This 1969 Mustang Mach 1 has undergone a few changes during its life, but all of the pieces of the puzzle are present if someone wants to return it to its former glory. This includes a body in excellent condition and an engine bay overflowing with the magnificent 428 Cobra Jet V8. If the buyer prefers, getting the Mach 1 back onto the road in the short term would not be difficult, and they can take their time deciding whether a faithful restoration is the best plan of attack. Located in Line Lexington, Pennsylvania, you will find the Mustang listed for sale here on eBay. If you want to gain an insight into how much of a ripple this vehicle has made in the classic car pond, you only need to examine the bidding history. A staggering 79 bids have been submitted at the time of writing. That is one of the highest totals that we have ever seen here at Barn Finds, and all of that action has pushed the price to $35,100. Most of our readers won’t be surprised to learn that this is still short of the reserve, although there is plenty of time for that situation to change.

The owner admits that this Mach 1 has been sitting for more than a decade, which accounts for the heavy dust accumulation visible in the supplied photos. The Black paint that the car wears isn’t original, as the Mustang rolled off the production line wearing Wimbledon White with a black hood blackout treatment. It isn’t clear when the current color was applied, and whether it stays or goes will be a decision for the buyer to make. However, the paint shines exceptionally well through the dust, indicating that the vehicle should present well with some old-fashioned cleaning and polishing. The panels are as straight as you could hope to find on a 1st Generation Mustang. The owner identifies a dent in the passenger door but believes that a paintless dent removal company should be able to address this. That brings us to the awful question of rust, which can often be a horror story with these cars. If you are worried, then I am here to set your mind at ease. Quite simply, there isn’t any. The owner supplies plenty of shots of almost every aspect of the Mustang, and it appears to be completely rust-free. No grinders and welders for this baby! A few components are missing, so the buyer will need to assemble a bit of a shopping list. These include bumpers and door glass, but it would pay not to get too carried away with the list until the buyer has examined the vehicle carefully. There is a significant cache of parts that the seller includes, and many of the pieces that can’t be seen in the photos could be in that collection. It seems that getting the appearance of this classic back to a respectable level should be easy to achieve in a home workshop.

You only need to read the Marti Report to realize how mouth-watering this Mach 1 is. It lists an R-Code 428 Cobra Jet V8, a C6 automatic transmission, a 3.00 standard rear end, power steering, and power front disc brakes as the vehicle’s drivetrain configuration. The Cobra Jet would have pumped out an “official” 335hp, although plenty of knowledgeable people will tell you that Ford was quite conservative with that number. Whatever the truth, this Mustang would have stormed the ¼ mile in 14.5 seconds when it was new. The car’s drivetrain appears to be complete, and the owner believes that everything is numbers-matching. After sitting for more than a decade, the vehicle will need to be carefully coaxed back to life. I would be undertaking that task with care and patience because nothing would ruin your day faster than rushing the process and doing some form of unspeakable damage to the beautiful V8. The photos of the Mustang’s underside are interesting because they reveal a huge collection of fresh parts that the current owner has fitted. I can spot springs, steering and suspension arms, fuel and brake lines, hoses, and an exhaust that all look sparkling and new. The closer you look at this classic, the more encouraging it becomes.

If this Mustang has a weak point, it is probably the interior. Most of the components are present, except for some of the hardware for the Sport Deck rear seat. The owner is candid in admitting that the interior will need to be fully restored. He believes that a trim kit would be the best solution, and I agree with him on that point. This part isn’t going to be cheap, but it’s worth remembering that it should be a one-off expense if a high-quality kit is installed correctly. There’s no reason that interior trim shouldn’t last for 50-years or more if treated with respect, which means that if you undertake the work, there’s a good chance that the car will have found its way to another home before it will require further attention. The costs of kits vary widely, and it depends on what the buyer is seeking. It is possible to find some excellent kits for around $2,000, and these will contain most of the parts required to whip this interior into shape. However, spending a bit more could be a wise investment because, for $3,000, you can get a kit that includes everything. There will be new foam for the seats, new walnut inserts for the dash and console, upholstery, door trims, a dash pad, headliner, carpet, handles, kick panels, along with every screw and clip required to return the interior to a factory-fresh state. I know it’s a lot of money, but buyers should look at it as an investment that will give them pleasure for many years. The original owner spent a few dollars when they ordered the Mustang because they chose to equip it with air conditioning, a tilt-away wheel, an AM radio, and a tachometer. Once restored, this interior won’t just look fantastic, but it should be a pleasant place to spend some time.

Okay, now we reach a point where there are some decisions which need to be made. The first surrounds the Mustang’s originality. If you bought this classic, would you get it back on the road ASAP, or would you return it to its original appearance? The second decision is far more important. Are you interested in throwing your hat into the ring by submitting a bid? If you do, I could hardly blame you. If you do and you win, could you keep us informed of your progress with this classic? I’m sure that we’ve got plenty of readers who would love to know the outcome…including me!