Found a 70 Mustang convertable

[Rat Race]

This is another how much is it worth post.

My friend went to his mothers house the other day and the mother told him there was a Mustang in a driveway a few houses down, and to ask me if I would be interestred in it. (they know I have a Mustang) Well I am, so I went to go see it. No one was home so I left a note with my #. Well today the lady called me back and said yes its for sale.

I looked at it quick its a 70, convertable and a stick shift. I say that because I dont know if its a 4 or 3 speed. I also dont know what engine, I talked to her tonight and she gave me permission to go look at car tomorrow when shes at work. I asked her to unlock doors and leave trunk ajar.

Its been sitting for a year and she got it from her husband in divorce. Was gonna be for her kid but she said she does not like the car and dosent want him driving around in an old car. She said the husband got it 6 years or so ago, and restored it, and just drove it around. Dosent look like a pro restore, but I have to look closer to really see whats up.


So I guess it depends on engine but Id like to know if its a 3 speed lets say does that mean theres a six in it?


It has Cragars all around, Im assuming Cragars only come in 5 lug and arent sixes 4 lugs?

It had a tach so that leads me to believe its a 302 but even though it was a Hurst shift handle, I think i saw a worn out 3 speed pattern on the T handle, I may be wrong.

She said something about 5 grand, but I said Id really have to look at car inside and out and then Id make an offer, and she said fine she just wants it out of her yard.

She said the husband said to ask that, but Im sure I could get it for better than that.

My question is, whats the bottom line, whats it worth no matter what? Its red with a black top and interior.

 

[69Rcode_Mach1]

Hey if you don't need that tach or don't end up buying it let her know you know someone who wants to buy it.

 

[bnickel]

if it was a factory tach it's a v8 for sure since you could only get the tach with a v8 in 69. could be a 302 all the way up to a 428. probably either a 302 or 351w i'm betting. if the car is in good shape and not rusty as hell it's easily worth 5 g's. but if you can get it cheaper, all the better. good luck and post pics if you get it

 

[Rat Race]

OK sorry about not being clear on the tach, was just an aftermarket tach.

Went to see car close up yesterday.

First of all six cyl with a 3 speed. At least its all original.

5 lug wheels, I guess at some point they went from 4 to 5 on sixes...

No frame rot, no trunk rot, but small rust thru in drivers floor pan.

Noticed water on passenger floor from cowel vent, I guess.

Interior dirty but in good shape no rips all there, original radio.

Needs new convert top, ripped and stuff hanging down from top inside, and faded.

Body has bondo and bubbles in all the usual lower spots, along rockers, door edges, rear qtrs.

Misaligned front grill and missing pieces in front grill. Looks like brand ne w Bumpers front and rear.

Front power disc brakes.

Can be cleaned up and drivin away.


So please help me, I know its gonna take 7500 to make this car very nice.

So what should I offer her?

I would rather not have a six, but I have a 302 in my shop i could put in it.

 

[Pakrat]

Well, it would appear that while it is usable as is it will require quite a bit of work. It sounds like any and all body work needs to be redone which means all new paint as well, plus there are alot of other parts you'll need to drop that V8 in, just the engine ain't enough. I wouldn't go over 5k for it simply because it's not exactly what you want. Keep in mind though that less than 5k 70' verts were made so there numbers are few these days.

 

[Hack]

I think it's actually about 7600 (edit 7,673 is the number I've seen in a couple places) verts in '70, but still a rare car compared to many. It's worth what someone will pay, and '70 verts are somewhat of an ugly duckling compared to other years.

I think 5k isn't bad, but if it's been sitting a while you should probably try to bring her down some. Since she isn't emotionally attached, it shouldn't be too hard.

 

[Rat Race]

What is needed to drop an 8 into it?

I saw one of these 70's done right- TT ll'D's Candy red with white interior- with a nice stance- Sort of like the Comp Cams 69.

