Hi, I have a 71 sportsroof that will make you feel good about your Mustang

[Thumpin455]

I have a 71 sportsroof that had extensive rust and collision damage. I got it from a friends brother for next to nothing, and drove it home where it sat for 13 years. I brought it to where I live now in 2005. Initially I wanted to rebuild it and flip it, but even doing all the work myself I might break even. So its now a keeper since I have so much sheetmetal for it, and a nice 4 bolt 4V Cleveland waiting to go in.

The Mustang got put on the back burner for a while because I had to paint my 67 Cougar that was sanded to bare metal in 1986 and then sat for 20 years. After that came a 65 GTO for my father in law as a thank you for everything he has done for me.

Where it sat for 13 years.

On the trailer..

How it looks now...

I will save the between for a build thread if you guys are interested in seeing it.

 

[sm3570]

What?!? Of course we're interested! A lot of the guys on here know exactly what you're going through with that car. Welcome to the forum.

 

[Machman]

::welcome:: from NY and to the forum and I would enjoy seeing posts of you restoring the car as well

 

[Mach1JB]

Welcome !!!

 

[luxstang]

::welcome:: to the forum.

Just remember to keep us up to date with pics....

 

[Don65Stang]

Welcome from coastal Alabama!

 

[Steven Harris]

Welcome,

Look around - it will surprize you what others here have snatched back from the jaws of a crusher!

 

[edd]

it will be all worth the time money and hard work in the end, good luck and can't wait to see your end result

 

[Thumpin455]

Thanks for the warm welcome. On another Mustang forum this car got the name "Pit of Despair." The 65 GTO is being called Lazarus, but I think Lazarus was in better shape before he came back from the dead.

Well if you guys want some pics of the other projects I can post them up too. If you are self learning rust repair, or just afraid to do it yourself, it will either terrify or motivate you. Most of them are Pontiac, but all of them are old.

My first car was the Cougar, got it when I was 13 after working my butt off all summer on the farm. So I started out with Fords, and the first engine I helped rebuild was a 390 from our F250. Once I experienced Cleveland power, and got a set of 4V heads it was scary time, until a rod decided to exit the block. I got into Pontiacs kinda heavy after that, big engines go fast cheap. Im just not a chevy guy, they are ok trucks but the engines are yawn inducing. So dont think that me owning Pontiacs makes me a chevy guy, they are quite a bit like the FE engines, lots of bottom end grunt and high velocity ports. If I can find a decent 460 core I might put it in the 71 with some aluminum CJ heads, that would be a fun ride for sure, otherwise it will get a Cleveland. Its hard not to love those engines once you have driven one with a cam and headers.

I really need to get this Mustang done, its been in bare metal too long and I need all of its parts out of the shop.

Here is the Cougar before:

and after a year learning body and paint on it.

 

[hyena429]

Thanks for the warm welcome. On another Mustang forum this car got the name "Pit of Despair." The 65 GTO is being called Lazarus, but I think Lazarus was in better shape before he came back from the dead.

Well if you guys want some pics of the other projects I can post them up too. If you are self learning rust repair, or just afraid to do it yourself, it will either terrify or motivate you. Most of them are Pontiac, but all of them are old.

My first car was the Cougar, got it when I was 13 after working my butt off all summer on the farm. So I started out with Fords, and the first engine I helped rebuild was a 390 from our F250. Once I experienced Cleveland power, and got a set of 4V heads it was scary time, until a rod decided to exit the block. I got into Pontiacs kinda heavy after that, big engines go fast cheap. Im just not a chevy guy, they are ok trucks but the engines are yawn inducing. So dont think that me owning Pontiacs makes me a chevy guy, they are quite a bit like the FE engines, lots of bottom end grunt and high velocity ports. If I can find a decent 460 core I might put it in the 71 with some aluminum CJ heads, that would be a fun ride for sure, otherwise it will get a Cleveland. Its hard not to love those engines once you have driven one with a cam and headers.

I really need to get this Mustang done, its been in bare metal too long and I need all of its parts out of the shop.

