vmg
Member
Hi Everybody:
I am new here. Victor, from Mexico. I have been around old cars for 30 years and have several of them, but no Mustangs, so far, but I am trying to fix that...
Today I went to look at a 1973 Mach 1. By the way, it was the only year that we got the Mach 1 down here, and all of them had the 351 Windsor engine with a four barrel carb and a four speed box with Hurst shift and an aluminum grip handle, power steering and disc brakes. That was sort of the regular package, as far as I understand it, and there were no options, or not important ones, at least. I am not sure but I have been told that even no A/C.
My father, by the way, had a 1972 hardtop, and that one did had A/C so I find it strange that the Mach 1 could not have it... but again, that is what I was told.
Anyhow, as to the car I saw today, it appears to have a 351 Windsor (though I could not swear it, of course), but there are a few things that I find a bit puzzling, up to the point that I am thinking it my be an American car which is here with the Mexican car's documents (since it is difficult and very expensive to import a car). It has A/C (at least the controls for it though the compressor is a newer one), tinted windows (both things not common), the four speed but with a regular ball shifter as in the US, the american car design on upholstery (mexican cars had a different design), Magnum 500 wheels (never offered here but easily fitted afterwards) and most puzzling of all, it is missing the VIN plate, and the door plastic tag, and even the "Register" plate which all mexican cars back then needed to have and which is glued or riveted to the car. Also, Mexican cars had an aluminum plate on the driver's door, which this car is missing, which would tell the regular characteristics of the car... VIN, color, upholstery etc. So, no way that I can see in which I can match the car to the papers.
All of those tags could have been removed and lost during a paint or restoration job... that is what I am hoping.
If I buy and it is really a wrong car, so to say, or that it is irregularly in the country, it would be an expensive mistake.... so I am trying to find out how to check the car.
In short, how can I check which is the VIN of the car I looked at today if it is missing the VIN plate that you can regularly see through the windshield on the driver's side?
Perhaps rather long for a introduction, but I urgently need to find out as it is a bargain and I may loose the chance of getting if it I delay too much. I will post also on another perhaps more proper area in the forum and add pics.
Looking forward to getting the car and participating in the Mustang community!
Thanks!
Victor
I am new here. Victor, from Mexico. I have been around old cars for 30 years and have several of them, but no Mustangs, so far, but I am trying to fix that...
Today I went to look at a 1973 Mach 1. By the way, it was the only year that we got the Mach 1 down here, and all of them had the 351 Windsor engine with a four barrel carb and a four speed box with Hurst shift and an aluminum grip handle, power steering and disc brakes. That was sort of the regular package, as far as I understand it, and there were no options, or not important ones, at least. I am not sure but I have been told that even no A/C.
My father, by the way, had a 1972 hardtop, and that one did had A/C so I find it strange that the Mach 1 could not have it... but again, that is what I was told.
Anyhow, as to the car I saw today, it appears to have a 351 Windsor (though I could not swear it, of course), but there are a few things that I find a bit puzzling, up to the point that I am thinking it my be an American car which is here with the Mexican car's documents (since it is difficult and very expensive to import a car). It has A/C (at least the controls for it though the compressor is a newer one), tinted windows (both things not common), the four speed but with a regular ball shifter as in the US, the american car design on upholstery (mexican cars had a different design), Magnum 500 wheels (never offered here but easily fitted afterwards) and most puzzling of all, it is missing the VIN plate, and the door plastic tag, and even the "Register" plate which all mexican cars back then needed to have and which is glued or riveted to the car. Also, Mexican cars had an aluminum plate on the driver's door, which this car is missing, which would tell the regular characteristics of the car... VIN, color, upholstery etc. So, no way that I can see in which I can match the car to the papers.
All of those tags could have been removed and lost during a paint or restoration job... that is what I am hoping.
If I buy and it is really a wrong car, so to say, or that it is irregularly in the country, it would be an expensive mistake.... so I am trying to find out how to check the car.
In short, how can I check which is the VIN of the car I looked at today if it is missing the VIN plate that you can regularly see through the windshield on the driver's side?
Perhaps rather long for a introduction, but I urgently need to find out as it is a bargain and I may loose the chance of getting if it I delay too much. I will post also on another perhaps more proper area in the forum and add pics.
Looking forward to getting the car and participating in the Mustang community!
Thanks!
Victor