Arent these the same as the 69 verts, except for front and rear treatment?

 

[70vert]

hey, hack, gotta reprazent your year!

I think it's actually about 7600 verts in '70, but still a rare car compared to many. It's worth what someone will pay, and '70 verts are somewhat of an ugly duckling compared to other years.

I think 5k isn't bad, but if it's been sitting a while you should probably try to bring her down some. Since she isn't emotionally attached, it shouldn't be too hard.

Since 70vert is my name, I guess it's my duty to defend the year/model. I bought when I was 15, that's 15 years ago, and I picked it over '65-66 verts, '67-68, and 71-73. I see the years like this:

'65-66: Small
-67-67: Medium
69-70: Large
71-73: XL

I think the large works the best for me. I'm sure it is personal preference, since I've seen great examples of every year, but I like the evolution of the ponycar-into-musclecar that the '69-70 represent. I think the '69 has the best front end, but the taillights are much nicer on the '70. I think the '70 looks mean and beautiful, and more than a little sharklike. Think of the side "air intakes" as gills.

I'm sure there are a lot of perspectives, but I find each year to have really good examples, and don't see the '70 convertible as any exception.

See if it is a deluxe convertible, I think "76B" was the body code as was mine. There were only 1,600 of 'em made. Ask me why I know. Oh yeah, and in Mustang Monthly the Barrett-Jackson list had one going for $39,000, and just with a 351C I believe.

 

[Rat Race]

What makes it a Delux?

Also, does anybody make a 70 grill without headlight openings? If I buy this car I would put headlights behind the front light scoops, no you wouldnt see em unless they were turned on. But if I can get this car cheap enough since its a six I would restomod the hell out of it, and the first thing to go are those ugly big lights in the grill. Never liked them but try to find a 69 vert...


Im gonna offer this lady a thou, and she can talk me up from there.

Its a 62 footer, it really needs a total redo to be nice, and Im thinkin whats the high end of a restored 70 six cyl vert- 13,000 tops? So if someone buys it for 4 lets say and put 8 into it you would just get your money back and be out 1 year of your life time wise, which you never get back.

I like doin cars, but Im doing 3 now and they never get done so to me non drive time is a big consideration, so is money, I aint rich and have 1 in college and another the year after next, and maybe a divorce coming up, hell maybe Im just pipedreaming , but you dont come across these every day, in your own town to boot, and for sale for Gods sake.. Just ranting, sorry

 

[70vert]

deluxe is the interior package and remote mirrors, IIRC

What makes it a Delux?

Also, does anybody make a 70 grill without headlight openings? If I buy this car I would put headlights behind the front light scoops, no you wouldnt see em unless they were turned on. But if I can get this car cheap enough since its a six I would restomod the hell out of it, and the first thing to go are those ugly big lights in the grill. Never liked them but try to find a 69 vert...


Im gonna offer this lady a thou, and she can talk me up from there.

Its a 62 footer, it really needs a total redo to be nice, and Im thinkin whats the high end of a restored 70 six cyl vert- 13,000 tops? So if someone buys it for 4 lets say and put 8 into it you would just get your money back and be out 1 year of your life time wise, which you never get back.

I like doin cars, but Im doing 3 now and they never get done so to me non drive time is a big consideration, so is money, I aint rich and have 1 in college and another the year after next, and maybe a divorce coming up, hell maybe Im just pipedreaming , but you dont come across these every day, in your own town to boot, and for sale for Gods sake.. Just ranting, sorry

Deluxe is the interior. You can find the side panels and the seat upholstery on any online mustang parts vendor web page. I believe it also gives you the remote side mirror with a lever that actuates it. Mine was scrapped at some point, though, or may never have been there, so I could be wrong.

I'm sure it's not a money winning proposition, restorations rarely are. I have girlfriend trouble with just restoring 1 car, I can't imagine 3 projects and kids going on! ;-)

You would put headlights behind the side fake air intakes? Now THAT I have to see.

