Some classic car owners get dragged from pillar to post in their quest to return their beloved vehicle to its former glory. That seems to be the case for the owner of this 1970 Mustang Mach 1. It has done the rounds of a couple of different body shops, but no progress has been made on restoring its panels and paint. It looks like the owner may have decided that is enough is enough, so he has listed it for sale here on eBay. Located in Perrysville, Ohio, solid bidding has pushed the price on the Mustang to $36,800, but this figure remains short of the reserve.

It appears that this Mustang is a project where the panel and paint restoration stalled before it could start. The buyer will be faced with addressing a few minor dings and marks in the panels before applying a fresh coat of Competition Yellow paint. Rust is not a significant issue with this classic. There is a small spot under the battery tray that is an easy repair, while there is also a hole the size of a dime in the trunk. Otherwise, this Mustang appears to be rock solid. A few external trim items are missing, which is a consequence of the journey across body shops. The seller is trying to secure replacements, and it is hoped that he can do this before the car goes under the hammer. The original owner ordered this Mach 1 with a rear spoiler and Sport Slats, and both items remain intact. The glass looks free from major defects, and this Mustang rolls on a nice set of Magnum 500 wheels.

Learning that this Mustang is a numbers-matching classic will be welcome news for purists. Even better, lifting the hood reveals a 428 Cobra Jet V8 and four-speed close-ratio manual transmission. This monster would have pumped out 335hp in its prime, allowing the Mustang to cover the ¼ mile in 14.5 seconds. The motor was one area where the seller was able to make reasonable progress. He had it pulled and fully rebuilt. Since this work was complete, it has not fired a shot in anger, and that goal will fall to the next owner. It appears to be essentially complete under the hood, with only the snorkel for the Shaker currently missing. However, high-quality reproductions are readily available and affordable. I hope that the new owner can return this car to active duty reasonably quickly because it has been absent from our roads for way too long.

The next owner will need to spend some money on this Mustang’s interior. Once again, it is missing a few pieces, and it looks tired. With a dash pad, door trims, seat covers, and carpet on the shopping list, the most cost-effective approach may be an interior trim kit. Including a pad, this would set the next owner back around $2,200. It’s a lot of money, but the finished product should be worth the cost and effort. The interior isn’t loaded with many optional extras, with the factory AM radio being the only nod to comfort. Still, who needs fancy stereos when you’ve got a Cobra Jet singing its tune under the hood?

Seeing a restoration project where the owner has thrown their hands in the air is always a sad thing. That appears to be the case with this 1970 Mustang Mach 1, but the buyer is set to benefit. That freshly rebuilt Cobra Jet V8 under the hood should offer the new owner performance to burn. The car’s rock-solid nature means that it should be a straightforward project. Restored to a high standard, there is no reason why it shouldn’t attract a value of $80,000. If the next owner achieves perfection, the value could nudge into six-figure territory. With the popularity of First Generation Mustangs continuing to thrive, now might be a good time to park this one in your workshop.