Mach 1 Club

Full Version: What do you all think?
You're currently viewing a stripped down version of our content. View the full version with proper formatting.
Here's the deal...
I bought this Mach with the intentions of bringing it back to its original glory over the winter. It was available after having been stored(in a barn) since 1977. Story goes it got parked due to trans problems. Trans was out of it and not going to be use able so I found a numbers matching(well date correct) donor however out of a full size car, installed that along with a shorter driveshaft, new gas tank, fuel lines, brake lines, brakes all around, oil pan,valve cover, tans pan gaskets, starter, and filters, & fluids . Guess what...it starts, runs, goes down the road, stops and even does burnouts all very well.
Now I took it to a three day swap meet and car for sale corral local to me this weekend to offer it up as is and see what would happen. I got a bunch of low ball offers, a few for 15, couple for 16, and one for 17K. My number is 18,500. The over whelming consensus was NOT to paint it, which is what I planned on doing. I heard a lot of "they are only original once", "it took 44 years for it to look like this, don't change it now" and "if you paint it you have the same grabber blue Mach as everyone else".
SO, to paint or not to paint?
In my mind it is to far gone to not redo it. SO, to paint or not to paint?
[attachment=10263]
[attachment=10257]
[attachment=10258]
[attachment=10259]
It does need some minor rust attention, the typical shock tower top apron overlaps, truck drop panels at the bottom, and there is a quarter size hole in the bottom of the passenger side lower rear quarter. That is the hard one to fix with out paint, but maybe a blended repaint in that area could be pulled off, just difficult with all the little rock chips, or should I use the over used TV word...PATINA. Also worth noting is the dents in the passenger side door and overall aged paint appearance. On a very positive note the interior is A1+. Not a split seam or crack in dash pad to be found. All lights work, A/C items under hood missing.
[attachment=10260]
[attachment=10261]
[attachment=10262]
[attachment=10264]
That is a very nice car for Wisconsin. Well done on your find.

So, paint or no paint?

I read into your write up that you really want to paint but have second thoughts because of what others have said. Their advice really only matters if your plan is resale and you think that they are speaking for the market.

I think that the market has spoken as to the real world value of your car as it sits. It can fetch a higher price but an investment will need to be made.

Even if I did not repaint the outside of the car I would clean and repaint the engine bay. I think that a refreshed engine bay would present the car in a whole new context.

In reality though if you are hoping for resale with a far greater return you the car will need a quality repaint. "Patina" may get a lot of oh's and ah's at a car show but shinny paint is what sells the car.

Take all of that as it is presented - one opinion (mine).

In the end it is your car, your choice.
I agree with Steven.

Also dont do anything halfass on the car, if you bought it to flip flip it and get your money, otherwise Id take every nut and bolt off the car and make it brand new.

Mind sharing what you paid?

Oh and nice car!! I'm jealous. Biggrin
Agree The exterior looks great, nice options. Take out the engine and gearbox, tidy and paint it.
Fix that rust and enjoy. If you were going to sell it - do it as is.
Wow, the car is really really nice and it is what I envisioned the car to look like after spending all the years in "off duty".

Here's what I would do.

First - Rust on Mustangs, not allowed.... Repair all rust areas.

Second - Pull motor and detail the engine compartment. Then refresh the motor while it is out. By refresh I mean, take care of what needs to be done mechanically, then clean and paint motor.

Third - Since 90% of the car looks great I would scuff and re-shoot the car it's original color. This will save you lot's of time and money since you won't have to sand the car to bare metal or jam the car.

Seriously, the car's interior looks brand new and underneath the car is not too far behind!

Very nice find!




Yup, this is exactly why I came here. I needed to hear someone tell me what I already knew. Chop cut and rebuild like brand new...that is the plan. And absolutely no half ass work will take place, I can assure you that. It will take me all winter, but right now my goal is to have her back at the same car corral/swap meet I was at last weekend for the spring event and park it in the same spot all done. Its the last weekend in April.

All the purists that told me it would be a HUGE mistake to redo a all original car can piss off, they should have ponied up the cabbage then, eh?
BTW, here's the '55 Victoria that my stepfather and I just got done doing. It did sell this weekend...
[attachment=10265]

Very nice looking Victoria.

The very fact that the Victoria is all nice and shinny - and it sold seems to help answer the question.

Keep us abreast of the work.