The leader of the “pony car” pack, the Mustang, was in its fifth year in 1969. It got a fresh, new look and some more muscle under the hood, which enabled Ford to deliver 300,000 units for the model year. That put it at least 20% ahead of its nearest competitor, Chevy’s Camaro. This rough convertible has been in the same family for 40 years but has been off the road for the last 30. The engine was rebuilt during this time, but that’s about it. Located in a garage in Victorville, California, this Ford is available here on eBay where the bidding stands at $5,200.
Styling was updated on the lead pony for 1969, but the car was unmistakably still a Mustang. As was the case with the 1967 and 1971 updates, the Mustang would grow in size and weight. But since you could drop in a motor as large as a 429 cubic inch V8, the increased girth didn’t seem to matter. According to the VIN provided by the seller, this car was built with a 351 V8 and a 4-barrel carburetor. Though rebuilt 12 years ago and never driven, no mention is made if that’s the motor it left the factory with. This Mustang drop-top is one of nearly 15,000 built in 1969.
We don’t know anything about this car before 1982 which is when the seller’s sister bought the Ford. It was her daily driver for about 10 years and then became lawn art and later a garage dweller for another decade. An attempt was made to revive the car starting with a refresh of the motor, but work stopped after that, and the car evolved into the condition the photos depict today. The V8 is paired with a 3-speed manual transmission which worked properly when the Mustang was last driven eons ago.
Over time, some things have disappeared. The seats were stolen, and the radiator has taken flight. The front sheet metal was taken off the car and may be in the photos supplied and there may be some extras to accompany the deal. Rust is present in the floorboards and the quarter panels, one of which is dented. If you’ve been looking for a Mustang project, this car fits the bill but will be an uphill climb.
This is work, but it’s going to be fun and rewarding work. I wonder if the seller would have a soft spot for a young ambitious kid on the 10 year diy plan? It’s a tough call, but personally I’d put a 4speed and 3.55 in it.
I’ve always wanted a 1969 Boss 429 Mustang convertible… Maybe I should give the good folks at Kar Kraft Engineering a call?
This is a easy pass.