The owner of this 1968 Mustang Convertible performed a fair amount of restoration work on the vehicle before he parked it in this barn. It has occupied this spot for 18-years, but the time has come for it to emerge into the light of day and find its way to a new home. If you think that yours is that home, you will find the Mustang located in Osceola, Iowa, and listed for sale here on Craigslist. The owner has set the sale price at $18,900, and it seems that he is firm on that price. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Gunter K for referring the Mustang to us.
Before we delve into the overall condition of this Candy Apple Red Mustang, I have to ask whether I am the only person who is intrigued by how high the back of the vehicle is sitting. That makes me wonder whether the owner has fitted different springs at some point, or whether the car is fitted with air shocks. Anyway, that is a point to ponder. Under what seems to be a relatively light layer of dust, the Mustang’s paint appears to hold a winning shine. The owner only supplies two exterior photos and not a wealth of information, but it looks promising. There are no visible flaws in the paint, and no dings or dents. Encouragingly, there is also no visible rust in any of the car’s lower extremities. The lack of accumulated surface corrosion in other locations gives us some cause to be optimistic about the vehicle’s structural integrity. Obviously, it will take an in-person inspection to confirm the health of its underside, but it seems to be a case of so far, so good. The owner fitted a new White power top before he parked it, and this looks like it would respond positively to a deep clean. The trim and chrome are in good order, and what can be seen of the tinted glass also looks good.
If the exterior looks good, lifting the hood reveals a vehicle that was nicely equipped by its original owner. What the buyer will be getting for their cash is a 302ci V8, a 3-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power front disc brakes. That 302 would be pumping out 230hp, which is enough to propel the Convertible through the ¼ mile in 16.1 seconds. This is where things begin to get interesting with this classic. The owner says that the odometer shows 28,000 miles, and while it appears that he doesn’t hold verifying evidence, he believes that these miles could be original. It seems that before parking the car, he treated the engine to a rebuild. He provides no information on what work was completed, and I’m surprised that the engine itself doesn’t present as nicely as its surroundings. I can spot a new battery which suggests that the owner has worked through the process of reviving this beauty. However, he does indicate that it will need a new battery (this one must not be included), an ignition switch, a fresh set of tires, and some TLC. He also says that the transmission works fine, which suggests that the Mustang must run and drive.
With this car, the lack of photos is the limiting factor when trying to determine its overall condition. This is the only shot that we get of the interior, and it sends us mixed signals. I can’t spot any rips or tears in the Deluxe upholstered surfaces, nor can I see any aftermarket additions beyond the wheel wrap. The factory radio remains intact, and nothing has been cut or modified. The dash and pad are in excellent condition, while the same appears to be true of the carpet. However, it is the physical condition of the upholstery that might cause the buyer some heartache. I have previously referred to White vinyl trim, and how it can be prone to becoming dirty and discolored. It may be a trick of the light, but it looks like that fate may have befallen this car. It isn’t the end of the world, because an experienced vehicle detailer might be able to return it to its former glory. I have seen some remarkable results using certain cleaning products and low-power UV lights, so that might be an option that the buyer could investigate if regular cleaning doesn’t cut the mustard.
Overall, this 1968 Mustang Convertible shows a lot of promise. However, I always look at listings like this one and feel that the seller has done himself a huge disservice. The lack of photos and detailed information leaves potential buyers wanting for more. We have to hope that the owner is approachable, and in particular, is willing to answer the legitimate questions that could be posed by serious potential buyers. I know that I have plenty, but I will say that if the Convertible is as rust-free and sound as the photos would suggest, it could represent a pretty decent buy. It has only been on the market for a couple of days, and I wouldn’t be surprised if someone snapped it up quickly. Would you?
Man, this is so nice, what I wouldn’t give to have this in my garage.
Well Gary all you have to give is $18,900.00 and it’s yours. All kidding aside I also would like to park this car in my driveway. Unfortunately money has become an object for me. I have none. So I read barn finds and dream, but there’s to many that I want to park in my driveway. Driving at my leisure everyday of the year. Great pleasure can be found in dreaming, or perhaps in recollection of times gone by.
God bless America
Sits low in the front and high in the rear, is that the original steering wheel? Only four photos?
It always amazes me how many car ads report less than 50k miles and oh, by the way the engine has been rebuilt. What would necessitate a rebuild at 28k miles? Poor maintenance? Hard driving? I bought a couple of cars in the past that had “rebuilt” engines only to replace them with a crate engine or another rebuild a year or two later. If the paint on this Mustang is really good; it’s an ok deal but if not, then add another $6-8k to the restoration list.
Usually when a car is used little or no at all, things can go wrong…. seals eventually leak….also the block cylinders may rust and can cause pistons to seize. If your going to store a car, it should not be neglected. This horse was not running but parked in the stables…lol
That is not a deluxe interior…..