Here is the Cougar before:

[

Welcome sir!! And some cool rides!! them other mustang forums i stay away from now...They so bias too our years of stangs...I end up getting in too many arguments with them..Cause they so damn thick headed that our years are crap...lol...And im not bias at all...Even when it comes to chevy or a dodge or even something euro...lol...I like them all and found good ones in them all....nice lookin pontiac there too...She a firebird? I was just driving this car this weekend....504 horse pontiac trans am...Its my cousins..But he likes to drop by and drop the keys in my hands once and a while..woot..thing is a beast.

 

[Thumpin455]

I know of your cousin from Pontiac Forums, Thats a nice 74 TA. I like any old Mustang, and some of the Fox bodies, and people who dont like the 71-73 just havent driven one in decent shape. Most forums have gotten on my nerves, lots of politics, butt kissing, and people being tools. I rarely go to Pontiac forums now because of it. Its not about cars anymore, its about negative BS with too many people. I would think this place is probably different.

I have a few Firebirds, they were dirt cheap for many years so I was able to pick them up cheap and I just never sold them. The blue one is different from the black one. The black one is rather rare being a 1 of 276 455 HO Formula, the blue one is my toy I got in Germany back in 1990 and it has a 700hp Butler Performance 467 in it. I like cars that haul butt, and they have to have a certain style to them doing it.

 

[Flatback72]

welcome from Australia - good to see another sportsroof being saved!

 

[whitesoc]

Welcome to the forum from Ontario Canada looks like you're having some fun bringing these cars back.

Always loved the Gto and 76-78 firebirds.

 

[Thumpin455]

Might as well show some before and after of the ones I have painted.. Its an expensive hobby, but loads of fun to do yourself. Some of these I painted for less than $500.

65 GTO: Before extensive rust. Window channels completely gone, dash rusted completely away from the car. Not even a good parts car.

After 1700+ hours.

70 GTO before:

After 350 hours and about $600:

79 Formula street strip toy:

One month and $250 later:

 

[Mister 4x4]

Welcome! Actually, I think I can make you feel better about your Mustang.

Behold:

Even so - glad to have you here, and can't wait to see how your project comes along.

 

[droptop73]

Welcome to da site from under da bridge eh! It's good to see more Michigan members! From one former Pontiac guy to another... YEAH I hate chevvies too!

Eric... your car HAD to have lived in Michigan.

 

[Thumpin455]

Despite the trunk floor being hacked out, I think yours is in better shape. Not much better, only slightly. Like the difference between violet and purple. The thing to remember is it could always be worse. What are the plans for yours?

I was thinking his car wasnt a Michigan car, there is too much of it left. Probably spent some time at the bottom of a lake. That brown F150 is a yooper truck, and the cab is so rusted that you have to push the back of it in to close the door. The only thing holding it to the frame is the steering column.

 

[DragonKnight]

Hey, I recognize your Mustang from another one of the other Mustang forums. ::welcome:: from Washington!

Rich

 

[Mister 4x4]

Eric... your car HAD to have lived in Michigan.

Funny you should mention that - the DSO was Lansing.

Despite the trunk floor being hacked out, I think yours is in better shape. Not much better, only slightly. Like the difference between violet and purple. The thing to remember is it could always be worse. What are the plans for yours?

Actually, that trunk shot was after I grabbed the main part of the trunk pan and pulled it out. The angle iron and chain were there to hold up the gas tank when I got it. I had to completely cut off the front clip and graft one on from a '72 I found at a local junkyard. Lots of sheet metal replace so far... just about done with that after almost 2 years.

The plan is pretty much the first & second pictures in the Facebook album found at the link in my signature (below). Light period-style restomod consisting of wheels & tires, stereo, power windows & locks, warmed up 351C-2V engine with an AOD swapped in, and some traction additives in the way of slapper bars & sub-frame connectors.

How about yours? Can't wait to see you work your magic - based on the awesome job you've done with the others you've shared in this thread.

What's up with the Monza in the background of the first picture? Those little cars were awesome!