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Bringing a Mach 1 to life.
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Korim
New User
Jun 5, 2017, 5:59 AM
Post #1 of 6
(2189 views)
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Bringing a Mach 1 to life.
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So, i am 16 and currently working in a fast food restaurant, and i have been given a offer by a neighbor to buy their car. After doing some research, i revealed it to be a 1972-1976 Mustang Mach 1, but its in bad condition. Apparently, the engine needs to be rebuilt, or possibly a new one. It needs a new transmission, the floor of the interior has rusted away, the rest of the body has surface or intermediate rust. He is giving me replacements seats, fenders, and other body and interior pieces, but most of the car has succumbed to time.
Since the summer is coming up, and i am close to getting a license at 17, i wanted this car to be my first, reborn by (mostly) my own hands. How much should i expect to put down to bring a beauty like itself back to life?
I am planning on taking pictures after i have purchased the car, any suggestions or assistance helps!
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 5, 2017, 9:51 AM
Post #2 of 6
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Re: Bringing a Mach 1 to life.
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How much money do you have? Got $30,000 or more? I'd personally pass on it and save your money. Those cars are nightmares to restore when they have major rust going on. Some of them it is actually cheaper to buy the body shell then go through all the body work, but even then your in the 10's of thousands of dollars. I'm telling you from personal experience that if you buy one of those and have absolutely no skill in doing body work, restoration, the tooling, and access to part, you will get over your head and it will eat up your money like no tomorrow.
You are much better off saving your money and buying an old car that has already been restored. The old mustangs were nothing but rust buckets. Ask any old timer restoration body shop techs.
Ask your neighbor why they aren't putting the money into it to restore it.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Jun 5, 2017, 10:04 AM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 5, 2017, 1:46 PM
Post #3 of 6
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Re: Bringing a Mach 1 to life.
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Agree - pass on this you don't even know what year it is? Mustangs totally changed to Mustang II (two) in model year 1974 nothing like 73 or older. They didn't turn out so well in hindsight really a glorified Pinto IMO.
Earlier would have more interest and parts available but if in tough shape up to an engine forget it. There are plenty that should be fine but you pay for it more if you fix one up yourself including possible whole engine - mega thousands as already said.
Have to suggest for a first car and know you hate the thought but go with some mainstream popular boring car is a much better bet than any so called "sports car" which Mustangs were NOT when 1974 came along were nothing like a great car and hard to call that/those sports cars just keeping the name going,
T
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Korim
New User
Jun 6, 2017, 5:40 AM
Post #4 of 6
(2147 views)
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Re: Bringing a Mach 1 to life.
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Thanks for the information. After looking over the car once again i truly realized that the rust ate over any indication of year by any common car enthusiast! I am still somewhat interested in purchasing this car, as it wont be my only access to transportation. I have a daily driver (not with as much freedom) and i wanted to have the mustang so that i could learn and tinker with my younger brother, as we both have a high interest in cars.
So lets say i were to just get better condition body parts, and with some patience and learning, i have the body shell looking average. How much do you think it would cost for under-the-hood repairs, such as a new manual transmission and an engine rebuild? If i could, i would want at least the engine up and working before fixing the body.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 6, 2017, 5:58 AM
Post #5 of 6
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Re: Bringing a Mach 1 to life.
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Before you even start working on it, you need to write down a list of what needs to be done to it. Chop your list into sections and do each section one at a time. I'm sure your list is going to be a mile long. You'll also need to write down what parts it will need and do some research on where to source those parts. Can't tell you how much things will cost. I just know it's going to be lots of money and the only way to know is to shop around once you get your list of parts made. You're going to go over budget, but at least you'll have an idea. You also may need to go to swap meets to score items. The Mustang II parts, if that is what it is, are non existent unless you can find a donor car. Once you get a plan and a budget, then decide if you want to take it on.
Body work isn't something that can be learned over night. It is an art and there are many tools and techniques that have to be learned. It takes lots of years to be proficient. They may have classes at your local tech school that you can attend to learn the trade.
I know your excited about buying and fixing up a classic, but truly if you and your brother want to tinker around with something, find a car that is already running. A full blown restore can take an individual years to accomplish.
I fell into the same thing you're thinking about getting into. I got in over my head and became discouraged. I also lost money and finally decided to give up and cut my losses. I would never do anything like that again and bought a fox body that was already done and drive-able for a 1/3 of the money I invested in that money pit I gave up on. If you do take it on, I wish you and your brother the best of luck and hope that you enjoy spending time doing something together.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Jun 6, 2017, 6:10 AM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 6, 2017, 6:57 AM
Post #6 of 6
(2117 views)
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Re: Bringing a Mach 1 to life.
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? Quote ">>After looking over the car once again i truly realized that the rust ate over any indication of year by any common car enthusiast!<<"
I don't understand now. You can't tell what year it rusted thru so bad you don't even have VIN#? I thing since you said you thought 1972 to 1976 you need to know exactly which year.
Said up top starting in 1974 this was a whole different car than model year 1973. A 1975 begins the year it required a catalytic converter.
If current body was that rusted as both are unit body vehicles there's no reason for it to run again at all. You need a VIN# issued if it was even junked once a new one to even think of registered it or documentation showing you own it at all or you really don't?
Have you actually paid something for this and claim you own it? What does the paperwork say? It you just bought metal to have metal fine also find if you can fit parts from an unrecognizable mess to another just how would you get rid of it?
If it was stolen along the way it could easily belong to an insurance company or prior owner listing it as stolen.
Is this so bad it was pulled out of a swamp, river, lake or ocean? I'm getting that impression from what you are saying??
I'll try some pics of totally different cars that at both called Mustangs 1973 then a 1974 which is a Mustang 2 II it would say.
1973> 
If no show go here>> https://www.google.com/...8.2236.0.zkvRDMP-tXA
1974 > 
If no show go here >> https://www.google.com/...mp;spf=1496756989251
That showed multiple model year. Not sure but "Mach 1" wasn't used in '74 or newer so may show "Cobra" - just note the body isn't the same cars at all,
T
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