’71 Mach 1 Resto Project

Very nice indeed. Congratulations on getting the majority of the parts off the shelf. We all know they are never done.

Thank you, I am very happy with how the paint turned out.
From my understanding, 1972 code 9A is not the same color as 1971 code M. Ford lists 1972 9A as just White, and 1971 code M as Wimbledon white. They are both off-whites, in high school I had a 9A white 1973 Mach 1 and that was definitely not a bright white. Honestly, I thought it was Wimbledon white back then because that is what people had told me. I compounded and polished the paint as soon as I bought the car, so I was confident the paint was clean. When it was parked next to my mom's brand-new GM white car, it always looked yellowish by comparison.




As far as my 71 Mach 1, it is definitely an off-white like the earlier pictures, you referred to. I think the variance in colors you are seeing in some pictures is due to lighting or exposure. The panels were painted from the same gallons of paint, and they all match in real life. I think the pics I took Sunday reflect the true color as accurately as any of the pics I have taken.
I would recommend talking to a paint supply and finding out what the formulas are for both codes M and 9A and see how much difference there is. There may not be a significant difference in the formula just enough to make it different enough to have a different name.
My car was originally green on green like yours, when I purchased the car, it was Grabber Blue. This had to have been done over thirty years ago based on the patina of the Grabber Blue and the fact that the car had sat for almost thirty years without an engine when I bought it. I painted it Wimbledon white with black trim as an homage to the 73 Mach I had in high school and college. I am really happy with the color combination and am quite happy with my choice of white over the Grabber blue or green.

Your Mach looks like it was transported back to 1971! Nice photos - need some of the engine compartment, too!

FYI for you and @70cobrascj the 1972 code 9A is Wimbledon White also.

Thanks Sheriff I knew you would know.

I have always liked the white and black combo on these cars. I have stated before my unicorn is a white and black Boss 351. Just sayin after I win the lottery you may know.

bkdunha said:

I have always liked the white and black combo on these cars. I have stated before my unicorn is a white and black Boss 351. Just sayin after I win the lottery you may know.

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My dad's Boss back in the day:

She’s truly stunning! Congrats on getting your old car back! She looks incredible.

I get you, when I drive my car it's the best freaking therapy in the world for me! My wife says it's my age. No s*it!

tpj71mach, I think your Mach looks great. I also feel the same about my '71 Mach 1, it's just me, it's been my buddy for 35 years now. It's sporty and classy without being ostentatious, or looking like it's trying too hard, while still looking aggressive. I can also echo your thoughts on the white color. Years ago, I bought a '70 Olds 442 which was gold with factory white deck stripes. It looked kinda stodgy to me, so I had it re-painted Old's factory white color, with gold deck stripes. It really popped and resembled what Olds did with their Hurst Olds paint scheme

PoFoMoCo said:

She’s truly stunning! Congrats on getting your old car back! She looks incredible.

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Thank you! It is nice to have it "back". Glad to hear from you, I hadn't seen you posting lately, I hope everything was okay.

tpj71mach said:

Sunday was 54 degrees and clear and in Chicago in December, 54 degrees and clear is downright balmy, ha-ha.

I felt I needed to take the car out for a ride, maybe the last of the year? I took the Mustang out for a nice little 30-minute cruise, just listening to the music (sent radio out for upgrade already) that my Cleveland and Magna-Flows were making. I told my wife; "man, I love this car" and she replied, "you love all of your cars" and I was like no, not like this one. It just fits me better; I am more at home in this car after just the few months since I got it operational than others I have owned for years.

We stopped at a park near my house and took a couple pics just before sunset.

View attachment 95866View attachment 95867View attachment 95868View attachment 95869View attachment 95870View attachment 95871

I think the color really looked awesome in the near sunset lighting. You can get a better fell that although it is white, it has very little but enough black and yellow in it, so that the body lines don't get washed out like some whites do. Ford got that one right for sure, that's probably why it has been offered in so many years and on so many of their models.

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Such a beautiful Mustang, very nice ride

I can only hope mine looks as good as yours when it's finished!

tpj71mach said:

Sunday was 54 degrees and clear and in Chicago in December, 54 degrees and clear is downright balmy, ha-ha.

