This
page will document my project from beginning to end, with details
and photos.
Here's how it all started,
stripped, including no rear end or title, and
hidden at a wrecker/salvage yard in Odessa, TX.
Here's how she looks today,
complete body, all trim, 428 w/C6 and most of the
interior, now titled in my name and getting ready
for paint.
Here's where we want to end
up.
I discovered
the car while helping my buddy, Stan, pick up a 455 from a local
semi-salvage yard. The car was sittings in the middle of a group
of cars that they had set asside not to crush or part out.
It
was fairly stripped down with no drivetrain, but VERY straight
and mostly rust-free. Stan and I looked the car over and quickly
realized that it was a Mach1. It had no windshield, door glass,
or rearend. The passenger door was laying across the cowl area
and the hood was laying on the '69 coupe that was sitting next to
it, just as you see in the pic above. It was missing the trunk
lid and all of the front end, except for the hood, cowl panel and
one fender extension with headlight. There was a pile of parts
inside the car, including a 4V rear valance, which Stan
immediately grabbed and said he wanted to see if they would sell
to him.
I
checked the VIN and saw the "M", which made sense with
the 4V rear valance being in the car. The owner said he didn't
want to sell any parts off of the car and that someone was coming
from up north to buy all of the cars in that group for $1,500
each. We left it at that and decided we would check back later to
see if the car was still there. And that's exactly what I did. I
knew he expected $1,500 for it and I was willing to pay that for
an unwrecked and unrusted 1969 Mach1 chassis. I asked if his
buyer had come to get the cars and he said "not yet". I
asked if he would be willing to sell it right away for
cash-in-hand since his "buyer" was stalling. He said
"well, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to let go of it for
less than the other guy offered, which was $1,500". I could
tell that he said it as if he expected me to think it was too
much. However, I asked "when can I pick it up" and it
was a done deal!
I returned on November 9th of 2006 and purchased the car. Over
the next few days, I attempted to locate a rearend so I could
dolly the car to my better half, Kristan's, garage. The '69 coupe
next to it had a 4 lug rearend, which I would end up scrapping in
the end, so I wasn't willing to buy it just to move the car. I
eventually found a rearend laying in the back of their yard. It
was 1 inch wider than the car should have, but was a 5 lug and
only $50, so I bolted it in and got ready to bring the Mach home.
My buddy, Bill, and I returned the next day with a car dolly and
loaded her up.
I
was told that they had got the car from a guy who had it sitting
around as his "parts" car and "junk parts
shed". This is one of the straightest and most rust-free
"junker" fastback Mustangs I have EVER seen. I can't
imagine what his "keeper" car was if this was his
"junk"!
The car had no interior when I bought it, except for the visors
& kick panels.
The car had no motor, transmission or rear end when I bought it.
I have acquired a 428 4V & C6 to take the place of the
missing 351W.
1969
Mustang Mach 1 351W 4V
This
was originally a 1969 Mustang Mach 1 in Candyapple Red w/Flat
Black Hood and Black & Gold stripes, a white interior, 351
Windsor 4V and FMX Automatic transmission.
Original Sticker Price:
A base 1969 Mach 1 was $3,139
Production #s:
72,458 Mach 1s were produced in 1969.
She's coming
together and now has a complete, all original Ford body, original
Mach1 rims, 90% of the interior package that is mostly original
ford and a rebuilt C6 transmission from a '69 Mach1. I have
purchased a 428 & C6 to drop in, but it's not date correct.
Once I acquire the last few pieces, it will be time for the body
work & paint.
Purchased:
11/09/06
'69 Mach 1
428CJ Test Drive:
1969 Mach 1
Commercial:
Restored 1969
Mach 1:
Car &
Driver's '69 428CJ Mach 1 Retrospective:
1969 Car
And Track Review of the '69 428CJ Mach 1:
Car &
Driver Magazine's 1969 Mach 1 428CJ Article:
