This 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1 is a solid “barn find”-quality example that has recently emerged from long-term storage. The Mustang was purchased from North Carolina and then entered into some sort of long-term storage arrangement, where it was claimed to be part of a collection but has not seen road-going use in years. The seller claims the mileage of 62,000 is accurate and that it remains highly original. Find the Mustang here on eBay with a suggested opening bid of $19,750 and no action yet.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Patrick S. for the find. The Mustang features its original Mach 1 graphics kit, rear spoiler, front air dam, hood scoops, and other accessories that helped the Mach 1 stand out from the crowd. The chrome bumpers still appear to be in fair condition, and the paint may come back with some cleaning. Overall, the Mach 1 has a pleasingly weathered appearance that will clean up.
The interior is in good condition, offering some evidence that the low mileage odometer reading is genuine. The seller notes the Mustang is well equipped, with the FMX Select Shift automatic transmission, power steering, power front disc brakes, A/C, AM/FM stereo, Mach 1 sports interior option, tinted glass, and more. The dash looks crack-free and the wood trim insert breaks up the black surfaces.
The numbers matching 351 does not run currently, but the seller notes it cranks and turn overs freely. The engine bay is dingy but again, in keeping with the car’s overall appearance, there’s nothing here that won’t improve with a good detailing. While the opening bid seems like it will turn most potential bidders away, there’s likely a Mach 1 underneath all the grime that will be worth that bid someday.
Older sister bought one of these “big” Mustangs brand new in 1972. Kept it for a few years, then sold it to my mom and I got to drive it in HS.
Not the fastest car with the 302 2-bbl and FMX, but as a 17 year old, I wasn’t complaining. :-)
Some new headers and a 4barrel carb would wake this one up
Once cleaned and detailed there’s a sweet stang to be enjoyed
So, I’ll be the one to say it this once. $20K opening bid and doesn’t make the effort to at least get it running? Would so much help the sale.
Agreed. For that kind of money, it should be running and you would think the seller would clean and polish the friggin’ car. I can never understand why a seller wouldn’t clean a car they are asking a lot of money for to have the best chance of getting their price. Arrogance because “it’s a Mustang?”
So what do you Barnfinders think, overpriced for a non-runner?
Odd there’s ram air avail for a 2 barrel motor !?
& it was avail in ’73 ?
Silly 2:75 rear axle ratio.
The fenders on these are HUGE!
I wonder if the hood is even longer than one on, say, a ’73 firebird.
Joe, yes, that seems strange but the 351 Ram Air was only available with a 2-V in ’73.
So the recent 73 Fastback barn find is yellow need rails, brakes reworked Etc etc with 351 Cleveland and only 39000 miles as it runs off bottle for the cheap on bids and prob bring under seven
Just saying whats the benchmark for non running to get to almost 20 with a good-body? Just saying 20 grand is running and looks like a good driver
or better 😉
I like these largest made Mustangs but not as much as prior years
Maybe the seller thinks these are as popular as the 69-70 models, because 20,000 for a non-running is steep as hell.
Price is a little high for me, but dang, I sure do like it! The Clydesdale ‘stangs are by far my favorites.
Didn’t think much of this when new, but cringe at what came next. On this version this paint color is about as good as it gets. I would wash it and relist it at $14,900 and let it climb a bit. It should be worth it.
Will be interesting to see if it sells.
20k? Really I had one of these,just wasn’t a good vehicle rode terrible was kinda squirrelly, backing up?basically just guessing.73the beginning of the end imo
What Keith said………
351 Cleveland 2 barrel with Ram Air , that’s what was happening in ’73. Believe it had something to do with emissions as the Cleveland breathed better than almost any engine made, even the 2V heads had massive valves. Then again I could be absolutely wrong.
I said it about the yellow ’73 a few days ago and I’ll say it again, a lot of people just don’t like these bigger ‘Stangs, practically since they were new. Called em the fat Mustang and all. I like the Mach 1’s and find the styling to be quite aggressive, the ’71 Boss 351 to me is an outstanding machine all around. This one is not bad but over optimistic for the asking bid.
Troy s – Having ordered a BOSS 351, and was then overjoyed when it arrived…I totally agree. It was an outstanding machine. And it’s ram air worked just dandy. I’m actually kind of amazed that this Cleveland 2V had it two years later. The only problem I ever had backing mine up was when it was a bright, Sunny day and the Sun was directly behind me, and low in the sky….even 3 mirrors made that tricky. Wish I could have “put it away for a rainy day”. Saw one sell recently for 105K that was nearly the twin of mine. Sigh.
Have you tried backing up some very recent modern cars/suvs(or changing lanes) with their tiny windows – those w/o a backup camera?
Too bad you could not get the boss 351 in the 2 door non fastback ’71. Or could you, if you knew someone?
& don’t forget the solid lifter!! 351 HO in ’72 that just needed higher compression & a better cam.
http://www.mustangandfords.com/featured-vehicles/1712-whos-the-boss-in-1972-that-would-be-r-code-351-h-o-mach-1
Not my favorite but the car looks solid from the pictures and could be a good driver!! A little bit of modifications to the motor and she could push much more horses!!!