I felt I needed to take the car out for a ride, maybe the last of the year? I took the Mustang out for a nice little 30-minute cruise, just listening to the music (sent radio out for upgrade already) that my Cleveland and Magna-Flows were making. I told my wife; "man, I love this car" and she replied, "you love all of your cars" and I was like no, not like this one. It just fits me better; I am more at home in this car after just the few months since I got it operational than others I have owned for years.

We stopped at a park near my house and took a couple pics just before sunset.

View attachment 95866View attachment 95867View attachment 95868View attachment 95869View attachment 95870View attachment 95871

I think the color really looked awesome in the near sunset lighting. You can get a better fell that although it is white, it has very little but enough black and yellow in it, so that the body lines don't get washed out like some whites do. Ford got that one right for sure, that's probably why it has been offered in so many years and on so many of their models.

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Man, I agree. I have never seen a white Mustang before I signed up on this site. I love your car!

tpj71mach said:

Sunday was 54 degrees and clear and in Chicago in December, 54 degrees and clear is downright balmy, ha-ha.

I felt I needed to take the car out for a ride, maybe the last of the year? I took the Mustang out for a nice little 30-minute cruise, just listening to the music (sent radio out for upgrade already) that my Cleveland and Magna-Flows were making. I told my wife; "man, I love this car" and she replied, "you love all of your cars" and I was like no, not like this one. It just fits me better; I am more at home in this car after just the few months since I got it operational than others I have owned for years.

We stopped at a park near my house and took a couple pics just before sunset.

View attachment 95866View attachment 95867View attachment 95868View attachment 95869View attachment 95870View attachment 95871

I think the color really looked awesome in the near sunset lighting. You can get a better fell that although it is white, it has very little but enough black and yellow in it, so that the body lines don't get washed out like some whites do. Ford got that one right for sure, that's probably why it has been offered in so many years and on so many of their models.

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Wow It looks amazing in the sunset. Seeing the reflection of the trees in the paint shows how nice the paint is. I agree a bright white would make the car look fake. I totally get it. Since I got mine up and running I drive it every chance I get. The other day I jumped in no wallet left garage door open. My wife came to find the Labrador sitting the driveway and the house wide open. Whoops! I think it's the time and effort that goes in to restoring these cars its so gratifying to finally being able to drive them. Fortunately driving season doesn't end here in San Diego it just gets dark early.

mach71351c said:

Wow It looks amazing in the sunset. Seeing the reflection of the trees in the paint shows how nice the paint is. I agree a bright white would make the car look fake. I totally get it. Since I got mine up and running I drive it every chance I get. The other day I jumped in no wallet left garage door open. My wife came to find the Labrador sitting the driveway and the house wide open. Whoops! I think it's the time and effort that goes in to restoring these cars its so gratifying to finally being able to drive them. Fortunately driving season doesn't end here in San Diego it just gets dark early.

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Thanks, that's funny I too have driven off with the garage door open the radio blaring and the lights left on, a couple times before already with this car. My wife has had to go out and turn off the radio and lights and shut the door after she heard me drive away.
I absolutely agree that is so gratifying to be able to drive them once the car is complete enough to allow driving. I bought my car three years ago with no engine, and I finally got my car drivable in August. This was the first I could ever drive it and have been driving it as much as possible since then. You are fortunate to have the weather to be able to drive yours year-round. I have been trying to get as many miles on it as I can, but it is looking like I may be running out of luck. Once the weather gets too bad and I have to put her away, I will be taking the seats out and reupholster them over the winter. Hopefully, I will work down my punch list this winter, and the car will be ready to drive the tires off of it, come spring.

I got my radio back today from Ralph the radio guy, he installed an Aurora Designs electronics upgrade complete with four channels with 45 watts nominal per channel. There is blue tooth and hands-free and I had him add subwoofer outputs so I can install an 8" powered subwoofer under the front seat. I picked it up from him because he is only 45 minutes from my house, and he had it on his workstation and was able to play it and show me all of the features. It has plugs on the side for a remote control that is sold separately and a remote mic but he mounted a mic in the face plate also. The radio had a really good sound, I can't wait to get it installed and hear how it sounds in my car!