It never ceases to amaze me what cars can be unearthed in barns across the country. This 1970 Ford Mustang perfectly demonstrates this. It was found by its owner after languishing in a barn for 25-years. It has emerged from hiding, and what has been revealed is a complete and surprisingly solid classic that would make an excellent project build. Adding to its attraction, the engine bay still houses its original V8, and the owner has decided to offer it for sale with No Reserve. Located in Saint Matthews, South Carolina, you will find the Mustang listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set the auction to open at $3,000, but there have been no bids at the time of writing. However, with twenty-eight people currently watching the listing, you would have to think that this could change at any time.
It seems that this Mustang had led quite a life before it was parked in the barn. Under that layer of primer is what appears to be Candy Apple Red paint. If we were to dig below that, we would eventually find its original coating of Medium Gold. It might look a bit frayed around the edges today, but this is a classic that packs a few pleasant surprises. The owner says that there is evidence that the driver’s floor has been patched at some point, but this appears to be the only rust that this Ford has accumulated on its underside during its lifetime. He says that the floors are solid, and the supplied photos of the trunk pan are also encouraging. That doesn’t make it completely rust-free because there are a few areas that will need attention. The worst of these is the area below the battery tray, which has a significant hole. There is also some rot in the lower front fenders, but the doors and the rear quarter panels appear excellent. If that does prove to be the extent of the rust, whipping the body into shape shouldn’t take a lot of time or money. All of the glass is present and seems to be in good condition, but quite a few trim and chrome pieces will need to be restored or replaced.
When we lift the hood and take a peek around the engine bay, we find that the Mustang is equipped with a 302ci V8, a 3-speed automatic transmission, and power steering. That little V8 would have produced 220hp in its prime, which would have allowed the vehicle to cover the ¼ mile in 16.4 seconds. It looks like it has been many years since this V8 made any noise, and the owner has made no attempts to coax it back to life. However, he says that it does turn freely, which is a positive sign. It might be possible to revive it with a bit of effort, but I am almost sure that the buyer will pull the engine as part of the restoration process to return the engine bay to a pristine state. That will allow them to thoroughly inspect that 302 and at least detail it to look factory fresh.
I’m not surprised to find that the Mustang’s interior will need some work, and there’s virtually nothing that won’t need attention. The factory radio is missing, and the wheel is incomplete, but there doesn’t appear to be any other items that have gone AWOL in there. I probably sound like a cracked record to some of our readers, but unless the buyer has access to a parts car with a good interior, a trim kit will almost certainly be the most cost-effective way of returning this aspect of the vehicle to its former glory. Prices on these vary widely, but it is worth the effort to shop around for a kit of decent quality. These start at around $1,600 but will require the buyer to reuse some hardware like screws and clips. Spending a touch over $2,000 can secure a kit that comes with everything, including new seat foam and a dash pad. This would mean no messing around cleaning rusty old pieces, and the result would look factory fresh and ready to face another 50-years of use.
Finding a Mustang project car with limited rust can be difficult, but this 1970 model proves that they are still out there. Returning this car to its former glory will take some work, but the buyer will be starting that process with a solid base. One of the greatest attractions with 1st Generation Mustangs as projects is the ready availability and affordability of replacement parts, as a whole industry has grown up around this. Nothing has escaped the attention of these companies, and it is now possible to build an entire 1st Generation Mustang using nothing but reproduction parts. The buyer won’t need to do that, and from what you’ve seen so far, are you tempted to become that buyer?
Looks like Bondo work in the rear quarters to me