How do you part with a car that you have owned for 47 years? It’s easy to divorce yourself from one that you have come to really dislike, or one that means nothing to you, but 47 years? Clearly “dislike” can’t be the issue if the relationship has lasted that long. But here you have just such an example, located in River Edge, New Jersey and available here on craigslist for $6,500, an original owner sale of a 1973 Ford Mustang Mach I. Thanks to Ikey H. for this tip!
Original owner/one owner sometimes takes on different meanings. Frequently, the original owner turns his car over to a broker/seller who sells it, promoting it as a “one owner” car as he is just selling it so that starts the ownership debate. Well, there’s no debate here, the seller bought this Mustang in ’73 and now he’s the one letting it go.
I would describe this 145K mile mustang as pretty fair, especially considering that it has seen 47 winters in New Jersey. The seller states that there is some rust in the lower quarters and a spot on the door, no mention regarding the underside. The body is straight and intact with a typically faded “4Q” Green Metallic finish, a common color seen on Mustangs of this era. The paint is original except for the passenger side fender and quarter panel. The seller, somewhere in the past, added a nice set of alloy wheels to this Mach I, they appear to be a bit worn but in pretty good shape overall and they compliment the visual appeal of this Mustang. This is the third and final year for the “big” Mustang, a design that some considered controversial because of it its significant departure in style from the ’69 & ’70 version. That said, the ’71-’73 design change was nowhere near as radical a redesign as what awaits in ’74 with the new, Pinto-based, Mustang II.
The Mach I was a performance “appearance” package but could also be a genuine performance package too, it just depends on what the buyer was looking for. This example is an appearance version as it is powered by the entry-level, 302 CI V8, good for 140 net HP. Gear selection matters are handled by a three-speed automatic unit. The seller states that this Mach I has not run for six months and it needs a battery. And that’s a position that I don’t understand. It would seem to me that the seller’s chance of sales success would be much greater with a running car and a battery is a very small price to pay to achieve running status unless of course there is some greater problem impeding this Mustang’s operational capability.
The interior is as expected, all in all, not bad; worn carpet and worn-through driver’s seat material but what do you expect for this age and mileage. The instrument panel and gauges look fine, no word regarding functionality of them or the A/C system. I’m not sure what’s up with the tape on the steering wheel, looks like a nautical theme going on with green tape on the port side and red tape on the starboard – maybe a way to find home, you know, “red, right, returning”.
The seller adds that he has all of the original documentation, receipts, build sheet, etc. so this Mustang is about as original and documented as you will find. And while it’s not a rare performance model, it’s just a nice old original car, and being a Mustang, it will generate interest. The seller says that he is firm on his price and that being the case, it will be up to a potential buyer to decide if the value is right for what this car is. I think it would be hard at this point to let go of something that has been owned for so long so the seller’s story would be interesting to know, don’t you think?
Already gone! Apparently SOMEONE liked it, though IMO this was more a rebodied era Thunderbird than anything remotely resembling a car with sporting pretensions, I.e., my ‘66 coupe with the a 3 spd behind the 200 c.i. six banger (split exhaust at the manifold with burned out Cherry Bombs, thank you very much😎)!
With that said, I hope the new owner can appreciate it as much as the original owner seems to have enjoyed it.
I can picture it blasting down the highway with the two 102″ whip CB antennas on the back!
A distant cousin came from out west in 1973 in a brand new fastback this same colour combo. I was ten.
I know a lot of people don’t think highly of this generation but it left me with a lifelong love of them and now in my mid fifties a real regret I’ve never owned one.
It looks like a decent car to work on and drive, but with 140 net HP and an automatic, it’s more like a Mach .1.
The 302 2bbl isn’t the engine people dreamed of in their sleep, but it was far superior than the 2.8 liter V6 used in 1974. At least you can work with what came in this car.
Steve R
It looked like a decent deal . A 351 Cleveland would of been preferred but the 302 could of been rebuilt. I would of added duals 3” pipes to back with a four barrel , performance intake and bored the block
out and possibly some performance heads to gain some ponies to get closer ti a meager 195-200 ponies then drove it.
Put some seat covers and fixed the rust.
It Would have been fairly easy to fix up from what’s shown.
I like the 60s Stang but don’t dislike the extended version 👀
Say what you want about mid 70s vehicles, being under powered, cause they were, drive a 65 Mustang, and then drive this, first off, brakes, these mostly had front discs, and were power, good luck w a 65, 2 feet to stop in emergency situations, and you might get a Charlie horse, these had a/c,improved suspension, everything, including just a better ride able to keep up w today’s traffic.
Considering the original owner was probably into their 70’s at this point, it probably wasn’t anything that they were still using.
So, good on them for letting it go instead of sitting and deteriorating.
You can still drive a Mustang when your in your seventies. You’ll see when you get there.
I’m 59 and when I think about giving up my 73 Grand Prix in like 10 years if I’m still alive, it makes me sick
It depends. Not everyone is in perfect health – size, shape, vision, etc.
Plus, some people just lose interest in things after they sit for awhile.
Not Barn Finders, of course.
My mother bought her last car the year she retired, 85 GT convertible, optional fuel injection. Got it over the LX because it had a better interior, lol. Sold it after she passed in 2011 with 85K on it. Always garaged, near pristine. The car she traded in? 73 Mercury Cougar convertible XR7, 351 CJ. She had some fun cars :)