advice on 69 mach 1

sams66 · Jun 7, 2004

Guys, I just checked out an awesome 69 mach up in Detroit, Michigan Saturday. It is acapulco blue with black hood, very nicely restored, no evidence of rust, every (except the back up lights worked) piece was perfect. the asking price was 23900. does that seem high? what is a fair offer for this as I have seen the prices all over the place. Advice experiences appreciated. Engine compartment, all trim, glass, interior was spotless.

Thanks

Sam

Max Power · Jun 7, 2004

Seems high, depending on options. That's a bit much for a 351 car with drum brakes and no air, but a bit light for a 428 car.

I guess we need to know more about it than condition if you want an accurate answer.

jerry S · Jun 7, 2004

sams66 said:
Guys, I just checked out an awesome 69 mach up in Detroit, Michigan Saturday. It is acapulco blue with black hood, very nicely restored, no evidence of rust, every (except the back up lights worked) piece was perfect. the asking price was 23900. does that seem high? what is a fair offer for this as I have seen the prices all over the place. Advice experiences appreciated. Engine compartment, all trim, glass, interior was spotless.

Thanks

Sam

was it this one here?

http://adcache.collectorcartraderonline.com/10/7/0/72899770.htm

I think that $23.9k is pretty heavy. It is $10.4k more than I paid for my 69 Mach I. Mine was in beautiful condition and had a new cam, new intake, new carb, new wheels and tires on it. Plus there was no rust and the interior was in great shape. I put another $17k into it to get it where it is now, which is all new suspension, new wheels, tires, exhaust, rebuilt trans, and block up rebuild with new forged rods, pistons, alum cyl. heads, new carb, new cam, roller rockers, etc. You could get close to my specs for about $12k if you did a mild rebuild and did not get a top line suspension package. What that gets you is good performance but also piece of mind without having to have a cell phone and a AAA Gold Plus card on you every time you take the car out.

Timmy · Jun 7, 2004

I think it’s high but that’s just me……… Post all the specs about the car including vin and door tag info. The more info you post about the car the better advise you will get…………

allcarfan · Jun 7, 2004

Yes, that price seems a little high...especially for one in Michigan. Down south here, they dont go for quite that much. Get on ebay and see what they are going for on there. Thats a good determination as to what the market is for that car. however, i was stupid and overpaid about 3grand for my stupid coupe when I bought it!

now that i called her stupid, she probably wont start on me. Im sorry baby! LOL

Pakrat · Jun 7, 2004

Well, if it is the car that is in the Collector ad posted, then it is definitely too much money. They don't even claim it to actually be a mach even though it is painted as one. If anything they very incorrectly list it as a Boss. Unless it was an honest mistake, I am always leary of people selling high price cars that don't even know the subtlties of the make and model.

BTW, back up lights are not easy to fix if it is a dead switch and because they are original equipment for 69' most states will not issue a safety inspection wothout them, just FYI. No one currently reproduces this 69' switch. It works like a refigirator door switch in exact opposite so that when the shift arm moves into gear it literally pushes the button in connecting the circuit. It is simple and any backup switch could be fabbed up but it's making the bracket to utilize the stock bolt it hangs from and line up exactly that will be most tricky.

'69Mach1Chick · Jun 7, 2004

Omg....just buy it!

69stanger · Jun 7, 2004

if your willing to spend 23-24K you could pick up a nice boss 302.

sams66 · Jun 8, 2004

Yes that is the one. I checked the codes on the door, and they state it is an authentic Mach 1. I have looked all over the country, stuff that is 15 - 20 that i have seen are nowhere near this nice. If you know where a nice one is for that much please let me know.

Checked on Ebay, vintage mustang everywhere,
thanks

Sam

Pakrat · Jun 8, 2004

Well, a good Mustang of any model is exactly worth somewhere between what the seller is asking and the buyer is willing to pay. You simply can't apply any standardized pricing to purchases that are totally based on emotions. The only limit is on the ceiling based on what the market will currently bare. Barrett Jackson can fetch $300,000 for a GT500 that might have only seen at best a third of that on any regular market. Does that mean the buyer got screwed? Not if he is happy with his purchase or wanted it now as opposed to playing the waiting game. If you think it is a good deal or is exactly what you want than you should buy it regardless because no one can put a price on your hapiness but you. All we can do is give our unattached and untainted opinion on it as simply another Mustang in the crowd.

Good luck!

Timmy · Jun 8, 2004

If it’s what you want, and you got the bucks, get it. Just to let you know, NADA has a 351 Mach 1 in “high retail” with A/C for $21,500

Like Packrat said, the “boss 351” description is troubling so check to see if it’s a mistake or if the seller really thinks it’s a 69 boss 351 Mach 1.

