Full disclosure: this story includes unsettling pictures of a burned-out car interior, so sensitive auto lovers may wish to skip the next picture. The car’s most interesting feature, unless you’re a fan of fire damage, has got to be the claimed 5921 original miles as substantiated by a clean title, according to the seller. No insurance claim was made on the fire damage, so the title is not “branded” as salvage. The listing here on eBay includes many undercarriage pictures that document a clean and mostly rust-free classic. The auction began with a 99 cent Reserve and at least 19 bidders have rolled the dice on this project car to the tune of more than $14,000. With its low-mileage claim substantiated and restored to perfection, this could be one interesting car! This picture makes it easy to picture the Tampa, Florida classic before the fire; that deep red paint shines brilliantly beneath the Sunshine State car port.
While damage extends to the engine compartment and some body panels, the fire exacted most of its fiery wrath on the interior. Fortunately multiple sources offer parts for Mustangs of this vintage, and certainly bidders have done some mental or actual mathematics to set the upper range of what they can pay for this rather different project. I always leave a buffer of $1000 or more to cover the unknown, and I’ve seen bidding on a car with multiple problems go beyond my limit to nearly what it would take to buy a running driving specimen.
Disclaimer: I own a V8 Mustang, but I don’t claim to be an expert ‘Stang spotter. Based on a quick image search these flat-topped valve covers, hose setup, and distributor location most resemble a Boss 351 that you might find in a 1971 Mustang.
Though “never restored,” it certainly acquired a killer paint job, and the seller believes the car was originally black. It would take a clever paint mix and expert application to blend fresh paint on the fire-damaged roof into this stunning red, but it may be possible. Definitely budget for a complete re-wiring and everything for the engine compartment. Some replacement parts come with the sale. Is this fire-damaged Mustang one red-hot deal or do you think the buyer will get burned?
That’s weird that the fire was in the interior only . This is a unique project, but …….. not for me
This was a nice car prior to the fire. The sellers claims about mileage is a joke. I would want to see the condition of the roof, which conveniently has parts piled on it.
As for the engine, there is no reason to believe it’s anything other than a 351 2V Cleveland, which is what was originally came in the car.
This car is crying out for a thorough inspection before purchase.
Steve R
My guess is the boy-racer fuel line led to the fire.
In the interior?
Yep. An electrical fire would not cause the damage seen on the top of the engine. It’s mess from the distributor back. Paint damage on the hood suggests it was up when the fire occurred.
The interior damage was likely the result of a following electrical fire. Burned/melted insulation leads to short circuits which can ignite flammable material. Electrical fires will smolder a while before flames are seen. The underside of the trunk lid is covered in soot suggesting the windows were up at the time.
It’s Occam’s Razor where A leads to B leads to C. There seems to be no possible explanation of how an interior electrical fire could cause the damage under the hood.
It’s a 351 Cleveland with a four speed, which is really nice, but the damage inside…..maybe a hot ash from a ciggy?
What a shame.
So a true fire sale, Reserve Not Met at $14k?