Welcome to the forum.
One thing for sure car dealers do not have to tell the truth part of their sacred code, lol.
Sever have stated some of the facts. I have 5 verts two 73. One is 48,000 mile California car with original paint and interior.
For sure the hood is wrong. I do not think you could even get on a 302 unless Mach 1. Would need to check the Ford Facts Book.
You could not get the black out on the hood and not have hood locks either. They came together for $18.00 in 73. the scoop inlets would also be black not body color. The shape and size of the black is way off. The pic of the 73 Mach 1 is my original one owner never painted.
To get the side stripe you had to get Decor Group which blacked out the lower side of the car. This car has rocker moldings so not a Decor Group. You also got Mach 1 grill with DG.
The Forged aluminum wheels were optional on any model in 73 only.
All 71 - 73 verts had glass rear window cannot tell about this one. All were power top also.
The interior should be CW Comfort Weave cannot tell.
You should get a Marti report for $18.00 will tell you what was on the car originally.
Lots of tinkering under the hood. Look under car to see if someone has but sub frame connectors in. With all the added bracing under the hood area I suspect someone might have autocross the car.
I do not know what the two canisters in front of the windshield washer tank are. Maybe oil start up pressure tank.
Looks like the hood hinges have been painted. Under the hood the following should not be painted but have iron phosphate coating. Looks frosted and gray. It is same as parkerizing on a gun. Hood hinges, hood latch, AC brackets, upper shock mounting caps.
Also under the hood certain things should be Slop Gray. Ford mixed all left over and recovered paint into one tank and painted parts with it. It varies since not a standard color. The following should be slop gray. Center grill support. Bracket the hood latch bolts to, part of grill support, the two small braces on the bottom of the front fender, front tag frame, flat tray under the headlight bucket, angle brackets that attach headlight bucket to radiator support.
The trunk should be gray spatter paint. Verts, FB and regular coupes did not get a trunk mat only Grandé model.
You need to look at the cowl even California cars rust due to simply washing them with running water. They rust on each end most frequently. All of them have rust around the tail lights check inside for repairs showing.
If floors have any patches then the mileage is very wrong.
Depending on how you want the car, original or to your taste is entirely up to you. It would take considerable time and money to bring this back to original.
One other check you can do is look for the VIN# stamped into the block on the drivers side just below the head in the rear. Will be partial number that should match the number on the dash. The number is also stamped in the transmission. If not numbers matching collectors shy away from them.
So here are some pics. The Mach 1 is going to museum next week for display during 55 ann. celebration in Charlotte NC.
I took these wheels off and went back to Sport Wheel covers like on the Marti report. This is a Decor Group car. I has 48,000 miles California car no floor rust, 351 H code, automatic, AC, PS, PDB, long console, gauges, tilt column, convenience group, sport mirrors, rub stip in rear bumper, decor group. I purchased off ebay couple years ago for $7,200 and $1,000 to ship across country. PO had built the engine with .050" over bore, cam, valve job, 2-V to 4-V, MSD, Holley & shift kit. Original chipped up paint but only original once. Came with new top in box and original wheels and caps.
Do your homework they will sell you anything and smile all the way to the bank. Estate cars usually sell at auction for cash only and go cheap from ones that I have attended.
I have an estate auction 1950 Ford two door sedan that sold for $1,000 with 16,000 original miles on it. Last estate auction I went to this past summer had over 35 vehicles and all sold very cheap. Not many people can just throw down the cash.
BTW the 302 is sort of at the bottom of desirable. Nothing wrong with it but 351 have more power and more desirable.
I had one last look. It looks like the fender bolt heads are painted. If so a complete repaint of this car might not even be original color, Marti or door sticker would tell. The cars were painted with hood and front fenders off. Trunk & doors were installed.