Finding the right car takes time. In my case, I searched for over a year before I found mine. Then once I found it, I paid more than I wanted but I got what I wanted so I’m happy. I will tell you this, the car you're looking at is 8K more than I paid for mine two years ago.

jerry S · Jun 9, 2004

other sources

IN addiation to collectorcartraderonline.com, you can also find nice cars on www.cars-on-line.com. The price on your car seems way over market. THis guy is speculating. Hell, there was a 69 Mach I in dearborn that was recently sold that had a new 429 dart block, racing suspension, top of the line everything, and a new paint job that was going for 29k. Your seller is just speculating on the value of his car relative to the launch of the new 05. His car will be for sale for a long time. For example, look at this redone 429 Boss Clone for $29. Now this price is close to the car's value and I predict it will sell for $26-27.

http://www.karautogroup.com/Carlist/getlisting.cfm?carid=305&Model=Classic

It took me over a year to find my car. I had several near misses and thank god I sent a mechanic to look over car that was in Waycross, GA. That saved me from writing off $14.5.

You have to check every day and be quick on the draw. If you see a car you like but it is in TX or FL, go to yellowpages.com and find a mechanic in the the same zip code as your seller. if the seller is a business, ask if he knows it or about it. Mechanics will look the car over and charge you between $50 to $75 to give the car a thourough check, much less than a specialized on line rip-off artists like one I dealt with.

Since you are in ohio, you can also check www.phils-classics.com from time to time. I lost out on a car there to a buyer while I was waiting for my super customized $300 inspection report from an on-line inspection service that, in spite of several previous email exchanges between us, decided to manually type in my address when sending me the report rather than hit reply to an existing email. The result was a mistyped email address and the report was late. I would have bought but somebody beat me to it.

Max Power · Jun 9, 2004

Seriously, for 24k you are better off buying a Boss or a Cobra Jet and doing a little of the restoration work yourself. Far better investment, IMO, and for that kind of money, you can still afford a car with a pedigree.

sams66 · Jun 10, 2004

Guys thanks for the wisdom, the reason it says boss 351 is that the engine is a cleveland engine that apparently has been souped up slightly it is not a Boss engine. The installation of Clevelands in 69's should hurt the price as well, yes? I am going to keep looking and go from there. The advice is much appreciated, Thanks

Sam

Max Power · Jun 10, 2004

Yes, a Cleveland in a 69 is a red flag. Who knows what else has been effed with. Good call on walking away.

IMO, you never get a good value from these "dealers", that deal in vintage cars. They often have incorrectly restored cars at higher than market prices, and get huffy or defensive when you ask authenticity questions. Well, if your going to ask a numbers matching price, you better be prepared to have a numbers matching car, and answer for it.

Much better going private party, IMO.

Pakrat · Jun 10, 2004

As the great and often missed SD used to say (or close enough anyway), a little polish and a little paint can make a Mustang what it ain't.

This car is definitely not what they are selling and that Boss explanation stinks. I don't know all of them, but one of the only dealer types I would consider buying form is Kar. There prices are high, but they know stangs, list every minute detail and have a vigorous inspection process.

Mach-One-Man · Jun 29, 2004

69stanger said:
if your willing to spend 23-24K you could pick up a nice boss 302.

I'll take 2 at that price then!

Mach-One-Man · Jun 29, 2004

Pakrat said:
As the great and often missed SD used to say (or close enough anyway), a little polish and a little paint can make a Mustang what it ain't.

I don't know all of them, but one of the only dealer types I would consider buying form is Kar. There prices are high, but they know stangs, list every minute detail and have a vigorous inspection process.

KAR in Columbus, OH? Dude, send me some of what you are smoking! I wouldn't buy a license plate frame from them! I looked at "PERFECT, STRAIGHT, SOUTHERN DOORS W/NO REPAIRS" in spring for a project car that they wanted $300 a peice for & they were reskinned with aftermarket panels & full of filler!

Pakrat · Jun 29, 2004

Ooooooookaaaaaaaaay then.

Black Thunder · Jun 29, 2004

Timmy said:
If it’s what you want, and you got the bucks, get it. Just to let you know, NADA has a 351 Mach 1 in “high retail” with A/C for $21,500

Like Packrat said, the “boss 351” description is troubling so check to see if it’s a mistake or if the seller really thinks it’s a 69 boss 351 Mach 1.

Finding the right car takes time. In my case, I searched for over a year before I found mine. Then once I found it, I paid more than I wanted but I got what I wanted so I’m happy. I will tell you this, the car you're looking at is 8K more than I paid for mine two years ago.

I just looked it up on NADA and it said high retail was $43,125 for a 69 Mach 1 with a 351 and A/C.

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