Friend had this year in blue. But had a 4bbl Cleveland & a C6 trans. Everything else identical. We were 19 in may of ’80 & took this down to Fl from Bridgeport Ct. Never forget had my ‘FuzzBuster’ on the dash & a baseball bat wedged in between the seat/console/gas pedal for cruise control. Arrived in Daytona, called home. Pops said ‘so, getting into Georgia now’? Said No dad, in Daytona. He says ‘you cant be. That’s 17.5 hrs’. ‘Uh yeah, we’re here’. Says ‘well you must have been hauling ass’. Didnt want to say the ‘cruise’ only worked at little over 105 and the occasional open blasts far above that. Even past a chain gang in Georgia. Two guards saw 1 with long rifle. Ended up at the Ford dealer in Daytona as by the time we got there, huffing oil & smoking bad. New valve seals & all set. Great month vaca indeed!
JoeNYWF64 – yes, have done the backing deal with various rentals over the past few years. Glad I’m tall and have flexibility in neck ! I looked at the car in the link, and though interesting, and fewer numbers built, still not a BOSS 351. BOSS engine unique bottom to top. I’ve seen rebuilt Autolite 4Vs for that car “offered” for between 3-5K. Many suspension bits were only available on it as well, as it was supposed to handle better than other ‘Stangs, much like prior BOSS’. Just bigger. BTW, mine got stolen (actually via a tow truck or flatbed in the middle of the night…5 below zero) after less than one year of ownership. So, when it was found 3 weeks later…entire drivetrain had been removed along with ram-air hood and special bucket seats. Perhaps there now IS a “regular” sleeper Mustang (or Maverick) running around Chicagoland with all or most of those goodies. Grateful my insurance company totaled it and although mad as heck got a different car. NOT a BOSS, didn’t want to go through that again !
I’d be livid had I had a car like that stolen. I’d have $5k rewards posted no questions asked to bring me to the source of who stole it. When found, they’d sign a life insurance policy with me as beneficiary & let the cards fall as they may.
Al – I was. Even got pretty pissed that the detectives took so long to come and investigate/take my statement. Apparently stolen cars, no matter how new/rare they were way down the list of important crimes in that fancy neighborhood (Lincoln Park, Chicago). Your other comments are interesting, but I didn’t have that kind of money to throw around then, that might actually be less than the purchase price of the car….I’d have to check. Regardless, it was probably stripped within 48 hours of being taken. I know exactly where it was found from the police reports, all the way on the other side of the city. Which is why I know it was towed or flatbed towed, what I didn’t mention previously is that I had taken the rotor out of the distributor after parking it that night. No one that I know of carries a BOSS 351 rotor around with them, do they ??
I bet they would have looked for such a car a lot sooner if 1 belonged to the captain or the sergeant. lol
Wonder if the factory would have left off the boss 351 & ram air decals if you asked them to. Or if the dealer could remove them. Then much less chance of bein stolen, i guess.
To load a car onto a flatbed it has to roll – i guess there were/are no robust aftermkt shift linkage locks out there?
So much for the factory lockin steering wheel & linkage.
Joe – the flatbed tow trucks (or whatever you wish to call them) have really powerful winches and likely dragged it a bit sideways first, and then up onto bed. Happened in the middle of a sub-zero night, so doubt that it got too much notice. Tow trucks were always towing illegally parked or battery dead cars from that street running next to the Zoo. You made me laugh about the CPT or SGT comment. I don’t recall a shifter nor steering wheel lock from 1971. I sure didn’t have one. Neither do I recall on the list when ordering it that there was a box to check for deleting the BOSS or Ram Air graphics package. If a BOSS or Mustang “geek” out there knows that answer, please weigh-in …. You guys have all made the loss of that lovely car less painful. Time does heal most wounds.
I just brought my barn stored 1973 Mach 1 back from the MOM, Mustang Owner’s Museum in Concord NC. This was a dirt floor barn with open walls not enclosed so the car had quite a bit of detailing but no restoration. I put in barn for 38 years was not started until the day I drove it into the museum in April 2019. It did not smoke and still has original exhaust. I ordered the car new and checked every option on the list but the block heater and missed it. Car has a little over 12,000 miles and has 41 options yes Fourty One. All documented with original order, window sticker, factory invoice, dealer invoice and Marti report. Marti actually saw the car in person at the MOM grand opening. It has not been washed with running water in 38 years and paint has never been buffed. Vinyl top looks new and original paint shines. Interior is perfect.
On the red one it has a 71 gas cap that was eliminated because of leaks and not on a 72 or 73. On the ram air. During required government testing in the day each engine combination had to be driven 40,000 miles on test track without any repair. An employee screwed up and did a turn up just before the 351 C 4-V made it to the mileage require so it negated the test. Ford did not want to start over so they just eliminated the ram air on the 4-V model in part of 72 and all of 73. I also have a 1972 Mach 1 T-5, Q code 4 speed.