Oh, if this 1970 Ford Mustang could talk. Although it’s said to be crusty underneath, I hope someone rescues it and preserves the wild bodykit it’s currently wearing. This in-period modified example is located in Wisconsin with a variety of spoilers and flares that reminds me more of the Japanese “Bosozoku” styling than anything I’ve seen stateside attached to a Mustang of this vintage. The rust issues are not insignificant but this is too cool not to save. Find it here on eBay with bidding over $11K and no reserve.
I don’t know what you’d refer to this modification style as, but it’s clear someone put the work in to integrate the big front air dam and fender flares into the body. Is it a drag car? A homage to the Trans Am racers of the 70s? Or just a guy driving around in 1985 who wanted his vintage Mustang to enjoy the same wild bodykits that seemingly every import from a Mercedes E-Class to a Honda Civic was wearing? Whatever the motivation, it actually works when taken as a whole; separately, I feel any of the aero add-ons would look tacky.
And what about this custom dash panel? And the garter slung around the aftermarket tachometer? And just what are all those switches in the custom console panel? So many questions. Now, the photo gallery shows what looks like a fuel cut-off along with a fuel cell in the trunk; among the numerous gauges, there’s even what I’d assume to be a meter for transmission temperature. The more you look at it, the more it becomes clear a previous owner put the work in to build a legit drag car – surely someone from Wisconsin remembers this Mustang tearing up the drag strips at Rock Falls or Great Lakes?
The custom bodywork continues to the rear, with a unique taillight panel, spoiler and window louvers. You can get the full effect of the width of the body kit here, which also allows for what appears to be a staggered wheel / tire setup. The most ominous aspect of the rust that the seller mentions is “… it will need shock tower work on the drivers side because it is starting to separate.” Overall, the crustiness mentioned underneath seems fairly typical but the shock tower work will require a talented welder; still, this Mustang is too cool not to save. Anyone agree?
Real craftsmanship here…that custom dash work is on point!
The “customs” dash is a deal breaker for me.
I have to have the original dash in my cars. It is part of the charm of the cars from back then.
Engineers spent hours and hours designing the dash just for this car and people think they can do better with a piece of wood and some cheap gauges.
Not a chance.
Imported exotic Philippine Mahogany dash. AKA: Luan. This poor Mustang does not deserve its current fate.
Friday night main Street cruiser, built for trouble…and attention. Kinda cool to see one of these again.
My 18-22 year old former self would give this a 10/10 all day long!
Exactly, this is most likely a street cruiser or former show car. This probably never went near a race track or street races. It was designed to look good at a burger joint.
I’d say it’s mid-70’s, this is typical of the style of cars that filled every issue of Hot Rod, Car Craft, Cars and Popular Hot Rodding of that era. By 1985, Pro Street was in full swing. Cars like this were so out of style the were relegated to the back of a garage or parked in a side yard under a car cover or blue tarp.
I am.. completely out of words…
I like it up to a point…on a scale of 1 to 10 on the custom work, they should have stopped at 5.
Engine , good/ bad, size?
Wut da… Gotta be all shill bids
During the late 70’s and early 80’s, if your car did not have fender flares and a custom paint job like this car, you would not make it into any of the popular car magazines of the day. Yup, this one hits all of the early 80’s design cues. Maybe it was the drugs.
Keep in mind that back then, the clothing matched this car. Can’t you just picture the guy with the matching orange pants walking out and getting into this Mustang?
It’s amazing that all of that bondo around the flares hasn’t cracked off by now.
I wonder how much weight the Bondo added. Gotta love those plexiglass tail lights, but where’s the side pipes. Probably built in the 80’s when cocaine (powder, not crack) was getting popular.
I was gonna’ bash the dash too…Agree with all of the above on the injustice to the cabin. It can be corrected in time. The shock tower/ under body is the concern, knowing the car has likely been pushed hard in the past. “Separation” is pretty vague. At least the dealer discloses it, but some close ups would be helpful.
Nice job on the bodywork, ditto the paint and graphics. Dash was good in concept but falls short in execution. He shoulda opted for maybe black wrinkle finish over aluminum panel or just polished aluminum panel rather than cheap plywood with the veneer peeling off. “E” for effort.
Four words;
Exterior Good
Interior BAD
I weep for the poor kitchen table that got sacrificed for that dash
The body mods,(as well as the plywood dash panel WTF?!?) does not equal drag strip fugitive. All the bondo adds weight, the flares, air dam,and required driver porn ‘stache, probably add up to less aerodynamic efficiency.
What, no comments about the garter draped around the tach?
Well the garter is either from Prom 78, his recent 40th reunion or just cruzin chicks at the local high school……hopefully many years ago !!
How about the Mach 1 next to it?
“Shock tower…..it is starting to separate…” hmmmm nice way to say…..the shock tower & all around it are F’d. Good luck !
Spent all the money on the body and paint, ran out of money on the inside !
Kind of a bit “Mad Max” vibe going on.
Well as a Mustang Mach1 owner with some take aways like the dash gauge cluster and rear wing and some addition work on the body mods it could actually turn in to a cool street restomod I wouldn’t be ashamed to be seen in.
Not a fan of the body work today…but back in time this would have been acceptable to be on a car. All the car mags and readers drooled over this stuff.
…one curb bounced off the nose will terminate all that work.
This is one of those rare auction where the lowest bidder is the winner.
Bidding has gone DOWN from $11,000 to $9,000.