I know that we will have readers who will grind their teeth uncontrollably when they see the phrase “ran when parked,” but that is the reality with this 1967 Mustang Convertible. The seller indicates that it last moved under its own power around four years ago, but it isn’t clear whether it has spent the time since in its current location. It is a First Generation Mustang begging for restoration, and as projects go, it doesn’t look like a bad one. Located in Brockton, Massachusetts, the seller has listed the Mustang here on eBay. Bidding has raced beyond the reserve, sitting at $5,400 at the time of writing.
The 1967 model year marked a significant downturn in new Mustang sales, although the final figure was hardly a disaster. However, Ford must have swallowed hard when they realized that numbers had plummeted around 23% compared to the previous year’s record figure. Enthusiasts will long debate whether this trend was due to market saturation or whether potential buyers saw the slowly increasing size and weight as undermining the purity of the earlier cars. Regardless of the truth, with nearly half-a-million buyers slapping down their cash, it was anything but an unsuccessful year. Of those buyers, 44,808 selected the Convertible version, making them considerably rarer than the other body variants. Our feature car is one of those cars, with the original owner ordering it is Candy Apple Red with a White soft-top. It looks tired today, and it isn’t clear whether it has spent the past four years sitting exposed to the elements. If it has, its condition is pretty surprising. The seller admits that the floors are rotted, and the buyer will face the expense and effort of cutting away rust to weld in fresh steel. On the positive side, the normally prone underside areas like the shock towers and frame rails are solid. Externally, any rust problems are minor, and the buyer could address these with simple patches. There is plenty of surface corrosion present, which leads me to believe that the buyer will probably entirely dismantle the Convertible to achieve a high standard of finish. Some of the trim is missing or damaged, but the relative affordability of reproduction pieces should make addressing this a small part of any restoration. While the soft-top is free from significant damage, the rear window is gone. It is repairable, but replacement would seem the most sensible option with new tops retailing for under $500.
Lifting the hood reveals the C-Code 289ci V8 that would have produced 200hp in its prime. The original owner may have craved an effortless driving experience, electing to outfit the car with a three-speed automatic transmission and power steering. This combination represented the least potent V8-equipped Mustang, taking 17 seconds to cover the ¼ mile. Extracting additional ponies from that V8 is not difficult or expensive, and plenty of parts are available for the buyer to tackle those tasks in a home workshop. The seller indicates that the motor last ran about four years ago, but it does turn freely. A fluid change and fuel system clean could see the car roar to life with little effort. If that proves the case, returning this classic to a mechanically roadworthy state could prove the most affordable aspect of this project build.
Time hasn’t been kind to this Mustang’s interior, although I have seen far worse. The Black vinyl upholstery is tired and split, the carpet is worn, and some of the dash components like the gauge bezel show their age. However, this brings us back to the subject of affordability and why First Generation Mustangs appeal as project builds. There is no shortage of companies able to supply interior trim kits for most American classics from this era, allowing owners to return their pride and joy’s interior to a factory-fresh state. Mustang kits remain some of the cheapest, with a kit that would address this car’s shortcomings retailing for around $2,000. Newcomers to the classic scene may find that figure eye-watering, but it represents a one-off expense. If the new owner takes their time to install the trim correctly and then treats it with care and respect, it may not need touching for another fifty years. It is worth remembering factors like this when determining whether a restoration project is the right path for you.
Certain vehicles remain staples within the classic car market, and the earlier First Generation Mustangs have fallen into that category for decades. They weren’t the rarest car when new, with 472,121 cars rolling off the production line in that model year alone. That lack of relative rarity when new has become one of its key strengths today. An entire industry has grown around providing high-quality reproduction parts at affordable prices, which is one characteristic that makes them prime project candidates. The fact that they are also strikingly good-looking cars doesn’t hurt their cause. This car has struck the right note with potential buyers, which is reflected in its already receiving thirty-four bids. I would expect the action to nudge $10,000 before the auction ends, but I wouldn’t rule out a higher price. However, it may remain in four-figure territory. If it does, would you be tempted to throw your hat into the ring on this Mustang?
I think it was more like “Parked, then ran…”
Ha!
The reason Mustang sales were down in 1967 ? Easy – The Cougar , Camaro , Firebird debuted that year; the Barracuda was restyled ,and all these cars were built to compete in the same class as the Mustang .Whatever the totals were for all of these cars took away the Mustangs monopoly
I’m sure Adam doesn’t read these posts, but he shouldn’t assume and state all these cars posted are special ordered . A run of the mill mustang like this would have been sitting at every Ford dealership next to a bunch of other Mustangs with different colors and options ,including the performance models. I can remember seeing the whole front row of just Mustangs at a local dealership
If this is an eastern car? Check the unit body, carefully. A rotted out Mustang convertible is a money pit.
Garbage.