Some enthusiasts fear that the supply of genuine barn find classics will one day dry up, but cars like this 1969 Mustang Fastback would suggest that those days are a long way into our future. The owner of this pony car found it languishing in a barn, a spot that it had occupied for more than 30-years. He has returned it to a roadworthy state, meaning that its buyer could drive it untouched, or they could treat it to some restoration work. Whichever path they choose to follow, they will be starting with an essentially rust-free vehicle. Located in Franksville, Wisconsin, you will find the Mustang listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $17,200, but the reserve hasn’t been met.
The Mustang is finished in Royal Maroon, and apart from a few spots that the owner identifies as 1970s dealer blends, the paint is claimed to be original. It does sport a few dings and marks, but it still manages to shine impressively for a 52-year-old car. The panels are straight, while the gaps are consistent. The owner doesn’t elaborate on this car’s life in storage, but the environment would appear to have been very favorable. There is some minor rust present in the bottom corners of the doors, the lower fenders, and the rear quarter panels, but the buyer should be able to address these with patches rather than resorting to panel replacement in those cases. The worst of the visible rust has penetrated around the taillights. It might be possible to patch this area, but if I were a betting man, I would be placing money on the buyer shelling out $125 for a replacement panel. If the description is accurate, that’s all the rust that the buyer will need to tackle. The owner states that the underside of the Mustang is clean, with no rot in the floors, torque boxes, or frame rails. The trim and chrome seem suitable for a driver-quality car, and the glass shows no evidence of defects or other issues.
Lifting the hood of the Mustang reveals a V8, which most people will agree is a good starting point in a car of this type. In this case, it is the F-Code 302ci V8 that should be producing 210hp. The original owner also chose to equip this Ford with an automatic transmission and power steering. Performance figures would have been respectable but not dazzling. The Fastback should be capable of covering the ¼ mile in 16.4 seconds, although there is scope to improve that number markedly. Whether that happens will depend on the buyer’s desire to keep the vehicle original. Sourcing parts to improve the power output of the 302 is not difficult, and those components are pretty affordable. Simple strategies like upgrading the carburetor, intake, and exhaust can unlock significant extra power without compromising driveability. However, there’s no need to touch anything if the goal is to own a comfortable and effortless cruiser. After sitting for three decades, the owner performed all of the usual tasks that you might expect to coax the car back to life. He has replaced the fuel tank, sender unit, and master cylinder. He rebuilt the carburetor and checked the rest of the vehicle from top to bottom. He says that the Fastback now runs and drives nicely, which means that it’s ready to enjoy over the coming Summer months.
Opening the doors reveals an interior trimmed in black, and like the rest of the car, the seller claims that it is original. Most of the upholstered surfaces look surprisingly good, although there is some stretching and a split on the driver’s seat. If I were to buy this car, I would be tempted to discuss this issue with a competent upholsterer. With the rest of the vinyl looking so good, it seems shameful to replace the cover for such a minor problem. That person might be able to offer a solution that will protect the car’s originality. There is a crack in the dash pad, and the buyer will probably choose to replace this item. New pads sell for around $420, and while that isn’t cheap, it could be a wise investment given how nice the rest of the trim is. The surprise packet for me is the carpet. If it is as original as the owner claims, its lack of wear and fading is astounding. This is one aspect of this car that should not need to be touched.
If you are looking at this 1969 Mustang and are seriously considering parking it in your garage, you will undoubtedly have a vision for the vehicle. It could be to treat it to a cosmetic restoration or retain it as an untouched and original survivor. The thought of performing some mechanical and cosmetic upgrades to transform it into the Mustang of your dreams is another possibility. With a car like this, a buyer is only limited by their imagination. Is this a classic that you might be tempted to take further?
I like the body color pair red Steel rims with the dog dish caps. Nice original Mustang, refreshing to see.
The wheels and tires don’t go with the car.
Steve R
But put trim rings and baby moons on it ,SWEET
The visible rust on both inner fenders in front and behind the shock towers says there is some structural rust, how much and how severe is unknown.
Last time it was put up for auction it was bid to $22,000+ and didn’t meet reserve, if interested, I’d be out at the current price.
Steve R
S – too right
In storage for thirty years? Put away wet? ooohhh that rust.
$17,200 for this rust bucket? Wow!! And Reserve not met? More wow!!
Contrary to what’s claimed at the beginning of this write-up we shouldn’t experience the supply of vintage cars drying up IF people would buy them for their own hobby purpose – NOT as an investment. If the money people that normally invest in antiques, art or wine would keep doing that then there should be enough old cars for all of us gearheads
Nice looking car but it’s a base model automatic and I’m sure if you looked around you might be able to purchase a similar model for less than the current price!!
Add horsepower….set on ground, light fuse and get away