Promising Winter Project: 1969 Ford Mustang Convertible

Car enthusiasts tend to be organized individuals who protect their pride and joy from winter’s adverse weather conditions. Those months provide an opportunity to tinker and tune so that they can hit the road when the warm weather arrives, confident that their classic is at its best. If you have a vacant spot in your workshop and are seeking an appropriate candidate as a project to while away the colder months, this 1969 Mustang Convertible might be ideal. The photos suggest it is structurally sound, and the running V8 helps its cause. It is worth a close look because it seems to be very affordable.

Ford introduced its second significant update to the First Generation Mustang for the 1969 model year. The car’s overall length and width increased, although the height dropped to give the latest offering a lower and sleeker look. Those changes resulted in weight gain, and that trend would continue throughout the remaining production years. The history of our feature car is vague, although the seller admits they lack the time and money to return the car to its former glory. They describe its Candy Apple Red paint as rough, and stripping it away to expose the bare metal would seem a logical step that will cost more time than money. The panels are straight, and while the photos aren’t conclusive, it appears the Convertible may not feature any significant rust issues. Only an in-person inspection would expose the truth, and with the seller seemingly approachable, negotiating one might be possible. Some trim pieces may require replacement, but quite a few items look like some careful work with a polishing cloth would return them to a suitable state for a driver-grade build. The top frame is intact, although the top itself is AWOL. However, since they are relatively cheap, a new one won’t add significantly to the project cost.

This Mustang’s interior looks surprisingly good, and it appears that most of its Black vinyl trim and carpet might present well following a deep clean. The seller mentions included additional parts, making me wonder whether a passenger-side door trim is on the list. I hope so because the only other visible shortcoming is the cloudy gauge lenses. Replacement kits are readily available, and once installed, that simple purchase would lift the appearance significantly. The only other item that needs to find its way onto the shopping list is an appropriate radio to fill the hole in the dash.

The VIN confirms the original owner ordered this Mustang with the F-code 302ci V8. They teamed it with a three-speed automatic transmission that feeds the engine’s 210hp and 300 ft/lbs of torque to the rear wheels. Performance was competent, making this Convertible ideal in heavy city traffic or cruising effortlessly on the open road. The seller admits that this Mustang is no longer numbers-matching. The specifications of its replacement 302 are unclear, but they indicate it runs and drives. Brake issues mean it isn’t roadworthy, but getting it to that state might be an achievable short-term goal as the new owner contemplates how they will tackle the rest of the build.

The seller listed this 1969 Mustang Convertible here on eBay in South Boston, Virginia. They set their BIN at $9,750 but are open to offers. That figure is mighty tempting, especially if an in-person inspection reveals no significant rust. That could make its revival straightforward, and depending on what additional parts are included, they could set the new owner on the path to returning this classic pony car to its former glory. There is still plenty of time remaining on the listing, but that doesn’t guarantee that someone won’t hit the button at any moment. Are those thoughts enough to motivate you to strike while the iron is hot?