I'm back!

[Riverbum]

After 38 years, I'm finally back in a 71 Mach1. I bought a 71 Mach1 from my neighbor in 1982 when I was 16. I thought it was old back then. Sold it in 85 because I wanted a new Mustang GT, and finally decided to start looking for another one a few years ago. Didn't realize they had become so popular and pricey. Finally found another 71 M-Code/Auto a couple months ago and it needs lots of attention. It has a 429/460, and I plan to keep it instead of going back to a 351. I'm going to patch it up and enjoy it till I find a good, clean, rust free 71 in much better condition.

 

[timachone]

Welcome from Germany

Nice ride you got!

Please keep us up to dated about your project!

 

[mjseakan]

Welcome from Central New York.
More pictures, please.
Mike

 

[droptop73]

Welcome from west Michigan!
Please tell us more about your new ride.

 

[mrgmhale]

Welcome back to The Game. Play well, play often. Heh heh…

 

[jpaz]

Hello and Welcome from Michigan. Hopefully you enjoy your return!

 

[7173Mustang]

Welcome to the forum. Do you play Bass? If you don't mind me asking.

 

[Riverbum]

Welcome to the forum. Do you play Bass? If you don't mind me asking.

I play in church on Sundays, and I still play a few bluegrass festivals each year. Not nearly as much as I used to play though.

 

[tpj71mach]

Welcome from Chicago! Looks like you have a pretty nice ride there, enjoy.

 

[Kilgon]

Welcome from Ohio. Nice looking car. Plenty of info and a great bunch of people here to help you out when needed.

 

[Riverbum]

There's a lot to do just to get it streetable. The floors have been poorly patched and booger welded. The package tray was butchered. The panel alignments are bad. Someone stuck a rear spoiler on the back off a later model car and didn't even center it. The wiring has been butchered, and everything inside and outside had been disassembled and most nuts and bolts were lost.

That being said, I'll make it a driver and make Hotrod Power Tour next year. I'm not going for exterior cosmetics, but maybe more of a Roadkill look. It will be mechanically sound.

I did what every guy does when I got it. I bought new wheels and tires. That is motivation

 

[will e]

It's a little rough. I am glad you found it and am taking the time to give it some love!

 

[7173Mustang]

I play in church on Sundays, and I still play a few bluegrass festivals each year. Not nearly as much as I used to play though.

That's fantastic. You must be pretty good at it!

Enjoy the restoration. Got any help?

 

[tpj71mach]

There's a lot to do just to get it streetable. The floors have been poorly patched and booger welded. The package tray was butchered. The panel alignments are bad. Someone stuck a rear spoiler on the back off a later model car and didn't even center it. The wiring has been butchered, and everything inside and outside had been disassembled and most nuts and bolts were lost.

That being said, I'll make it a driver and make Hotrod Power Tour next year. I'm not going for exterior cosmetics, but maybe more of a Roadkill look. It will be mechanically sound.

I did what every guy does when I got it. I bought new wheels and tires. That is motivation


View attachment 67706View attachment 67707View attachment 67708View attachment 67709View attachment 67710

Sweet! Nothing makes an appearance change like new rims and tires, and those are awesome! I love the Roadkill reference, to quote Freiburger, you don't have to make it right, just make it run

 

[Sheriff41]

Welcome and congrats on your Mach! It looks like you have your work cut out for you but then that comes with the hobby. The HRPT is a nice goal. Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[mach71351c]

Welcome from San Diego

 

[Steve McMahan]

Nice car, maybe do a Saturday night round d round driver? Love the 429

 

[Riverbum]

Nice car, maybe do a Saturday night round d round driver? Love the 429

I'm thinking more about some straight line racing.

 

[mrgmhale]

After 38 years, I'm finally back in a 71 Mach1. I bought a 71 Mach1 from my neighbor in 1982 when I was 16. I thought it was old back then. Sold it in 85 because I wanted a new Mustang GT, and finally decided to start looking for another one a few years ago. Didn't realize they had become so popular and pricey. Finally found another 71 M-Code/Auto a couple months ago and it needs lots of attention. It has a 429/460, and I plan to keep it instead of going back to a 351. I'm going to patch it up and enjoy it till I find a good, clean, rust free 71 in much better condition. View attachment 67689

I feel your joy. I dropped out of the pony car scene back in 1976, when "life happened," as in got married, had kids, there was a huge priority shift - and age old tale of woe when it comes to having to put away those things we enjoyed so much in an effort to become responsible. In my case, I "kind of" dropped out in late 1976. Than in 1978 I almost came back in by purchasing a 1978 Cougar XR-7. It was not the kind of asphalt shredding pony car that I had before /(1969 Mach 1, not stock, very fast). And later in about 1992 I owned a Mark VI LSC that was a kind of grown up pony car for folks like me that enjoyed the pony car look, but wanted a luxury car experience after having achieved a certain level of success. Then in about 1999 I went back underground until 2017 when after retiring I decided to get back into my beloved Pony cars! I did not go too far over the top, but I went further than I had expected to. I ended up getting, with Lynda (wife, and also a Mustang/Shelby Chick), the following vehicles from 2017 - 2019:

1969 Shelby GT500
1973 Mach 1
1973 Mustang Convertible
1997 Honda Del Sol SI
2020 Shelby GT500

We love working on, tinkering with, showing, and driving the cars in our little corral. And, of course, each of those cars has its own special back story.

 

[Riverbum]

I feel your joy. I dropped out of the pony car scene back in 1976, when "life happened," as in got married, had kids, there was a huge priority shift - and age old tale of woe when it comes to having to put away those things we enjoyed so much in an effort to become responsible. In my case, I "kind of" dropped out in late 1976. Than in 1978 I almost came back in by purchasing a 1978 Cougar XR-7. It was not the kind of asphalt shredding pony car that I had before /(1969 Mach 1, not stock, very fast). And later in about 1992 I owned a Mark VI LSC that was a kind of grown up pony car for folks like me that enjoyed the pony car look, but wanted a luxury car experience after having achieved a certain level of success. Then in about 1999 I went back underground until 2017 when after retiring I decided to get back into my beloved Pony cars! I did not go too far over the top, but I went further than I had expected to. I ended up getting, with Lynda (wife, and also a Mustang/Shelby Chick), the following vehicles from 2017 - 2019:

1969 Shelby GT500
1973 Mach 1
1973 Mustang Convertible
1997 Honda Del Sol SI
2020 Shelby GT500

We love working on, tinkering with, showing, and driving the cars in our little corral. And, of course, each of those cars has its own special back story.

I didn't get out of building cars in 85, I just shifted my focus to a 67 fastback I had tucked away in the shop. I was also starting to build for other people, to finance building a 65 pro street Comet I had as well. What burned me out was trying to collect money from people, and this was just a side job, and never really having time to work on my own projects.

After an early mid life crisis, and moving to North Carolina to be a whitewater raft guide and musician for six years, I moved back home and decided to tinker around a little. I bought and sold several till I found my 79 Bronco and 71.