Rolling Project: 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1

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With this 1970 Mustang Mach 1, it really seems to be a case of “what you see is what you get.” The car is missing its original engine and transmission, but it does look like its rust issues could be fairly minimal. It could represent a great blank canvas for any enthusiast who would love to build the Mustang of their dreams. Located in Darien, Illinois, you will find the Mustang listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding on the Mach 1 has been very strong up to this point, pushing the price along to $7,600. The reserve has now been met, and with 162 people watching the listing, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the price push up a bit further yet.

The owner has a Marti Report for the Mustang, and when it was shiny and new, it really must have been quite a sight. It was finished in Medium Bright Blue Metallic with a Black hood stripe. It appears that someone has begun to restore the vehicle, but this has stalled pretty early on. I’ve had a good look through the supplied photos, and there doesn’t seem to be a lot of visible rust. The owner also states that most of the floors and frame are good, although there is some rust present in the A-Pillars. It isn’t clear just how severe this is, but it is something that I would definitely have fixed by a professional. Structural integrity in this area is paramount, and the last thing that you want if you find yourself shiny-side-down is for the roof to collapse in around your ears. What isn’t clear is just what in the way of hardware is included with the Mustang. There is no external trim or chrome attached to the car and no glass visible. The owner doesn’t mention the presence, or otherwise, of these items, and they aren’t visible in any of the supplied photos. That’s a question that would be well worth asking, because replacing all of the trim and glass will add a fair old chunk to the cost of a restoration.

The Mustang originally featured an M-Code 351ci V8, a 4-speed close-ratio transmission, a 3.25 Traction-Lok rear end, power steering, and power disc brakes. The engine and transmission are long gone, but the original rear end remains in situ. This is where the next owner will face some decisions. Sourcing a date correct engine and transmission would not be a difficult task, and that would make it possible to at least return the car to its original configuration and specifications. Of course, it won’t be a numbers-matching car, so that will have some impact on its ultimate value. That is where the next owner might choose to tackle this as a restomod project, with a more modern drivetrain finding its way under that classic body. Another area where the next owner will be starting from scratch will be with the Mustang’s interior. Originally it was trimmed in blue and featured a tachometer and an AM radio. It looks like the dash might be present, but I can’t see any seats or other interior trim items. Interestingly, the owner says that he has a separate collection of parts, including seats, and that he might be willing to do a bit of a deal on those pieces. The buyer might choose to take him up on his offer, but they might also have other ideas as well.

This 1970 Mustang Mach 1 has generated plenty of interest since it was listed for sale, and I actually don’t find this to be a huge surprise. Any 1st Generation Mustang that isn’t riddled with rust is capable of doing that, and that is essentially what we appear to have here. Restoring the vehicle is going to be a major undertaking, so is it one that you would be willing to take on?

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