The seller found this 1969 Mustang Mach 1 hidden away in a shed. It had occupied that spot since the second owner parked it there in 1987. He has dragged it out of hiding and decided to do nothing before it heads to a new home. That will leave the buyer with the rewarding task of removing thirty-four years of accumulated dust and dirt to reveal what hides beneath. If you’d like to be that person, you will find the Mach 1 located in Appleton, Wisconsin, and listed for sale here on eBay. The seller has set a BIN of $29,999 but leaves the option open for interested parties to make an offer.
This Mach 1 would have turned heads when new, but the question is whether it could do that once again. The Wimbledon White paint is well past its best, and the overall state of the car suggests that the buyer will face a nut-and-bolt restoration if they expect their restoration to meet a high standard. I’m sure you won’t fall off your chair in shock when I reveal that there is rust to tackle. It has impacted all of the usual places, including the lower body extremities, floors, and trunk pan. The engine bay shot also suggests that rust may have taken a firm hold of the front inner fenders and the shock towers, but only an in-person inspection will determine how bad this is. The owner supplies no information on the torque boxes or frame rails, so any assessment will need to involve a lift or a lot of crawling around to check things thoroughly. On the positive side, the exterior appears complete, and the glass is in good order.
It seems that this Mach 1 is numbers-matching. Its engine bay houses an H-Code 351ci V8 that would have produced 250hp in its prime. The buyer will also receive a three-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes for their money. This wasn’t the most potent version of the Mach 1 that Ford offered in 1969, but it could still cover the ¼ mile in 15.9 seconds. If the buyer isn’t wholly focused on originality, a new intake and carburetor could easily unleash more power, and it is an option that many people might choose to exercise. You probably won’t be surprised to learn that this Mustang doesn’t currently run. The owner says that the V8 turns freely and that he has managed to get it to cough into life by using ether. However, I suspect that the buyer will be facing some work before this classic terrorizes our roads again.
For prospective buyers, the best piece of news that I can provide about this Mach 1’s interior is that it appears to be complete. The original radio is intact, and apart from some speakers cut into the rear seat trims, I can’t spot any aftermarket additions. From there, the news heads downhill at a fair rate of knots. The console looks salvageable, as does most of the dash. However, the sheer quantity of parts that the buyer would need to source to return the interior to its former glory would make a trim kit the most financially viable option. Even the wheel appears to have cracked, so unless the buyer has a donor car at their disposal, this lot has just added $2,500 to the cost of the restoration in the blink of an eye. It’s worth remembering that this will represent a one-off expense and that treated with respect, the new trim shouldn’t need attention for many decades.
Certain vehicles form the very backbone of the classic car scene. One of those is the First Generation Mustang. While all rate as desirable, examples like the GT, Boss, and the Mach 1, will always command high prices in the current market. Fully restored, this Mach 1 should be no exception. We’ve seen examples pass over our desks here at Barn Finds that have been in worse shape than our feature car, and its rust issues appear to be repairable. That brings us to the question of financial viability, and that could be a worry. The BIN price is not unprecedented for a Mach 1 project car, but I still have my doubts. A Mach 1 of these specifications should be capable of commanding $60,000 if restored to a high standard. The sticking point revolves around the sorts of prices that tidy survivors are currently achieving. A couple of nice rust-free Mach 1s have changed hands in recent weeks for around $40,000, which suggests that this restoration will need to be good to remain financially viable. A mediocre job won’t pass muster in this case. With that thought in mind, do you think the seller will achieve his BIN, or do you think he will need to compromise?
I am very interested in hearing the Mustang guys opinion on this one.
With $30K initial. Can it be restored to a high standard for another $30K?
I am thinking that 30K will used up on just the body work alone and that is if the Body and Paint Gods are smiling on you.
Let’s put it this way – a really good paint job – the type this car deserves – is at least $15k, and that is just for the paint job and materials. That number doesn’t cover the first dime of sheet metal repair or bodywork. I’ve had 3 restorations performed on cars of mine, so I know these figures. And being a 351 car, there is no upside left after doing the bodywork and paint, because there is still investment required for powertrain, interior, etc. Only reason to do this car would be an emotional one, because financially, with a $30k asking price, it’s a loser.
Another rust bucket not worthy of a view on Barn Finds but maybe the local scrap yard blues.
I suspect that the main reason for the decision “to do nothing before it heads to a new home” is the current deteriorated condition. (IMO) with a $30k start, ANY restoration will have you submerged very deeply underwater!
To the writer – how do you make the reach that “it seems this Mach 1 is numbers matching?” To determine if the engine is numbers matching, it must be removed, and then the bell housing must be removed from the back of the engine to expose the VIN stamping in the block. How do I know this? I have a ’69 351W in a Mustang, and have seen my VIN stamped in the block. And the transmission, it is stamped on the front top of the trans where the trans bolts into the bellhousing. That cannot be seen from above the car, again, the trans must be removed to see this stamping.
You are really making a huge leap to imply that this is numbers matching with no way to prove it from a bunch of photos.
“The new trim shouldn’t need attention for many decades.”
Be careful with that assumption. A lot of the restoration parts available for these are made in China which are unlikely to comply with the same UV standards that OEM pieces must. Be careful what you source. Ask where it’s made and by whom.
Other than that, this car will be a massive boondoggle for the next owner. A poster above said correctly that a high quality paint job is 15 grand alone before you even touch the metal. Add in everything else needed and the buyer will be into it for way more than it’s even worth now, much less in 5 years when values start to decline
“`65?” Try a `69!
Meaning, “there’s a typo in yer title…”
The restoration of this Mach 1 would be someone who took the project as a labor of love…no way this would be financially profitable…hopefully, someone will take the leap…
For 30K this is WAY overpriced considering almost every panel needs rust repair. For this kind of coin i would much rather have the almost rust free red one you posted. Much better investment.
Did 351s come with non functional hood scoop? The air cleaner is entirely covered except for snorkel.
Yep…had one in high school…so I flipped the top of the air cleaner over, and it sounded awesome…and maybe added half a horsepower..
When this year Mustang came with a fixed hood scoop it was non functional. In 69 and 70 only functional on shaker equipped cars.
Steve R
What a rust bucket!! The seller has over 34 thousand items listed!!
This appears more like the donor car necessary to build an actual 69 mach 1. For $30,000 your buying a lot of heartache, unless your a masochist with lots of disposable income. In order to get $60,000 for a totally restored example the purchaser would have to do ALL the work themselves over a long period of committed effort.