The ready availability and affordability of parts means that Mustangs with rust issues have become easier and cheaper to restore than they were not too many years ago. This 1970 Mach 1 has rust, and it will require a full restoration. It’s going to be a fairly major undertaking, but with 1st Generation Mustang values continuing to trend upwards, it is one that might be worth considering. It is located in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $9,700, and the reserve has been met.

At first glance, the Candy Apple Red Mustang doesn’t look to be too bad. Then the owner gets quite candid about the car’s needs. I suspect that by the time the next owner has completed the restoration of the Mach 1, he is going to be on a first-name basis with the guy who supplies his parts. The lower rear quarter panels have rust, and will either need to be replaced, or patches will need to be fitted. That’s just a start because there is also significant rust in the floors, the trunk, the bottoms of the doors, the ends of the front frame rails, along with some in the door jambs. The shock towers and rockers are said to be solid, which is a real plus. What isn’t mentioned is the condition of the area around the torque boxes, and given how vulnerable these are, they will require at least a pretty thorough check. However, the rust has even managed to claim the fuel tank. The external trim and chrome pieces are present, and anything that isn’t in good condition could certainly be restored. The story is the same with the glass, as it appears to be free of any major problems.

Slotted into the engine bay is an H-Code 351ci Windsor V8. It appears that this is a full numbers-matching car that also comes equipped with a 4-speed manual transmission and power steering. Until recently, the Mustang had been parked and left sitting for around 20-years. While things look a bit crusty and corroded under the hood, the owner has had no trouble coaxing the 351 back to life. He says that it runs and idles nicely, and the car is capable of moving under its own power. He does say that the clutch will require attention, as it does appear to stick. Still, if the Mach 1 is going to be treated to a full restoration, pulling the motor to get everything detailed to a high standard would provide the perfect opportunity to replace the clutch. The H-Code wasn’t the most powerful engine in the Mustang’s armory in 1970, but with 250hp on tap, the vehicle should be capable of galloping through the ¼ mile in 15.6 seconds.

The interior of the Mustang is essentially complete, and would certainly be considered to be serviceable if the next owner wanted to just get the vehicle back on the road ASAP. The dash pad has done the usual trick of cracking around the speaker grille but is otherwise quite good. The rest of the dash presents quite well, although the lenses on the gauges and the clock are beginning to become cloudy. The original AM radio has been replaced with what appears to be an AM/FM radio/8-track player, with speakers cut into the rear plastic trim. There has been some deterioration to the upholstery on the door trims and the front seats, and I also notice some holes drilled in the console. If the Mach 1 is to be restored to a high standard, then a full trim kit is probably going to be required if everything is to match nicely. But once again, these are easy to source and very affordable. One plus is the fact that the original owner chose to order the car with air conditioning. The entire system does appear to be present, but I suspect that there is a fair chance that it probably doesn’t blow old anymore.

I acknowledge that this 1970 Mustang Mach 1 has rust…and plenty of it. Having said that, it is a very long way from being the rustiest Mustang project car that we have seen over the years here at Barn Finds. Bidding on the vehicle hasn’t been frantic, but it has been strong enough to suggest that there are a few people who can see some potential in this classic. Can you?