worth it for a parts car?

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Not terrible. Prob a little high on the asking price for a parts car that is pretty far gone. I would be interested in the dog dish hub caps if you end up buying it.

 
My take on it, is that you'd be better off going with repop parts or finding nice individual pieces as you need them.  Once you get that parts car, you're stuck with what you bought after you harvest the few good parts remaining.  In that shape (notice how ratted out the dash pad is), I'd be willing to bet the interior pieces might not be worth it.  I went in halfsies on a couple of parts cars with a pal, and I think I wound up spending more trying to refurbish the handful of parts I thought I could use, before tossing them aside and just buying repops (fenders, front & rear valances, trunk lid - I spent $300 on my half of the parts car investment, $400 to get all of those items including my original hood soda blasted only to find bondo and more damage than I wanted to repair, and wound up just buying repop sheet metal instead).  I think the only things I really "scored" from the parts cars were the C-pillar plastic trim pieces (I was missing one, which I later found under my back seat), and both quarter window roll-up regulators from the 'coupe.  So yeah - spent WAY more than I should've on a gamble that the parts I needed were usable (but then again, I absolutely suck at gambling... which is why I avoid the casinos and "poker night with the guys" like the plague ;) ).

I tried to save those pieces you mentioned from mine, but it was just easier to get the repop stuff and go from there.  Mine also came with the center gauges, so it was just a matter of replacing the plastics.  However, if yours does not have the center gauges, you'll need to get a wiring harness from a car that has the gauges, in order to 'keep it factory.'  If you just want the gauges, you can get a gauge panel easy enough, install aftermarket or even refurbished factory gauges and run the new wiring accordingly.  That might be an easier way to go, rather than completely replacing a wiring harness (that you have no idea if it's in workable condition or not).  I'd also bought a tach cluster and wiring harness from another member years ago (before I knew anything about anything) when I was in my 'just start collecting parts' mode.  I was refurbishing the new harness when I discovered that the donor car didn't have the center gauges or some of the other options my car had - aside from the tachometer, it was from a lesser optioned car (I'd laid it all out and compared where everything plugged in - it was missing quite a few connectors).  It was also from a '73... and mine's a '71... so, I had just bought a tach cluster and wiring harness I couldn't use.  Lesson learned... and passed on. ;)

There are also upholstery kits available for the seats that re-use your seat frames (that's how I did mine) - or you can get factory-looking aftermarket seats as well (TMI Products, is who I'm thinking of).  They're easy enough to do (although, I ain't gonna lie - it's hard work and I have a new respect for those who do upholstery).

Center consoles show up here and there, and there is a repop available (albeit $600+).  I got mine from ebay for $150 and repaired/repainted it.

I guess the big thing to consider when thinking about getting a parts car is how bad do you really want the parts, are they in better shape than what you have, and would it be cheaper than repops or buying individual pieces outright?  Because at the end of the day, you'll be stuck with a pile of ugly, unusable leftovers that you'll just have to throw away at some point.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not telling you not to get it... just to make sure it's worth it.  $1500 is a chunk of change to pay for [potentially] less than $1500 worth of usable parts, is all I'm saying.

On a slightly different note: be advised also, that you'll want to preserve the seat platforms from your car (if possible) when you take on the floor pans, since the only replacements available are for coupes/'verts, which are a few inches taller, and will make a difference in the seating position - especially for taller drivers/passengers.

Sorry for the novel - hope this helps.

 
I agree with Eric. Unless there is something really valuable in that car, it is easier to go with repop, will save you lots of headaches...you should go and take a look. If you end up buying it, I am interested in the passenger side wiper arm and the center map light (if there is one).  

 

Rodrigo

 
I tried to save those pieces you mentioned from mine, but it was just easier to get the repop stuff and go from there.  Mine also came with the center gauges, so it was just a matter of replacing the plastics.  However, if yours does not have the center gauges, you'll need to get a wiring harness from a car that has the gauges, in order to 'keep it factory.'  If you just want the gauges, you can get a gauge panel easy enough, install aftermarket or even refurbished factory gauges and run the new wiring accordingly.  That might be an easier way to go, rather than completely replacing a wiring harness (that you have no idea if it's in workable condition or not).  I'd also bought a tach cluster and wiring harness from another member years ago (before I knew anything about anything) when I was in my 'just start collecting parts' mode.  I was refurbishing the new harness when I discovered that the donor car didn't have the center gauges or some of the other options my car had - aside from the tachometer, it was from a lesser optioned car (I'd laid it all out and compared where everything plugged in - it was missing quite a few connectors).  So, I had just bought a tach cluster and wiring harness I couldn't use.  Lesson learned... and passed on. ;)
Shoot...just because one doesn't have a 3 gauge cluster isn't anything to worry about.  I manufacture them for $50, and refurbish yours in whatever shape for $40. The hard and expensive part is the 3 gauge cluster itself!

 
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I was wondering when you'd chime in regarding the electrical stuff. ;) :whistling:

Good to know that you can refurb those things. ::thumb::

 
thanks guys. we decided to pass. hubby is hell bent on a 351. I say, let's make the 302 purr like a kitten. lol. Oh the joys of spousery and owning a mustang. lol. I know it's his car, but I think it would be more beneficial to spend the money on getting the 302 in tip top shape then spending it on this. He wants to make it a mach 1, so he's looking for a grill, seats, tach gauges, all the stuff we thought this car might have. but. in the end the guy said a lot of the stuff isn't usable.

 
I would put a 351 in the WTB section, some of the members might have a spare one setting around gathering cobwebs.

302s can be built to run very nicely, but 351 Clevelands are something else.

 
There were plenty of 302 Mach 1s. ;)

I'm with you - get the car back together, up and running, and start enjoying it.  He can always find a 351 and build it up while he's driving the wheels off it.

I know mine was basically a 'project' for over 3.5 years before it started resembling anything like the car I had envisioned.  Even after I got it back home and the rest of it back together, it had starting losing value as an actual 'car' to me.  Now that I've finally gotten it on the road, and can actually drive it, it's better - but all that time hacking, slashing, grinding, beating, and banging on it almost wore me out.

My advice: take the path of least resistance toward getting it running and start enjoying it as soon as possible.  Fix the bad stuff, and worry about the cosmetic and non-essential things later.  Floors and cowl damage - yes, do it now.  Swapping in a 351C... I'd wring as much out that 302 a bit first.  Then, if the 351's really that much better, he'll definitely feel it in the 'seat-of-pants' dynamometer. ;)

 
I would make very low offer and see what happens. I can't tell you valuable a parts car can be.  I've had 5 parts cars and maid ok money parting them out. 2 of them I easily doubled my investment. It helped me fund my project when my job was slow.

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If you could pick it up for $500 or so you would be ok.  Other than that I would walk away.  But then again I paid $400 for this beauty!!!  lollerz But did make a good bit of money off it. 





 
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There's nothing wrong with making a Mach 1 clone/tribute, or swapping engine/drivetrains to get the car you want.  It's called 'restomod,' and it happens to almost every car out there.  There are literally less than 1% of all the '71-'73s out there that haven't been restomodded to some degree - whether by eliminating the points ignition, or dropping in a stroked big-block. ;)

The only ones who will be concerned with whether or not the car is a 'real' Mach 1 or not, would be MCA judges, insurance appraisers, and/or potential buyers.

At the end of the day, it's all about having the car you want based on what's available and how much you can afford. 

(Sorry, jpaz - I'm not throwing rocks... the "should've started with a 351 car" comment just hit me funny)

 
I kinda figured... sorry again - my boss had just made a dumb-ass comment to/at me that got under my skin (you think you know people...).

 
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