Picked Up This 79 Mustang-need Advice

NHCharger · Dec 25, 2016

Hey All. Brand new Mustang owner here. Acquired a 79 Mustang the other day and have been trying to do some research on it. This is what I have.
VIN: 9F03F4*****
So it's supposed to be a hatchback with a 5.0.
The car is a convertible. According to the owner back in 79 Ford provided three Jack Roush equipped Mustangs as pace cars for the Indy 500. Ford also provided 100 convertibles to be used as show cars to shuttle drivers and celebrities around the track on the parade laps.
Car has no back seat so someone could sit on the trunk lid. Engine appears to be modified with headers (but single exhaust), Holley valve covers, Holley carb, and a fake fiberglass hood scoop. Also Recaro seats.
At some time after the race these cars were given away in a lottery since Ford couldn't sell them. I have tried researching these cars but cannot find anything. The only thing I found was a video on youtube of the complete 79 indy 500. At the two minute mark you can see these cars on the parade laps for a few seconds but the video is so grainy I can't tell what the car is.
Anyone with any info to either verify that these cars were made or did someone just hack the roof off in their backyard
Tried to attach a pic but am doing something wrong.

NHCharger · Dec 25, 2016

NHCharger · Dec 25, 2016

CarMichael Angelo · Dec 25, 2016

Well,..parts of it look like a 79 pace car,...but I didn't know they made a vert version of it. I doubt that anybody has (other than the factory) transferred pace car stuff onto a vert,..but it isn't that hard. I'd say you have something here.

RaggedGT · Dec 25, 2016

Good find , wether it's a pace car or not it's in great shape. You definitely have something special sitting in your garage lol

@Davedacarpainter -check it out

@90sickfox -you like 'Verts right? Lol

The Shape · Dec 25, 2016

I love the Charger in the background. I've never seen a very top quite like the one on that 79

General karthief · Dec 25, 2016

None of the references mention a convrt.
Pace cars have a 48 in the vin

NHCharger · Dec 25, 2016

I know it's not a pace car. Only three made for race. Were shipped back to Roush after race and painted white. These 100 convertibles which came off the assembly line as hatchbacks were converted by a company in the Chicago area.Prior owner had a lot of misinformation which is always the case. Just trying to find some documentation. Don't want to spend too much money on it to find out this is some back yard creation from someone smoking too much crack.

stykthyn · Dec 25, 2016

That's a maclaren modified Mercedes vert top.

General karthief · Dec 25, 2016

I would suggest checking the rivits that hold the vin number to the windshield frame, you cannot buy those rivits. Also the verts were made from coupes. Never heard of any verts that where made from hatchbacks.
What does the top frame look like? Is it power?
The convertible in 83 was done at Cars and Concepts I think they were in Dearborn too.

Davedacarpainter · Dec 25, 2016

There were several companies that offered to do convertible conversions, Cars and Concepts was one of them and ford selected them to do the official "factory" convertibles.

I couldn't tell you who did yours, i agree with Clay, it looks like a mercedes top.

The hood scoop and front bumper are pace car items. There weren't any pace car replica coupes, so i would doubt a convertible as well. Still, kind of cool. Restore it into a pace car convertible, i think that would be pretty neat.

stykthyn · Dec 25, 2016

Me wonders if that's not a 4 eye converted ASC.
After some google sleuthing there wasn't even a convertible offered by Ford until 1982. My best guess until you can check your vin is that this is a modified ASC car. No more or less valuable than a typical fox of the same year. The difference was the mclaren was a 2 seater speedster that came with the Mercedes top you have and a tonneau cover that went over where the back seat should be like you describe in your car.

stykthyn · Dec 25, 2016

http://www.ascmclaren.org/WhatIsAnAscMcLaren.html

Run your vin. If it is indeed an original 4 eye Mustang mclaren that may be a diamond in the rough.

A5literMan · Dec 25, 2016

It's a cool car no mater what imo and worth some tlc.

mikestang63 · Dec 25, 2016

nice find.. wait until you price out those tires

Davedacarpainter · Dec 25, 2016

mikestang63 said:
nice find.. wait until you price out those tires

Yeah no sht! It will cost half to just go to LMR to get the 16" replicas with new tires.

General karthief · Dec 25, 2016

Davedacarpainter said:
Yeah no sht! It will cost half to just go to LMR to get the 16" replicas with new tires.

I be suspect on that vin.

Mustang5L5 · Dec 25, 2016

Before ford brought back the convertible there were a few companies doing aftermarket conversions. You should be able to find multiple VIN stamps on the car to verify its the true VIN.

Other than that, as they say in the mil surp firearm world...without paperwork, buy the gun, not the story

NHCharger · Dec 25, 2016

Mike- I restore old Chargers. I'm use to getting boned on prices for parts
I worked on it a bit tonight. Cleaned up pretty nice. Pulled the plugs, need to pick up some Marvel Mystery Oil to dump in cylinders.
I'll post a few more pics including the vin on the dash and the data sticker on the drivers door. Where else on the car might I find some numbers?
While browsing the web tonight I did find a pic of the exact same car in a showroom or indoor car show. But again the pic is a bit grainy and I can't tell if the grill is the same. It did have the same seats.

90sickfox · Dec 25, 2016

That's a legit...specialty built mustang. Rare is an under statement. It does have an early version of the McLaren convertible top. If you look at it the trunk it's bigger than a normal convertible. That's because they used a hatch back body to create that master piece. That car is a keeper and worth researching. The first year of the fox...and specialty built...I see dollar signs in your future.

Picked Up This 79 Mustang-need Advice

NHCharger

Member

NHCharger

Member

NHCharger

Member

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

RaggedGT

Been here over a DECADE and still no CT

The Shape

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

NHCharger

Member

stykthyn

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

Davedacarpainter

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...

stykthyn

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

stykthyn

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

A5literMan

At least it is lumpy...

mikestang63

Davedacarpainter

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

NHCharger

Member

90sickfox

Wasn't a pretty sight...and I've got big hands

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Picked Up This 79 Mustang-need Advice

Member

Member

Member

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

Been here over a DECADE and still no CT

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

Member

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

At least it is lumpy...

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Member

Wasn't a pretty sight...and I've got big hands

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