This 1970 Ford Mustang is a mystery machine. It appears that a previous owner may have commenced the restoration process, but this stalled pretty early. It has rust issues and a few other body oddities that the buyer will need to consider. However, much of the steel required to address its problems comes with the car. Despite the bidding figure remaining low, it has attracted some attention since the seller listed it for sale here on eBay. The Mustang is located in Muskegon, Michigan, and bidding has reached $3,350 in a No Reserve auction.
This Mustang is a long way from being complete. It is missing a fair amount of its exterior trim, plus the windshield and side glass. The hood is present but isn’t attached to the car. That appears to be the least of this classic’s problems. The panels look reasonably straight, with external rust present in the lower rear quarter panels. It isn’t clear whether the buyer will need to replace these or whether they could repair them with simple patches. The floors have the usual rust problems, but new pans come with the car to address these issues. The frame rails are good, but the buyer will potentially face replacing the torque boxes. The trunk pan is sound, and at first glance, it seems it might not take a lot to address all these rust issues. However, there are others that will need to be considered.
The engine bay could be described as anything but pretty. The cowl and firewall have significant problems, and these are well beyond addressing with simple patches. All may not be lost, though, because the owner has a good second-hand firewall and cowl. He is happy to include this in the sale if the buyer wishes. The buyer may elect to source a new reproduction section, but the extra part may be worth considering. It could save considerable money on this restoration project if it proves to be structurally sound.
The mystery with this classic deepens when we look at its roof. The seller is unsure whether a previous owner was preparing to replace the skin, but one comes with the car. It looks like somebody has held a dance party on top of this car because it’s pretty ugly up there. By the time they have finished this restoration, they will be on a first-name basis with the person who supplies all their parts. This is especially true when they start considering the interior restoration. The dash is complete but has been removed, and there is a steering wheel and column. It appears that the rest of the trim has gone the way of the dodo, and a complete re-trim will be on the cards. That means that the buyer will face spending around $1,900 on a trim kit, plus they will need to source hardware like seat frames. They may find it easier and more cost-effective to scour online sites like eBay and Craigslist in the hope of finding parts at an affordable price.
Don’t be fooled by this photo because this Mustang is a roller without a motor or transmission. Both components disappeared before the car came into the seller’s possession, but it may not be all bad news. The engine that you see here is a 302ci V8 of 1969-vintage. It turns freely, but the seller is unsure of its actual condition. He doesn’t include it in the sale but is willing to throw it in for an additional $300 if the buyer wants it. Of course, that person may see this as a blank canvas project and slot something bigger and more powerful under the hood. That leaves the option to create a restomod build that would combine the charm and character of a classic Mustang with a low-maintenance drivetrain that’s easy to live with.
By 1970, First Generation Mustang sales had plummeted compared to the stratospheric levels of 1966. A total of 190,727 buyers slapped down the cash for one of these classics, and many were abused or driven into the ground by their owners. Many more succumbed to severe rust issues, and our featured car looks like it was headed down that same track. That raises the question of whether it is a viable project. The loss of the original drivetrain means that a faithful restoration isn’t going to make this a megabuck classic once the work is complete. Therefore, a restomod may be the best path. Once a car like this is no longer 100% original, that negatively impacts its value. However, a custom build will command whatever a buyer is willing to pay. Done properly, those types of projects can sell for impressive figures. That is food for thought, and it’ll be interesting to see which path our readers would follow.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot The best part of the car is missing…. I didn’t see the radiator cap. Keep the vin tag and put it on NEW METAL ….https://www.r3pp.com/products/body-shells-classic-series
Not much here to see, the seller has some negative feedbacks.
Just another Rustang.
The inside surfaces of the cowl were not painted or sealed in any way. Water entered through the louvers on top of the cowl and exited through holes in each forward corner of the cowl. The exit holes were small and easily clogged with debris. Once that happened, water had no way out of the cowl, which is what likely caused the damage seen here. This also makes the used cowl a little pointless. At the very least, it will need to be opened up, painted, and sealed to prevent future rust-out.