Restore or Restomod? 1970 Ford Mustang SportsRoof

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After sitting outside neglected for quite some time, the owner of this 1970 Ford Mustang here on eBay has wisely decided to get this pony into the hands of someone who has the skills and funds needed to get it back on the road.  An extensive restoration will be required here, but there are several possible routes to take, and all seem like good options worth considering.  Building a Restomod or cloning this one into a Mach 1 would certainly be rewarding, but returning it to factory specs isn’t a bad choice either.  If you’ve already got some ideas, this SportsRoof is located in Livermore, California, with the high bid currently resting at $5,100.

You’d never know it from the present state, but according to the Marti report, this one started out wearing Grabber Orange paint outside.  There’s no word on when it was switched to blue, and not much other information is provided here beyond the seller telling us that this Mustang has always been a California resident.  The rust is said to have formed because the car was outside, but fortunately, most of the panels appear more solid than not.  Judging from the photos, the driver’s quarter appears to be the most corroded area, and it seems at a stage where replacement or attempting a repair are both feasible options.

Under the hood is the original 302 V8 and the factory C4 automatic transmission, and surprisingly, the seller says this car was running perfectly when parked a few years ago.  Why someone would have abandoned an operational driver as cool as this one once was is not mentioned, nor is whether the small block will still turn after all this time.  It’ll be up to the next owner to decide if pulling this engine and putting something more exciting in the bay is best, or if keeping it original and getting the 302 going again makes more sense in the long run.

A previous owner reportedly cut out the rusted floors, but never got around to installing any new sheet metal.  The seats are the only interior components specified for inclusion, so the buyer will likely be responsible for sourcing the door panels and all other missing or unusable interior parts.  There will be many nights and weekends spent before this 1970 Ford Mustang will be ready to enjoy again, but if you’ve got the time and know-how, this one might make a decent project.  How would you envision moving forward here?

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Comments

  1. Nevadahalfrack NevadahalfrackMember

    So very sad to see a classic get so neglected..Good that they’re letting it go while it may be saved.

    Like 1
    • Steve R

      The seller is a dealer/flipper, it’s already technically it’s already been “saved”.

      The sd is horrible, it comes across like it was written by AI or by someone filling in prompts on a questionnaire, nobody speaks or writes that way naturally. Low effort that will cost them in the end, as it should, at there is no reserve.

      Someone wanting a 1970 Fastback that lives within driving distance should take a look, it’s within a couple of hour drive of over 6,000,000 people. There are several rust prone areas shown in the pictures that don’t show signs of rust. Serious potential buyers will take the time to lay eyes on it in person.

      Steve R

      Like 0
  2. Matt D

    Nice job Mike. I am not a fan of restomod when it comes to the pony or muscle car classics. Especially a Mustang sports roof. Depending on the unseen condition of the drive train and sheet metal, I would think taking it back to the original Grabber Orange and stay with the original drive train if possible.
    I admire seller for his effort and the no reserve auction, good luck!

    Like 0

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