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Pony In The Barn: 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1

UPDATE 09/16/2021: It appears that the bidding on this 1969 Mustang Mach 1 stalled when it was last listed for sale. It made it to $10,451, but that figure was short of the reserve. Circumstances haven’t changed for the owner, so he has relisted it here on eBay. This time the bidding has rocketed to $13,600, but it is yet to hit the reserve. That means that if you were considering tackling this one and thought that you’d missed out, you could get a second shot at it. The Mach 1 is located in Millersburg, Ohio, and there are still a few days left on the auction for those who are interested.

Enthusiasts always fear that the supply of classic barn finds will eventually slow to a trickle before disappearing completely. Cars like this 1969 Mustang Mach 1 should help to allay those fears. It has been sitting in this barn for more than 30-years, and with the owner admitting that he will never reach the point where he can commit to a restoration, he has listed it for sale here on eBay.

It seems that 1st Generation Mustang barn finds generally fall into two distinct categories. Some are remarkably well preserved, while others will represent a significant project if they are to be returned to our roads. This Lime Gold Mach 1 falls into the second category because while the owner believes that the paint is original, it has some significant rust problems that the buyer will need to consider. It should be no surprise that this has attacked all of the usual locations, meaning that there will be plenty of cutting, grinding, and welding before the shell is structurally sound once again. Externally, the car will require new rear quarter panels, and while the front fenders and trunk lid appear salvageable, the seller suggests that both should be replaced if the buyer is seeking a high-quality finish. Delving below the surface, the floors, torque boxes, and front frame rails will all be for the chop, while a small hole in one rear frame rail will demand attention. A previous owner cut out the driver’s front floor, and a replacement section is included. However, the seller believes that the buyer would be better served by investing around $400 on a one-piece floor, as this would be an easy and effective way of addressing the floor issues permanently. The trim will need to be inspected to see what could be restored, but the tinted glass looks like it might be okay.

It isn’t all gloom and doom with this Mustang because it does appear to be complete and numbers-matching. The engine bay houses the H-Code 351ci V8, while the original owner also chose a 3-speed automatic transmission and a 3.00 standard rear end. That 351 would’ve produced 250hp in its prime, and while that didn’t make this the fastest Mustang on offer in 1969, its sub-16-second ¼-mile ET would still have been considered respectable. It is many years since this V8 coughed into life, and the last time it did was thanks to an external fuel supply. The owner installed a new Holley 2V carburetor not long after purchasing the vehicle, but I believe the original might be sitting on the passenger seat. It isn’t clear whether it is a restorable proposition, but it could leave the path clear for a 100% original restoration if that is the buyer’s aim.

The Mustang’s interior features black vinyl upholstery, and it wouldn’t be understating things to say that it has seen better days. The owner removed the original AM radio pretty early, but he hadn’t located it at the time of listing. If his search proves fruitful, he will include it in the sale. The carpet is long gone, but the rest of the interior appears to be intact. The basics are there if the buyer chooses to purchase a trim kit, and while it will lighten their wallet to the tune of around $2,000, the interior would look factory fresh once again.

The 1st Generation Mustang has remained a staple of the classic car sector for decades, and that is a situation that I wouldn’t expect to see change in the foreseeable future. The fact that 72,458 Mach 1s rolled off the production line in 1969 means that they aren’t particularly rare. However, it hasn’t dampened buyer enthusiasm or potential values. If the buyer performs a restoration to a high standard, there is no reason why this car couldn’t command a value beyond $50,000 once complete. That figure could potentially creep higher on a good day, which means that this is a potential project worthy of a closer look.

Comments

  1. Avatar JACKinNWPA Member

    I hope that reserve isn’t too much more because I believe the high point has just about been reached. Don’t get me wrong a 1969 Mach 1 is up on my want list and the Line Gold would sit nicely beside my Golden Lime Javelin. Perhaps the owner is just phishing for a value?

    Like 8
    • Avatar MARC ANTHONY MAISANO

      Bottom line cash price with all the work it needs

      Like 3
  2. bobhess bobhess Member

    Heavy duty rust going on here. I’d be thinking parts car here as there has to be better bodies out there somewhere.

    Like 10
    • Avatar GPAK

      Really ?
      “The carpet is long gone, but the rest of the interior appears to be intact”…….

      🎼Flintstones ,
      meet the flinstones 🎶
      Sheeeesh !

