Rarity claims are a dime a dozen in the classic world, with some withstanding scrutiny better than others. Take this 1969 Mustang Convertible as a prime example. If you factor in its mechanical configuration, paint color, and interior trim, it is genuinely unique. If you ignore the paint and interior and only consider its drivetrain, it is still a 1-of-20 vehicle. With Ford producing 14,746 Mustang Convertibles in 1969, you are unlikely to find an identical car in a hurry. This Convertible has generated interest since the seller listed it here on eBay in Arlington, Virginia. The twenty-four bids to date have pushed the price to $55,098, which is below the reserve.

There’s a huge amount to unpack with this Mustang, which perfectly demonstrates how a person’s taste can evolve. The original owner ordered this classic in Candy Apple Red with a White power top. It retains that combination, and the presentation is hard to fault. It is unclear whether the Convertible has undergone restoration work, but there is nothing to suggest it has. The paint shines beautifully, with no defects visible in the supplied photos. The panels are as straight as an arrow, with tight and consistent gaps. There is no evidence of rust in the lower extremities, with the seller not mentioning any problems below deck. That leads us to the point where it is worth considering the evolution of this Mustang. The original owner ordered the car as a sleeper, with none of the automotive tinsel associated with the GT version. It emerged from the factory on steel wheels with hubcaps and looked like any other Convertible. However, that owner became bored with its appearance, handing it to the local dealer to supply and install the correct GT spoiler, hood scoop, stripes, fuel cap, and GT wheels. The car retains these components, although the seller added Magnum 500s with BF Goodrich T/As. They kept the GT wheels and tires and include them in the sale.

Okay, we now reach the point where this Mustang’s story becomes interesting. The original owner was a Marine Corps pilot who purchased the car on his return from Vietnam. He wanted a Convertible that could hold its own against a Mach 1, ordering this classic with the 428 Cobra Jet V8. As the seller, the car’s second owner, rightly points out, the official power output of 335hp is considered underrated. However, I’m unsure whether their estimate of 420hp is accurate. The power feeds to the road via the rear wheels and a four-speed manual transmission, while power assistance for the steering and front disc brakes should remove some of the physical effort from the driving experience. Is it fast? I guess you could say that. Do a ¼-mile ET of 14.5 seconds, and a top speed of 131mph sound as good to you as they do to me? I thought they might! The seller states that while Ford produced fifty examples of the 1969 Convertible with the Cobra Jet under the hood, only twenty teamed that monster V8 with a four-speed manual transmission. Therefore, it is a rare classic if we leave everything else out of the equation. The Mustang is numbers-matching, and although the seller doesn’t expressly state it, the impression is that it is in excellent mechanical health.

The combination of this Convertible’s Candy Apple Red exterior and White Deluxe interior trim make a striking visual statement. The Marine Corp decal on the dash is a nod to this car’s history, while a retro-style stereo occupies the spot originally reserved for the factory AM radio. The presentation is stunning, with none of the dirty marks or yellowing that often plagues trim of this type and color. The dash, pad, and carpet are faultless, while the console was added as part of the original owner’s evolving taste. The interior has no apparent needs unless the buyer elects to source and install the correct radio.

The history of this 1969 Mustang Convertible is fascinating and demonstrates how an owner’s tastes can evolve. Originally ordered as a sleeper, the first owner added the parts designed to create a GT clone. However, the buyer could reverse those changes if they wished to match the included Marti Report. Regardless of which path they choose, they will slip behind the wheel of a classic that is not only rare but combines impressive performance with a relaxed wind-in-the-hair motoring experience. If you bought this classic, would you return it to its original form? Or would you leave it untouched and enjoy the car the original owner created?