This 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 has plenty of eyeball appeal, and apparently looked even better before being left outside and subject to Mother Nature and her critters. The seller reports it is equipped with a variety of rare options, including the Ram Air / 2 Barrel setup, rim blow steering wheel, and fold-down rear seat. Some modifications are included, like a header and mild cam. The Mustang is listed here on eBay with bidding over $6K and no reserve.
This Mustang found a new owner around ’99 after being purchased at the legendary Carlisle car show. Supposedly, that owner fell ill and the Mustang was barely used in his ownership. Two decades ago, it was lightly restored and repainted and apparently looked quite good at the show. As a Southern California car originally, rust is near non-existent and the undersides look quite cherry. Unfortunately, other areas are now affected by rust due to prolonged outdoor storage.
These areas include the hood, trunk lid, and tail light panel, all of which the seller says will need to be replaced. This is due to leaves and other debris blocking vital channels for water passage, and rodents stuffing other areas with nuts and nest-building materials. The seller notes the cowl vents are also leaking, and that the car is somewhat rigged to fire due to the neutral safety switch failing. The Mach 1 now has a hardwired coil in order to drive it, according to the seller.
When you see the interior, it dawns on you how nice this car once way. The carpets, dash, and seats all look quite nice, as does the console. It’s hard to say what you’re starting with here given the isolated areas of fairly serious rust (while other parts of the car remain unaffected.) Bidding seems reasonable for a car that looks like it was once a stunner, but now needs some bodywork to return to form. It just goes to show you that if you can no longer drive a car, it’s best to find it a new owner.
Man that’s a sharp looking ride! Big or not, these look aggressive from any angle.
Why I’m not a purist….removing a decent four barrel set up and replacing it with the stock 2 pot intake and carb which has happened here. Sure the gas mileage will make some folks laugh, but these aren’t about sipping fuel like a kitten.,and I thought the ram air 2V was about emissions and not in ’71. Am I wrong again?
“A header”? Couldn’t they spring for two?
Nice. Nothing dates a car like a set of Centerlines, though.
I think you mean fake Centerlines. Which are actually knock offs of Cragar Super Tricks.
Steve R
Yes, these rims are a bit dated, no more than Torque Thrusts or Magnum 500’s really. I always liked Centerline’s on these 71-’73 Mustangs for some reason. I can’t picture this ride with steelies and poverty caps, modern day stuff either.
I had 2 of these back in the mid 70’s one almost exactly like this one, blue and silver and one a year old that was red with Black. Both were 351 Cleaver lands, best I remember the blue one was Automatice and the red one a Four speed. LOL this was back when they weren’t as cool to own and prices were so cheap, at least compared to what they bring now. Oh How I wish I still had all my old Muscle cars back now I had a collection of about 40. all different brands back then am carried a dealers License just to avoid paying taxes and having to register the all, I didn’t even Buy Insurance of them I was self Insured Back then.
Another idi ot not taking care of a classic and left to rust .
the seller seemed to forget the smushed front fenders,rot in a lot of other places,etc.
Let’s see where it ends up at.
I remember seeing the red mach 1 in the James Bond movie Diamonds are forever, as a teenager in high school, thought it was the coolest mustang ever! I still like them though I am more partial to 69/70 body style but, I wouldn’t mind having this one.
Great project car!! Not in bad shape for sitting outside all those years!!