      Like 8
  3. Avatar steve

    Manual steering, manual drum brake, 2v stripper and after it comes back from the media blaster, not sure what you will be left with. Love 69 Mach 1’s, but I don’t see the value here.

    Like 27
  4. Avatar Motorcityman

    My fav body style Mustang…..and the only pre 93 body style I’ve never owned.

    Like 3
  5. Avatar Terrry

    In it’s condition and at it’s price, this is a whole lot more of a Mock 1 than a Mach 1. No thanks, but I’ll pass on what is basically an overpriced and over-rusted parts donor.

    Like 12
  6. Avatar Sam Shive

    Love The 69 Ponies, BUT THIS RUSTSTANG Is going to cost more than it’s worth in the long run. Keep the vin tag and order a new body ,,,,,, https://www.dynacornclassicbodies.com/1969-ford-mustang-fastback/

    Like 6
  7. Avatar Motorcityman

    $17,500!!?? You’re not getting much for that.
    NO thanks!

    Like 8
  8. Avatar 71Boss351

    The 70 Mach I the other day was in better shape then this 69 pony car. I don’t see many desirable options on this one. Like steve says above what would be left after a visit to the media blaster.

    Like 6
  9. Avatar MikeB

    This particular car is trashed but in general I always believed the 69 Mach 1 had one of the nicest interior designs of that period. Very comfortable, well bolstered seats and great dash layout.

    Like 3
  10. Avatar Howie Mueler

    How sad, very sad!!

    Like 5
  11. Avatar mike daugherty

    The frame probably rusted out and unreparable.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Bick Banter

      It doesn’t have a frame. These Mustangs are unibodies. Suspension components are directly attached to reinforced portions of the body shell. Rust is actually a lot more problematic in those situations.

      Like 0
  12. Avatar chuck

    Hilarious that a big bad Mach 1 could be had with a 2 bbl carb. Poser Pony.

    Like 3
  13. Avatar kenny moran

    looking for a 69 mach1 that runs but still needs restored really cheap about 2,000 dollars

    Like 1
    • Avatar Motorcityman

      Go back to 1980!

      Like 2
  14. Avatar Jphn Newell

    The comment above that stated that sub-16 second quarter mile times were respectable could not have participated first hand in the muscle car era. Respectability was not earned unless your car, whatever make, could do the quarter in less than 14 seconds. Didn’t matter whether it was a pony car or real muscle car, you had to break the 14 second barrier to earn respect.

    As for Mustang Mach I 351 Cleveland or Windsor, they were considered dogs unless the Autolite carb and the stock cam were swapped out in favour of a Holley and the cam grind that gave the motor a lope. Mostly, that didn’t happen. They stayed dogs. That’s why so many survived. The 429s and the 428s were somewhat better but everyone knew that their power came in at the top end. That was plain to see at the track. On the street, the impromptu runs were just to short for Fords to unwind and show their stuff.
    
Then once they were hopped up, you’d see spacers between the hoods and the hood hinges to help dissipate heat. They were famous for that. I had a 69 Mach I and a Ford Galaxie 500 XL 390 4 speed. My 390 Ford ran faster than the Mustangs in stock condition.

    And lastly, the real killer for the big blocks was having to jack the engine up to change the plugs. In those days, not many people had garages. You did your work in the driveway or in the street. Jacking up an engine in the street meant removing the hood too and that sometimes meant you twisted a stud off it if you tightened it too much. Usually you did it once then your friends did it next before you remembered to warn them.

    Like 0
  15. Avatar Truckeemtnfords

    There is no way on God’s green earth that this tusted POS is worth anything near the sellers pipe dream. Fools and their money are soon parted.

    Like 0
  16. Avatar BigW

    Gives the term “rot box” a whole new meaning.

    Like 0
  17. Avatar Stanley Holton

    someone will have there work cut out,How can car guy let it get to this point
    shame

    Like 0
  18. Avatar kenny moran

    the price on this mach1 13,000 is redictuos. i seen a 1973 mach1 in great shape for the same price ,but i would pay hom rhat much for his but not the shape that one in. i would only give 2,000 dollars for it.

    Like 0
  19. Avatar kenny moran

    the price on this mach1 13,000 is redictuos. i seen a 1973 mach1 in great shape for the same price ,but i would pay that much for his but not the shape that one in. i would only give 2,000 dollars for it.

    Like 0

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