- Joined
- Jul 21, 2012
- Messages
- 3,240
- Reaction score
- 16
- Location
- South Florida
- My Car
- '71 Mustang Mach 1 M-code "Soylent Green"
'69 Plymouth Valiant 100
'68 Plymouth Satellite
I've got a bit of a dilemma here - I'm sitting on my M-code '71 right now; a solid car with quite a bit wrong with it - but I got it for $1,500. Now I'm starting to wonder if I'm headed in the right direction, for there is a cobbled-up '73 Sportsroof available locally - and it's straight down to "$4k OBO" from an optimistic $9k earlier this year.
The '71 is an all-original car. The '73 appears nice, but sounds to be a massive cobble job (and it even has a later Ford two-spoke steering wheel).
Nevertheless, $4k for a drivable, rust-free Sportsroof sounds very tempting. I know the '71 will appeal to me more when complete, but given the two options, I'm starting to wonder whether the '73 would simply be more feasible in the long run.
That said, I defer to you gentlemen for advice and opinions. Following are photos and detailed specifications on both cars. Please don't tell me "buy the '73 and keep both," because that's exactly what I'd like to do.
'71 M-code:
Pictures:
The good:
The bad:
The ugly:
The '73 god-knows-what Sportsroof:
Pictures:
Mind you, so long as I can bolt the bumper back on it, I intend to drive the '71 with the quarter damage and get as much enjoyment out of it as possible before spending another $2-3k to fix the damage.
That said, what would you fellows suggest? Which is the better car for me to sink my hard-earned dollars into?
-Kurt
The '71 is an all-original car. The '73 appears nice, but sounds to be a massive cobble job (and it even has a later Ford two-spoke steering wheel).
Nevertheless, $4k for a drivable, rust-free Sportsroof sounds very tempting. I know the '71 will appeal to me more when complete, but given the two options, I'm starting to wonder whether the '73 would simply be more feasible in the long run.
That said, I defer to you gentlemen for advice and opinions. Following are photos and detailed specifications on both cars. Please don't tell me "buy the '73 and keep both," because that's exactly what I'd like to do.
'71 M-code:
- 351C / C6
- Engine compartment is dirty. Lots of surface rust on some bits, but most of it is clean enough under the grime. Case in point, the intake will probably clean up to a nice original blue.
- C6 is full of ATF+3 right now. I foresee a tranny rebuild.
- Repainted at one time; single-stage w/correct decals, looks factory - so much so that I was fooled until I found that the fender bolts under the hood were painted along with the fenders. Hasn't fared well on the roof.
- Rear quarter panel smashed up, but unibody likely straight.
- It's an all-original car that hasn't been screwed with, and I bought it from the first owner.
- Interior is decent, but moldy
- Marti report checks out on everything but the hubcaps.
- I like it.
- Started until 2009. I've turned it over by hand and by the starter, and it spins fine. Haven't taken compression, and I can't get to it again until the radiator hoses are back on it (delayed due to a corroded T-stat tube).
- I've swapped the carb to a Holley 4160; that's the extent of my modifications.
Pictures:
The good:
The bad:
The ugly:
The '73 god-knows-what Sportsroof:
- 351W / Unknown auto tranny, probably FMX
- Claims to have "302 heads." Doesn't know what he's talking about, and god only knows what was done under the hood.
- Accel electronic ignition - I'd swap to Duraspark. I like reliability, not aftermarket crap.
- Claims to have had half a million of the original body panels replaced, INCLUDING the rear quarters, see below:
- "NEW windshield, weatherstripping, carpet, gauges, headliner, door panels, trunk pan, floor pan, inner fenders..."
- "...front fenders, rear full quarters, rear panel, rear bumper..."
- "...front end suspension, rear leaf springs, radiator, water pump."
- I doubt half of the claims made above, especially the bodywork. With that man panels swapped out, this thing could have started life as a '73 Cougar convertible rofl
- When I emailed him, he stated the suspension modifications are out of a '71, or are some sort of aftermarket '71 suspension that lowers it an inch from stock. His words, not mine.
- Claims 425hp at the dyno. Definite BS, but if I cared about horsepower, I wouldn't mess around with a Windsor to start with. I can live with his lie here.
- Interior is black w/white seats, and at least something about it is a cobble job, for previous pictures have shown that the steering wheel is a later Ford two-spoke with turndowns on each side (think later F150/Econoline/Lincoln)
- His latest ad betrays a few caveats: Door windows leak, some gauges are not hooked up, doors "could use adjustments to close easier," and the engine runs rough, following a drive in a rainstorm.
- Paint job looks like $500 special. The only thing I like about it is that it reminds me of Gone in 60 Seconds. Even then, the color is off, the lower black trim is not present...and it is a '73, not a '71 with '73 bits tacked on it, Haliki style.
Pictures:
Mind you, so long as I can bolt the bumper back on it, I intend to drive the '71 with the quarter damage and get as much enjoyment out of it as possible before spending another $2-3k to fix the damage.
That said, what would you fellows suggest? Which is the better car for me to sink my hard-earned dollars into?
-Kurt
Last edited by a moderator: