’71 Mach 1 Resto Project

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Joined
Jan 20, 2022
Messages
1,127
Reaction score
1,870
Location
Homer Glen, Il
My Car
1971 Mustang Mach 1 351c FMX trans and 9 inch rear end
I just bought this '71 Mach 1 in November in Vegas and shipped it back to the Chicago area. I was just informed about and joined this forum today. I am going to restore this Mustang to my tastes rather than to original. I had a white and black '73 as a high schooler and I am thinking I might paint this '71 white with black stripes and a black interior as well. When I bought it, it was Grabber Blue with a black and silver interior but it was obviously originally dark green with a green interior and the Marti report confirms that. That being said, I am just not a green guy, and my '73 was white and that is why I am planning on painting this '71 Wimbledon White with black stripes and interior. Although, I really do like the Grabber Blue also, maybe with black stripes though, we will see.

Mach 1 1.jpgMach 1 2.jpgMach 1 3.jpgMach 1 6.jpg

this is how I bought it in Vegas

Mach 1 25.jpg

Arrived right before thanksgiving

Mach 1 27.jpg

Pressure washed the engine compartment

Mach 1 67.jpgMach 1 68.jpg


Disassembled and ready for the media blaster

Mach 1 66a.jpgMach 1 68a.jpg

back from media blast and epoxy primered inside and out

Mach 1 56a.jpgMach 1 57a.jpgMach 1 59b.jpgMach 1 59e.jpgMach 1 59c.jpg

overall looks pretty solid

Mach 1 55a.jpgMach 1 58a.jpg


But it is going to need the taillight panel and trunk floor replaced

Mach 1 93.jpgMach 1 95.jpg


and some patch work under the rear seat

otherwise I was very happy with what was under the paint. I think it is a good starting point.

This is how it sits today not bad progress for about two months in to the project but this is where it will slow down for me. I am a better disassembler than I am a welder or body man. I will add new pictures as I make more progress.
 
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Great Start! I say... since the car has gone thru one color change already, go for it and make it yours.. you will enjoy
it a lot more reliving your HS days! Btw... noticed a space saver spare bracket and AC sticker... are those going back in the Mustang?

Keep us posted friend
 
Great Start! I say... since the car has gone thru one color change already, go for it and make it yours.. you will enjoy
it a lot more reliving your HS days! Btw... noticed a space saver spare bracket and AC sticker... are those going back in the Mustang?

Keep us posted friend
Thanks, I will enjoy it in the Wimbledon White, and yes I plan to reinstall the A/C maybe not right away but I am replacing the evaporator core now with the heater core when I rebuild the heater box so I wont have to take it apart again later. The space saver bracket is heavily rusted and so are the brackets for the trap door rubber bushings I will need to fabricate new ones because I don't see any one that makes a reproduction part.
 
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Great Start! I say... since the car has gone thru one color change already, go for it and make it yours.. you will enjoy
it a lot more reliving your HS days! Btw... noticed a space saver spare bracket and AC sticker... are those going back in the Mustang?

Keep us posted friend
Welcome from Germany!

Nice and solid car to start with, congratulations. The sheet metal you mentioned is not hard to handle and a straight go through for any experienced body guy.

Keep us up to date ☺️(y)
will do thanks(y)
 
Hello and welcome from SW Ontario, Canada.
That really looks like a good find with not too much rot to repair. Nice you have a good shop to work in too, I'm jealous!
Keep up the good work and don't be afraid to ask questions.
 
I have rust under the battery tray, a nice hole in there. I just want to weld a patch in there, what you did was the right way to do it, but boy what a pain in the arse job that is.
 
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