I can't see any reason to restore it to a 6/3-speed, no offense to the '6ers there but I coulda had a V8. My 302-2v can't haul it around with any real speed, so I would go bigger and more aggressive if you put an 8 in there.

jb

 

[70vert]

deluxe is the interior package and remote mirrors, IIRC

What makes it a Delux?

Also, does anybody make a 70 grill without headlight openings? If I buy this car I would put headlights behind the front light scoops, no you wouldnt see em unless they were turned on. But if I can get this car cheap enough since its a six I would restomod the hell out of it, and the first thing to go are those ugly big lights in the grill. Never liked them but try to find a 69 vert...


Im gonna offer this lady a thou, and she can talk me up from there.

Its a 62 footer, it really needs a total redo to be nice, and Im thinkin whats the high end of a restored 70 six cyl vert- 13,000 tops? So if someone buys it for 4 lets say and put 8 into it you would just get your money back and be out 1 year of your life time wise, which you never get back.

I like doin cars, but Im doing 3 now and they never get done so to me non drive time is a big consideration, so is money, I aint rich and have 1 in college and another the year after next, and maybe a divorce coming up, hell maybe Im just pipedreaming , but you dont come across these every day, in your own town to boot, and for sale for Gods sake.. Just ranting, sorry

Deluxe is the interior. You can find the side panels and the seat upholstery on any online mustang parts vendor web page. I believe it also gives you the remote side mirror with a lever that actuates it. Mine was scrapped at some point, though, or may never have been there, so I could be wrong.

I'm sure it's not a money winning proposition, restorations rarely are. I have girlfriend trouble with just restoring 1 car, I can't imagine 3 projects and kids going on! ;-)

You would put headlights behind the side fake air intakes? Now THAT I have to see.

I can't see any reason to restore it to a 6/3-speed, no offense to the '6ers there but I coulda had a V8. My 302-2v can't haul it around with any real speed, so I would go bigger and more aggressive if you put an 8 in there.

jb

 

[Pakrat]

I am not sure I am following you on the whole headlight situation, but they do offer two different grills for the 70, a plain one and one that has recesses for the rectangular fog type lights (as found on a Mach). They will both have spots to the end for the headlights though. You can quite easily swap the buckets to be 69 style along with the grill and trim. They finally reproduce these 69' headlight buckets but they aren't cheap, like $250 a piece or so. The best bet is good used parts. If you go this route check with me, I have the whole nose assembly off of a parts car that I will not be using and will be selling it off cheap. The only difference then would be the lack of a side scoop on the 70 from a 69 and the rear marker and tail lights.

BTW, here's a rough pricing range for this type of car.

April 29, 2005
Original MSRP: $3,126


Low Retail Average Retail High Retail
Base Price

$9,875 $16,875 $27,600

Options

6 Cylinder Engine -20% -20% -20%

TOTAL PRICE
$7,900 $13,500 $22,080

http://www.nadaguides.com/uv/viewresults.aspx?LI=1-12-1-2031-0-0-0&Lnk=1&wSec=12&wPr=1&wPg=2032

Actually slightly higher than a comprable 69 becasue of the lower production numbers.


EDIT: BTW, I have the 302 in my 69' with a nice cam, headers, 4v carb and intake upgrade, still backed by a 3spd and it's pushing over 300hp and has plenty of go, for me at least. With a 5spd it would be even better.

 

[Hack]

Since 70vert is my name, I guess it's my duty to defend the year/model.

Don't get me wrong, I love my '70 Convertible. I'll probably never sell it. I probably shouldn't have called it an ugly duckling. I do like the look of the '70s. I like the high back seats, and the car is the right size for me.

I do think the 67-68 fastbacks and the '69s are prettier, though.

 

[67MustangManiac]

With gas at $2+ a gallon, an I6 looks a whole lot better! Especially if you have other cars you are building with more power!

Maniac!