Tim's 1973 Mach 1 rebuild thread - it's done in 2023 on it's 50th birthday!

[timachone]

Its all about the gaps! I finished sheet metal installation, all the trim and weatherstripping. For aligning hood, doors and fenders I invested 40 hours alone. Doors are closing now as easy like new with only a light tip - perfect.

 

[timachone]

Misc installation - weatherstripping underhood, restored original 50 year old wiper motor, wipers and wiper stops, removal of the clutch pedal helper spring (with the removal of the clutch pedal and the spring bracket) for easier pedal-backmovement (diaphragm clutch), new pedal bushings, new NOS speedometer cable (new firewall grommet was added after pic was taken), changing the original amperemeter to a voltmeter conversion from Rocketman, dash completed and all functional!

 

[timachone]

Installation of watershields of door and rear quarters after completed setup of window glass, added insulation in the rear, installation of the door panels and rear panels, combination of the rear speakers with some more old school looking speaker covers over the roughly cutted holes from the previous owner, repairing the passenger mirror as described in a video of WCCC so it will not moving again by every slamming of the door, restoring the second taillight out of two original ones, Mustang almost completed... What is missing?!?


BEFORE:





AFTER:




Now it was time for one of the last T5-specific finish tops: on a T5 it was not allowed that any part has the word "Mustang" on it - the same on any stickers. So they cut out the "Mustang" on the tire pressure decal too before installation as I could see a few years ago as I disassembled the whole car. Therefore I replicated that with two exact cuts - that was one of the easier ones in the last 10 years...

 

[timachone]

You were right - the stripes were missing! So I added them in a late winter night - with the heater on in the garage, a heat gun, some soapy water, tape, a sharpie,a straight edge and patience - voila:

 

[timachone]

Now a long, dark and wet time followed: it poured rain week after week after week - the weather was so heavy for many weeks and the Mustang had to wait once more...

 

[timachone]

Spring arrived late this year but the Mustangs birthday had to come - 25th April 1973! So only a few weeks... But I hit the bell right in time so I could drive a few hundred miles with pleasure and fun. The Mustang passed the German inspection like a pro with zero faults and there were none, really none problems in all the test drives and tours around my home town. I had to wait since end of 2014 for these moments. It was great and the kids loved it too. Especially my two-year-old fell in love with the car and he learned one of his first 50 words: "Muckang". He always wanted to drive with me. And there was the biggest problem: after this long time I now have 4 children together with my lovely and beautiful wife. But the Mustang is only for four not for six. Time has changed and not only I got older but my personal preferences were different too. And as I intended to use such cars as they were made for it only makes sense for me to enjoy it with the whole family and not alone or with only a few. So a long taking hard decision was made - the Mustang had to go and a six-seat-muscle car had to come. In the meantime the Mustang has found a new owner who got his long awaited dream car. He is a real gentleman and was searching for many years, he appreciate such a car and my work which was done over many years. As the chemistry between us was just right we made the deal and he is now a very lucky owner. I recommended this forum and its people very much so perhaps one time he will take his heart and say hello...

I want to thank you all for more than 10 years of friendship over the continent and the sea - this is the greatest community of car lovers I know of. And I had the luck to even know some of you in personal. Now enjoy the current pictures of this one and only 1973 Mach 1:






In the meantime I found a new luck for the family and me - it has bench seats front and back, a healthy V8 and is even a hundred times rarer than a 71-73 Mustang here in Germany - a 1968 Ford Fairlane 500 two door hardtop coupe. I drove it on his own wheels first time 500 miles from Berlin to my home - without any problems. Great! That's a good starting point for a long time family member - and family enjoyed it already a few times...



Take care and see you!

 

[Sheriff41]

Well done Tim! Best to you and your family with the Fairlane.

 

[Kilgon]

Very nice. Work well done and it shows. Nothing like standing back and admiring the beauty of all the hours of hard work put into it.

 

[Fabrice]

Oh nooo, this is not a bye bye I hope???
You'll be missed Tim!!

The Fairlane looks great, hope you'll post us more details later on!

 

[72MustangSprint]

Car is stunning, congrats on getting it done

 

[James Bond]

Great job, will be fun to drive and show for years to come.

 

[PoFoMoCo]

Tim - what an amazing ride, this thread has been awesome. You should be very proud of your hard work. The car turned out beautiful. Very bitter-sweet, finishing the car and then selling it soon after. Congratulations and good luck with the new project.

 

[JD79]

Just have been reading through your whole restoration journey. What a great car! You can be very proud of the final result Tim. Absolutely love the color !