This 1973 Mustang Mach 1 ran when it was parked, but the owner does admit that this was more than 20-years-ago. However, it is a complete car, and getting it moving under its own power again might not be that difficult. The price reflects the time that it has been sitting, and it makes it one of the most affordable complete 1st Generation Mach 1 project cars that you are likely to find in the market today. It is located in Grasonville, Maryland, and has been listed for sale here on Barn Finds Classifieds. You can take the Mach 1 away today for $3.500.

Under the accumulated dust and mold is a Mustang that might be capable of springing a surprise or two. The owner admits that there is some rust in the rear quarter panels and the trunk, but the rest of the body looks quite promising. We can’t see the state of the floors and the torque box region, but apart from the area where the rear of the car might be exposed to the elements, the rest of this shed looks pretty dry. If that is the case, then there is a chance that these areas might be relatively sound. One of the most encouraging aspects of the Mustang is the lack of visible corrosion in the engine bay. This area can start to show problems before the rest of the vehicle, and is often an accurate indicator of deeper issues. However, there is little in the way of surface corrosion, while the shock towers look solid and clean. There is some rust in the rockers, but this doesn’t appear to be extensive. The lower corners of the doors look pretty good, and there’s no evidence of rust around the rear window. There is some surface corrosion visible, but this doesn’t appear to be severe. The trim and chrome seem like it could be restored, and I can’t spot any glass issues.

Powering the Mach 1 is the 351-2V Cleveland V8, which is backed by a 3-speed automatic transmission. This did run when the car was parked, but the owner does admit that this was more than two decades ago. These old Cleveland V8s are pretty robust, so if it still turns, it might only require a little bit of encouragement to coax it back to life. The 2V is not the most potent 351 on the planet, pumping out 157hp. That also means that the ¼-mile journey would take around 17.5 seconds with the car in good health. However, it isn’t all gloom and doom. If the buyer isn’t worried about complete originality, it isn’t hard to wring some additional ponies from these engines without breaking the bank. For example, the simple upgrade to 4V specifications would boost power to 243hp and slice that ¼-mile ET to 15.2 seconds. Those figures look far healthier, and there would be more available if the buyer chose to pursue it further.

The Mustang’s interior brings more good news because it does appear to be complete. The seats and door trims look to be in good condition, with no signs of rips or seam separations. For such light-colored trim, it is also free from significant stains and yellowing, and I believe that it would respond well to a deep clean. With the dash also looking very respectable, I think that a few days of intensive cleaning would make a striking difference to the whole thing. A radio/cassette player has been fitted in place of the original radio and an oh-so-1980s graphic equalizer hangs under the dash, but these could be swapped out if the buyer wanted a more stock appearance. The same is true of the wheel because replacements are available at a reasonable price if this one isn’t to the buyer’s taste. This is one aspect of the Mach 1 where the buyer could potentially be spending more time than money to whip it into shape. That’s never a bad thing when considering any car as a restoration prospect.

By 1973, the Mustang wasn’t as “hard-edged” as it had been when it was first unveiled to the public. It had developed more into a “gentleman’s cruiser,” which was in keeping with the era’s evolving tastes. That doesn’t mean that they need to be a slouch. Extracting startling performance from a 351ci Cleveland is not difficult, and with a bit of extra power on board, that could make this Mach 1 an excellent compromise for the person seeking the best of both worlds. It is one of the cheapest complete Mach 1 project cars that you are likely to see on the market today, and that should make it worth a closer look.