible that I restored to deluxe interior and added a 408C and 5 speed. It gets more attention than the sportsroof cars.
A little elbow grease would make that car look much better. No one really wants a barnfind convertible so making it clean would be a big draw.
I am working on a 69 m code 3spd 3.00 rear 9in convertible right now and had a 69 conv in college – for a BF it’s all about good bones. Eventhough lots of repro parts (many not as good as original), oem/used is getting expensive. And prices are all over the board for cars and parts. IME look for least amount of structural rust and reusable original parts ie complete. Moldy and junkyard is usually very hard to being back. Dings and dents np.
Had one. High mileage car near 200k. Enjoyed for 4 or 5 years, sold it to a former student and learned years later he and the family loved the car. Driver’s side window came off the track often, never could repair it to last for very long before the next slump.