Dual post could be classic could be GRM. Mustang Sallly...

So my wife has always loved mustangs, when we finally had enough financial security I bought her a 2012 gt and she's loved the heck out of it. Thing is, with a second kiddo on the way she's finally grudgingly admitting that it might not work as a daily to haul two kids. (she's so small she stands in the back to buckle our first born in...)

Yesterday I came home to the Latest GRM open to the foxbody article and her talking about liking them.

So here's my thought, Our 5 year anniversary is in a month, I want a project car to work on. She's always wanted a 65 to 69 car. (or a foxbody.) so I'm looking for one of the two cars, manual. I do not mind a project but it seems like the 60's cars are all OVER the place. 2k can be a running but slightly rough car to a guy wanting $2k for a rusted hulk w/o a motor... What is a decent price. Can I get something to work on for $2k that's worth my time? This seems to be the case for both models. I've seen a few foxbodies for under 2k but one had "timing chain problems" the other had only the bottom end of the motor.

The end goal will be a weekend driver for her to enjoy and a project I can enjoy for the next few years.

At the end of the project, which would you rather have in your driveway? To me, that would be the 60's car. But this is for your wife, so I think you need to ask her.

Find the cleanest stock example you can afford. Rust free and complete. You will spend more money undoing hack job mods, getting missing parts, and fixing rust than you would up front for a better example.

Oh, and trans am style.

I was kind of secretly hoping you'd tell me you know a guy who has one sitting in his garage he wants to get rid of duster...

Keith, She'd prefer the 60's. To be specific she'd like a manual v8 convertible... Used to be red with white top but after having a kona blue car, i think she wants to keep with it.

Then it sounds like you know exactly what you need to buy for full wifely buy-in

I just checked our local CL and you're not kidding, there's a wide range of prices. This one for $2600 and this one for $19k. We're pretty rust-free around here but it's not a rich area, which makes it good hunting ground for you Not surprisingly, the convertibles are a whole lot more expensive than the coupes.

They were rare back then apparently and then they all rusted out when people parked them w/o covers and the tops deteriorated ...

that 2600 is sooo much nicer than what I've been finding. Pity it's an auto... I really hope I do not need to drive across the country to find what I want.

i.e. 1200 rusty v6

3k for a shell with some bits butno rust

I actually know where a few are, but not for sale at the moment.

If you want local eyes around me, let me know.

And the second one has a lot of rust in the trunk.

Dont go out of your way but I am looking for one under $3k. I dont mind mechanical work or floorboards but the car needs to be fairly solid.

hmmm

time to learn how to weld?

Do you want a project or a driver? I see a lot of hours in this one.

Know where to check for rust, cowl comes to mind. Cheap 60s cars are best had in the West where it doesn't rain, so they rust neither from the top down or the bottom up.

forget finding a manual and concentrate on clean metal. it's much easier, cheaper, and faster to swap a 4 speed in than it is to repair rot.

I was thinking that an auto to manual swap would be fairly straightforward on one of these, and a lot more fun than rust repair!

Convertibles are ridiculous.

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/5222436683.html

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/5186404728.html

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/5165693699.html

Inexpensive ones look rough.

http://fayetteville.craigslist.org/cto/5226841695.html

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/5187290790.html

Really? http://greensboro.craigslist.org/cto/5157747255.html

Very cheap, maybe combine with the one above?: http://greensboro.craigslist.org/cto/5198679057.html

I've spent decades looking at Mustangs. Few cars suffer from more rust problems than early Mustangs. You really, really need to be careful buying one. There is a reason you can buy every panel from the catalogs: most cars need them! The body work will kill you or financially break you. Trust me, if you can find a good solid convertible for under $15000 just buy that instead of some basket case project. You will thank me later. Engine/trans can be swapped in with only a couple weekends work. Rebuilding a rotted body will take years and you'll probably give up partway through.

Just remember, old Mustangs drive like what they are...old Falcons from 1960. Turning one into a corner carver costs cubic dollars. This is why I bought a 2006; instant Mustang without all the BS. Old Mustangs are pretty to look at and nice to cruise in but aren't especially fun to drive in the GRM sense.

In reply to ddavidv:

AMEN

FWIW, we bought this 67 for $9000 about 5 years ago, sold it for $13000 a month ago. It wasn't perfect but it wasn't rusty either. (289/Auto though). The sale price was a little high because we used a broker (Gateway Classics).

A buddy just sold a solid '65 convertible. It was his wife's toy. Originally was a 260 auto car. Had an early 80's 255 in it with a vibration so the price was good. Eventually it got a 302 and disk brakes from a Donor Granada. Also wound up with a T-10 4-speed when a killer deal popped up. 4-speed swap was done over a weekend.

They used a broker to sell the car. It sold for $12K. They are building a 4-speed Duster now.

Having BTDT with first gen Mustang restorations, the most important thing by far is to start with a truly rust free, not seriously banged up body. Everything else on an early 'Stang is cheap and easy by comparison.

I'd rather start with a rust free base coupe shell than a rusty but complete Shelby.

For most of my life, there was no subject that I knew more about, and few things that I cared as much about, as early Mustangs. They had been a part of my life since the beginning.

By the time that I was 30, I had the rust-free fastback of my dreams, and set it up exactly as I wanted it.

By the time that I was 35, I came to accept the fact that, even under the best of circumstances, these cars suck to drive. Sure, the body lines are perfect, the 289 is beautiful to look at, and the interior even looks pretty nice. But almost everything rides better, steers better, accelerates better and stops better.

I sold my car to some other guy with a dream and bought a new WRX. I drove that car for 125,000 miles, every one of them fun. I don't miss my Mustangs, but I miss my WRX sometimes.

You are not going to find a first gen V8 vert for $3K.

Everything that Woody says true. I don't miss my 'Stang all that much either. I do miss my 70 1/2 Falcon a lot though.

SVreX wrote: You are not going to find a first gen V8 vert for $3K.

there was one on CL with a title. i wish it was still up, it was $500. 289/4 speed, wrecked in the early 70's, interior destroyed, sat outside for 40 years, engine looked like it was pulled from the titanic wreckage. i commented to my wife that the v8 4 speed convertible serial number and paperwork was worth more than the car as a whole.

Sounds like a foxbody may be more rewarding to own and cheaper to work on (and buy)...

I know a driver for 3k is hard to find conv or not. That was her dream but she'd still be over the moon with one of them.

Also, this is for my wife. Corner carver it does not need to be... Now if I could make it one that'd be nice... (but expensive.)