Thinking back over some of the muscle cars that feature a cool fastback roofline, the 1971 through 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1 is one of those quintessential examples, with that SportsRoof body style looking aggressive from just about every angle. 1973 was also the last year before the Mustang underwent a major redesign, shedding significant mass and weight when the second-generation cars came out in 1974. I may be in the minority here, but the ’71-’73 models with the SportsRoof are some of my favorite years for the Mustang, and this 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1 still looks good on the outside- that is, until you get up close. However, it does seem like a promising project, and we’d like to thank reader PRA4SNW for bringing it to our attention! This one is located in Toledo, Ohio, and can be spotted here on Hagerty, where bidding has reached $7,789.
For an auto that already has a great stance from the factory, adding a set of aftermarket wheels with wider tires on the back creates an even more intimidating look, and one that was popular during the seventies. From a distance, the exterior appears pretty good, and it’s only when you start closing in that the defects start to become apparent. Several chips and some cracking are visible in the paint, but hopefully, there isn’t too much filler or other surprises hiding beneath that black finish. If it’s just a fun driver you’re after, the outside could probably wait a while before addressing these issues.
Unfortunately, the engine will require immediate attention, as it’s not currently running. The seller says he inherited this Mach 1 a little over a year ago, and there’s no word on how long it’s been since it was last operational or whether the 351 Cleveland will still turn. This one came with a 2-barrel from the factory, but the Edelbrock air cleaner has a sticker that reads 4V, and there aren’t any details on exactly what carb is sitting underneath. Other than being an automatic, there’s no additional information regarding the transmission either.
While the interior could use a refresh, it doesn’t look all that bad overall, though the driver’s seat appears that the back may not stay in the upright position. I’m usually not a fan of aftermarket steering wheels, but the Grant GT was a pretty good choice here and blends in nicely. I’m thinking this would be a fun pony to get running again and just enjoy driving for a while before tackling the cosmetics, but I could also understand the urge to go ahead and give this one a complete restoration sooner rather than later. How would you move forward with this 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1?
Fun little project with a lot of potential but would definitely change the wheels
If I were looking for a later model Mustang with the period vibe, I would look no further. This was a chunky car and suffered compared to the earlier more svelte offerings. But adding fat wheels and bold exhaust is exactly what would have been done back then., It has a great look that I would not change.
The paint looks like a respray and is chipping of at the seams but looks ok overall.
It is on the cheap side right now and will probably go up from here.
Groovy baby…
Nice looking ride.A friend’s older brother had one, the back window was like looking through a mail slot.
I agree, rear window view was more of a hazard then a blessing.
If it sells for under $10 grand? This looks like a good deal. Unless the in person inspection shows some bad hidden rust. As far as the 351, if it rocks, it should run.
is Ohio , id be surprised if it wasnt bondo from the glass down.
The underside shots paint a different story. Maybe it was garaged in the winter .
Thanks Mike and reader PR…….
Definitely worth a look. I like the 71-73 Mustangs as well, my favorite being 67/68 and 69/70 in fact the only mustangs I really do not like are the 74-2004. the 71 -73 mustangs were premium as they were the newer models when I was in high school, I knew 2 guys who had these in high school, one who’s dad owned a Ford dealer, the other’s dad owned a big club/ restaurant. The mail slot comment cracks me up…mail slot is generous.
These cars are really cool looking and as far the rake and wheels and wide tires go, that is the first thing we did to muscle cars when we bought them.
Save up for the wheels and tires first.
Has a Mad Max vibe. Cool Mustang 😎
Looks like Day 2 mods on this Stang!!
It may not have been an objectively horrible styling transition compared to what was happening to contemporary international automobile design but I found these to be a huge disappointment coming immediately after the well received 69-70 Mach 1’s and Boss Mustangs. Bigger, fatter, bloated and slower, the 71-74s were a massive step in the wrong direction. This was made evident by the OPEC induced oil shock of 1973.